Zellwood’s Long & Scott Farms report that developers could sell out. Notes from Lake County new commissioner Anthony Sabatini.
A former member of the Florida House of Representatives won a committee seat last fall, posting on Facebook that county staff will reach out to owners of a nearly 700-acre farm near the Lake Orange County line. I did. News that Growthspotter defeated earlier this month revealed that the owners are trying to sell in their business for over 60 years.
“I will strongly support Lake County working with the owners to add it to the county’s future land purchase program and staying as agriculture,” Sabatini posted. “We cannot replace important agricultural landmarks in our community.”
Sabatini wants to know where the owner is in the contracting process and added it to the committee’s Tuesday budget for discussion.
Located northwest of Apopka and east of Astatula, the farm was moved from Virginia to Central Florida, where Frank Scott Jr. partnered with his friend Billy Long to buy 100 acres for $500, and in 1963 he was farmed. It started when it was founded. At one point, the farm grew to 1,200 acres, but changed when the surrounding McFarm was sold in the late 1990s, leaving a long retirement and Scott ran what was left of his son Hankscot. Ta.
Hank Scott told GrowthSpotter that he had been approached several times in recent years by developers who have longed for land, and the decision was made to sell it.
“I’m 69 and ready to sell,” Scott told Growth Spotter. “In fact, the biggest problem we have is the location. It’s so crowded, everything from Orange County is driving our paths and the traffic is so bad.”
The farm sells agricultural products including the trademark “Zelwood Sweet Corn,” cucumbers, cabbage, and more. It features a market and a popular corn maze every year.
Growthspotter reported that Scotts applied to Lake County in December to change the classification of the property for “an active adult community with 18 holes golf courses and other recreational facilities.”
“I don’t know if that’s going to pass,” Scott told Growth Spotter. “There’s a long way to go through the community.”
Read the original story at GrothingSpotter.com.
Original issue: February 21, 2025, 5:17pm EST
