Tucked between Orlando and Fort Myers along Lake Hatchineha Road, Creek Ranch Wildlife Management Area is one of Central Florida's newest public wild spaces — and one of its least-developed. The state of Florida purchased the former cattle ranch and horse farm in 2024 through the Florida Forever conservation program, protecting it from development and opening more than 1,300 acres to public use.
The preserve spans flatwood forests of pines and palmettos, open pastures, and roughly 1,200 feet of shoreline along Deer Lake, plus access to Lake Hatchineha. Because it's part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, Creek Ranch bridges a gap between other protected lands in the region — and the wildlife reflects that. Bald eagles, Florida panthers, black bears, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub lizards all call the area home.
Fishing is the main draw along the shoreline, where anglers can cast year-round (with a valid Florida fishing license) into the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Bass, black crappie, bluegill, and shellcracker are common targets. There's no boat launch or fishing pier — just a natural shoreline edge where you can find your own spot among the flatwoods. Boating and paddling are not permitted on the lakes.
Beyond fishing, Creek Ranch allows hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and hunting. Formal trails haven't been established yet, but unpaved roads wind through the property and are mapped in an FWC brochure. The entrance sits off Lake Hatchineha Road, marked by a white mailbox. Visitors looking for more structured trail options can head to Lake Kissimmee State Park, about a 35-minute drive away.
This story was originally reported by Islands.
