A potential “dude ranch” is planned and in review for Nassau County.
River and Roots Ranch is a proposed 6-acre agritourism project planned in Bryceville, a rural community in southwestern Nassau County.
Representing the project at an April 21 Development Review Committee meeting, Erin Companion, a Realtor with Yulee-based ERA OneTeam Realty, described the early-stage concept as a destination that “will be doing dude ranch things.”
According to a pre-application the county is reviewing, “within the first three years, the ranch will offer horse boarding, vacation rental and retreat space, and educational opportunities through local schools and 4-H.”
County documents also list a proposed residence for a full-time ranch manager.
Future plans, the pre-application says, include u-pick berry fields, kids’ camps and occasional special events for ranch guests.
Bordering the Florida-Georgia line, the property is listed on paperwork submitted to the DRC as having an address of 14707 Howard Road. River & Roots Ranch is located at 14709 Howard Road in Bryceville, according to its website.
While not listed for sale, owner Shawna Perpall said land is being “looked at” by potential buyer Ben Wright, who is moving forward with due diligence.
Wright is listed on a preapplication filed with the Nassau County DRC.
A pre-application allows a potential developer like Wright to gauge county requirements before a finalized acquisition. Because the plan involves public lodging on the rural site, the DRC flagged several technical requirements for civil plans.
Those include detailed flood hazard studies and fire sprinkler systems mandated for guest buildings, as well as meeting well-water standards that require annual testing.
At the DRC meeting, civil plans were not presented and an engineer was not identified.
The project remains in the discovery phase, with the DRC’s technical recommendations serving as the roadmap for the potential development. The DRC is not a decision-making body.