Between Orlando And Fort Myers Is Florida's Former Ranch That's Now A Wildlife Haven For Fishing And Lake Views

Though it's famed for its theme parks and sunny beaches, Florida has plenty of room for wilder outings. Much of Florida outside of its big cities and shores is marshy, forested, and dotted with lakes, where you can spot eagles soaring overhead or cast a fishing line. About an hour's drive south of Orlando, on the path towards Fort Myers, Creek Ranch Wildlife Management Area (WMA) opens onto the watery landscape of Lake Hatchineha. The 1,300-plus-acre preserve protects a mix of flatwood forest, pastures, and other habitats, with a stretch of lake shoreline. Visitors might want to pack a fishing rod, binoculars, and some sturdy boots, as the WMA is geared toward fishing and wildlife spotting. Bald eagles and Florida panthers are among the species the conservation lands support.

Creek Ranch was purchased by the state in 2024. On one hand, that means the WMA is still taking shape, with plans still underway to refine it for recreation. On the other hand, it lets visitors access a part of Florida's landscape that's relatively untouched. The property was previously used as a cattle ranch and horse farm. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection purchased it through the state's Florida Forever conservation program. 

The land had been facing development pressure, but the purchase means it's protected for wildlife and outdoor recreation. As part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, Creek Ranch fills a gap between other protected lands around Lake Hatchineha, home to black bears, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub lizards. Travelers can make the detour here from Haines City, a lakeside slice of Old Florida charm, to see Creek Ranch and its now public wilderness.

Across its wide acreage, Creek Ranch shifts from grassy pastures to flatwood forests of pines and palmettos, stretching along Lake Hatchineha's shoreline. That gives the WMA a look reminiscent of other Central Florida lakeside habitats, like Lake Manatee State Park, an underrated Florida paddling and hiking destination, but with a more undeveloped character. On the western edge of the property, the WMA has about 1,200 feet of Deer Lake's shoreline, too, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

There's no boating or paddling access on the lakes. The shoreline is more of a nature-viewing and fishing setting than a developed waterfront. Expect a natural edge backed by the WMA's flatwoods, where you can find a spot on the shore to cast a line rather than a designated launch or fishing pier. Fishing is permitted year-round, so long as you have a Florida fishing license. Anglers visiting Creek Ranch are fishing into the broader Kissimmee Chain of Lakes network, where the usual targets include bass, black crappie, bluegill, and shellcracker.

Aside from its shoreline fishing, Creek Ranch allows hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and hunting. There aren't any marked trails yet, though there are some unpaved roads that snake through the property that you could walk or bike on, mapped in a WMA brochure. The entrance and parking area to the WMA sits off of Lake Hatchineha Road, marked by a white mailbox. If you're looking for somewhere in the area with more well-marked hiking trails, you could head to Lake Kissimmee, called a "one-stop shop for outdoor adventure," about a 35-minute drive away.