After opening the 476-acre D Ranch Reserve in Volsia County earlier this year, Conservation Florida announced plans for the nature center to be launched in 2027.
The nonprofit will reuse an already empty barn at its facility to build a new $2.5 million nature center with two stories and 8,000 square feet of space. Visitors can visit the centre, which includes classrooms, displays and wraparound porches, as a gateway to the sanctuary.
“The reception has been fantastic so far. The community is really gathering the idea that a nature center is being built. This is a huge expansion of property.” “We hope that this will be the gateway to Florida’s wild beauty and a place for gatherings for the entire community.”
Conservation Florida has secured $600,000 in funding for the Volusia Echo (environment, culture, history, outdoor recreation) for the project. Additionally, they won a dollar-fitting gift from the Big NOVA Foundation for all funds raised by the end of the year.
“We are extremely honored to give back to our community by aligning the gift with Florida’s conservation,” Sara Asma, executive director of the Big Nova Foundation, said in a news release. “Our family grew up in lakes, rivers and springs in Florida, so it’s important that our children and grandchildren can do that too.”
There is a $400,000 funding gap left to rise before construction begins on the building. Dean said he hopes the Nature Center will be a “wild Florida classroom” and serves as a place where visitors of all ages can learn through interactive exhibitions and guided programming.
“This is where kids can come on a field trip and fall in love with a wild Florida or see a go-per turtle for the first time,” she said. “This is a place where new Florida can learn that wild Florida is their home too, and experience it and learn about it.”
Conservation Florida received land donations from an anonymous donor in 2019, and then spent years managing land and recovering native flora and fauna. This is the first property owned and managed by Florida Conservation, which is also open to the public.
The parcel is just a small portion of the 11,000-acre ranch landscape that has been split over time. Most of the land is currently protected in the Lake Monroe Conservation Area and Beck Ranch Park. D-Rank was a missing piece to complete this land conservation puzzle.
“As locals know, Central Florida is growing rapidly. Protecting places like DRanchPreserve is growing more and more critically every day,” Deen says. “D Ranch Preserve already hosts so many people who want to go out and explore wild Florida.”
Parental visitors can now experience the 3.5-mile hiking trail (daily dawn to dusk) while paying attention to rare flora such as the Bobcats, Go-Parker Turtle, Black Bear and Pine Lily. Public land consists of flatwood and scrub habitats, open pastures and wetlands, which help reduce flooding in the Lake Monroe basin.
Florida Conservation will begin a Phase 2 fundraiser for the project after raising the funds needed to build the Nature Center. Future plans include interactive exhibit build-outs, scenic oversights, equestrian parking and trail improvements.
“The community has really gathered the property and vision of the Nature Center and we can’t wait for that vision to come true,” Dean said.
Find @pconnpie on Instagram or send an email at pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with coverage of your latest travel, arts and events by subscribing to our newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
If you’re going
D Ranch Reserve: Open daily from dawn to dusk. 2655 Osteen’s Reed Ellis Road;
352-376-4770, extension 716; conservationfla.org/d-ranch
