Babcock Ranch Real Estate

Babcock Ranch is a new master-planned community under development on the Lee and Charlotte County line in Southwest Florida. With 18,000 acres of land, Babcock Ranch is an area larger than Manhattan that will accommodate 19,000 homes and 50,000 residents when completed. The community is the first fully solar powered city in the nation.  Read more about Babcock Ranch real estate.

Babcock Ranch Homes For Sale

More About Babcock Ranch Real Estate

Babcock Ranch Amenities

Designed to offer its residents a charming small-town feel, Babcock Ranch also delivers endless amenities against a backdrop of Southwest Florida natural beauty.

In addition to an array of trails, lakes and parks on which to socialize, Babcock Ranch is also home to the Lake Timber Lodge and Cypress Lodge.  Similar to a summer camp, the 2400 sf Lake Timber Lodge is rustic in design with a pool, bath house, playground and imposing 2,000 sf deck overlooking the lake.

Cypress Lodge spans 17,000 sf with a game lawn, clubhouse and oversize swimming pool. Just steps away is the Lake Babcock Lookout with a 150 ft boardwalk, and floating dock. 

The Lee Health Healthy Life Center offers a convenient blend of health services and programs as well as fitness memberships and wellness services to both residents of Babcock Ranch and surrounding communities.

Babcock Ranch’s waterfront setting makes it a popular place for freshwater catch and release fishing as well as for kayaking or canoeing on Lake Babcock.

The community is also home to five dining establishments ranging from pizza to Mexican to more traditional pub food.  Spices and vegetables grown in the Babcock Ranch community garden are incorporated into the daily specials and ongoing menu items.

All residents can take advantage of the Babcock Ranch community garden to grow their own herbs, spices, and vegetables and participate fully in the farm-to-table culture.

Babcock Ranch Layout

Babcock Ranch will be a self-contained community with residential areas as well as commercial space, light industry, retail and civic space. The development includes four villages, five hamlets including Lake Timber and a walkable downtown area featuring 8,000 homes, offices, shopping, restaurants and office parks. Plans include eight magnet elementary schools, a high school and a satellite campus of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Founder’s Square

Babcock Ranch is anchored by its Downtown District known as Founder’s Square. Woodlea Hall is the first civic building in the community and it home to an information center. The Table & Tap Restaurant sits in a prominent lakefront location in Founder’s Square and offers a farm-to-table cuisine along with an outdoor beer garden featuring selections from local breweries. Curry Creek Outfitters is located adjacent to Woodlea Hall and caters to hikers, bikers, kayakers and fishermen. Other Founder’s Square amenities include a fishing pier, event lawn, splash pad and lakefront boardwalk.

Babcock Ranch Green Initiatives

A cornerstone of the Babcock Ranch community is that it will be the first solar-powered city in the country. In conjunction with Florida Power & Light Company, the community will be powered by a massive 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic array which sits adjacent to the community. This array when completed is expected to be the largest in the world.

Commercial buildings and homes in Babcock Ranch will be energy efficient and constructed to the standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition. A tech center with an emphasis on research and development for clean energy will be located at Babcock Ranch.

Babcock Ranch Developer

Palm Beach Gardens-based developer Kitson & Partners acquired Babcock Ranch from the Babcock Family in 2005. They subsequently sold 74,000-acres to the State of Florida and Lee County and reserved 18,000-acres for development. Kitson & Partners is led by former NFL lineman Syd Kitson who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. The company has extensive development experience in Florida including the Ibis Country Club in West Palm Beach, Bay Pines in Tampa and Talis Park in Naples.

Babcock Ranch Frequently Asked Questions

Is Babcock Ranch a working ranch?

No, not currently. However, more than one hundred years ago Babcock Ranch was primarily operated for logging and agricultural uses. The name comes from Edward Babcock, a lumber baron, who purchased the land in 1914, ultimately passing it down to his son, Fred, and his children. The Babcock family sold the land to developer Kitson & Partners in 2005, who sold portions of it back to the state for preservation purposes.Today 50% of the Babcock Ranch footprint (9,000 acres) is dedicated to natural greenways, parks, and lakes.

To learn more about the area’s history as well as the surrounding Florida ecosystems and wildlife, we recommend taking a 90-minute Swamp Buggy Eco-tour of the adjacent Crescent B Ranch (not part of Babcock Ranch).

Why is Babcock Ranch considered eco-friendly?

As the first solar-powered town in America, sustainability and renewable energy are a way of life at Babcock Ranch. The community partnered with the state to produce more clean, renewable energy than it consumes with a massive solar facility onsite.

• Babcock’s reliance on solar-power, good planning and robust building codes helped many of its residents emerge unscathed from Hurricane Ian
• The community's network of parks, gardens and expansive trails provide alternative transportation as well as ways for residents to connect with their neighbors. Babcock Ranch schools are also within walking distance of home, and shopping and dining are easily accessible by foot
• In addition, all homes are built to Florida Green Building requirements, with a community-wide standard for energy efficiency, conservation and low-impact landscaping
• Solar-powered golf cars are also a popular mode of transportation at Babcock and figure prominently in some of the holiday parades!

What kind of houses are at Babcock Ranch?

There are a variety of homes at Babcock Ranch ranging from condos and townhomes on a golf course to villas and custom single-family homes with 2 and 3-car garages and private pools. A 55+ active living community is also underway. According to the latest data, 70% of the properties are single-family homes, 20% are villas, and 10% are townhomes and condos.  Prices range from the mid-300s to more than $2 million for custom estates with lake views. 

How do the amenities work?

Residents enjoy a number of common amenities centered around several prominent gathering areas connected by the network of nature trails. The Lakehouse and Cypress Lodge are located at different points in the community and equipped with pools, sprawling game and event lawns, and playgrounds. The Splash Pad near Founder’s Square is another great kid destination. Dogs also enjoy their own green space. Other shared amenities include;

• Tennis, pickleball, basketball and bocce courts
• High-speed Internet
• Kayaking, canoeing, and fishing from the many lakes
• Regular community events organized by the Association

Specific communities offer their own amenities such as golf, a fitness center and spa, and additional waterfront settings, that are available to just those residents.

Is there an HOA?

Yes, HOA or Home Owners Associations assessments differ with the neighborhood, size of home, and or lot. They may also reflect any additional amenities specific to that community, such as golf or security in a gated area.

Where is Babcock Ranch? What is it close to?

Babcock Ranch is in Southwest Florida, approximately 20 miles North of Fort Myers, straddling both Charlotte and Lee Counties. The majority of the homes are located in Charlotte County with future builds focusing on this area. Residents are approximately 50-60 minutes from either the Fort Myers or Naples beaches to the South and 30-40 minutes from the Fort Myers and Punta Gorda airports.

The community was deliberately designed with walkable town centers so residents can enjoy a walkable lifestyle, no matter where they live. Babcock has its own schools, a vet, a golf course, onsite dining, a Publix, and a mix of retail and service outlets. Plans for a hospital and additional dining and retail options are also in the works.

Babcock Ranch Introduction

The World's First Solar Town

Spotlight On Babcock Ranch

Babcock Ranch Location

Additional Resources

Babcock Ranch Developer Website

Questions About Babcock Ranch