[1][2] It was acquired in 1932 by Wayne Thomas as relatively barren land following clearcuts that occurred around the start of the 20th century.
[4][5] A plan to sell off and develop 3,500 acres with residential and commercial construction was proposed in 2005.
[7] The area provides habitat for fox squirrel, gopher tortoise, turkey, deer, and quail.
It is the largest privately owned undeveloped property in Hillsborough County and is about 20 miles (30 minutes)[8] away is the city of Tampa with approximately 3 million people living within a 50-mile radius.
[1] Habitats on the property include upland ridges, oak hammocks, sloughs, herbaceous wetlands, pasture, native range, plantation pines, cypress domes, flatwoods, and flood plain forest.