ATV Florida Forum

I've heard people talk about a place to ride in the far north end of lakeland off US98 called rancho.  Anyone ever heard of this place?  Where exactly is it and is it legal?  Any details would be appreicated!

go past 471 and you will come to 54 turn left and is bout 1 mile on the left and i don't know if its legal but no one really even cares out there i go pretty regular

Yeah I finally found it on google earth.  I might give it a try during the week sometime, just worried about my truck getting broken in to at a place like that.

rancho is on the east side of zhills close to where 54 meets 98.   Been many times & here is what i can tell ya: pay to park in the lot on 54; you'll see the sign on fri, sat & sun. I heard all the stories too: people being robbed at gunpoint, break-ins, bin laden hiding out there, etc, but never had a problem.  Would I say CWP worthy? Sure, just like all of Florida.  Sure you see some shady characters, but overall most people you meet out there are decent folks looking for a place to ride.
Terrain is a mix of wooded trails, mud bogs, & wide trails which were going to be the development's roads.  No hills and a lot of sugar sand.  Many of the trails are whooped, especially the main roads.   It's dusty and dry right now so a dust mask is recommended and goggles are mandatory.  Around feb- april the place gets really muddy & flooded. Since it doesn't rain much then I think swiftmud has some flood control going on with the lakes on the neighboring property.  I would estimate it's about 1500 - 2000 acres.
I went last weekend only because I didn't have time to make it to Dirty Foot. If you haven't been, it's worth checking out for a change of scenery.

So there is a lot you can pay to park at?  Is the lot not open during the week?

PLEASE BE CAREFUL

It is hunting season and there are hunters there that hunt.............they do not like for you to disturb their wildlife.......Remember they have guns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think open gun season doesnt start till dec for the rancho area.

I will be, I Conceal Carry everywhere I go anyways lol

We do too.... Although for some reason I do not think that will help when a bullet comes from a 1/2 mile away lol

From what I was told the ones doing the hunting is the owners and they really don't want you out there during hunting season. Heard this from several sources but never been able to verify. Either way just makes sense not to go during hunting season for everybody's sake. Nothing kills a fun day better than someone getting accidently shot.

AS per the letter of the law riding out there without the written consent of a property owner is Trespassing and you can and many have been issued tickets. I haven't been out there in a long time however i can tell you when i did go out there every now and then we would hear that the cops were out there the day before, week before ect, they never make consistent patrols more so just show up after someone reports theft a stolen car out their or what not. My understanding is the guy with the parking lot owns the property he lets you park on but from what i remember the area you ride on is owned by many different people ( think RR )


YMMV

it was an old land scam like River Ranch was when it started long ago. All the landowners are either dead or out of state and they dont show up. It is swamp land that was sold a long time ago and no one built there because when it does rain it is a swamp.

Here is a workshop from the polk county sherriffs about the place. Pretty informative about the leagality of riding out there!!!



http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexSessionSKU=M29FM9y9MQGhrouMRDiRvA%3D%3D&siteSKU=aHwjZ6fL8L6o4rAkN%2f5%2fMw%3d%3d&categorySKUs=X7ixa7%2bAt8elmouH4WIOjw%3d%3d&categorySearch=categoryAll

page not found.....

Fixed!!

This is a GREAT find.....  I think everyone needs to watch it!!!  yes it is extremely long but you really need to watch this

yeah its deff long!! the web is a great place. I will have to see if I can find any newer workshops on this place.

I am still watching it (1 hour and 46 min)  :o

Haven;t had a chance to watch it and I will, but would someone give a summary?

it is a workshop by the county to rid Rancho and the illegal activities that happen there

I am glad to see this is a priority to the county to assist the neighbors and land owners to rid the filth that is continuous there

I don't think its really a priority, as they say in the workshop that it is a long time problem area and that at that point they don't have any solutions. But it is something that they are aware of. With all the budget cuts I'm sure their level of priority for rancho has dropped drasticly! They also state that they cant really tresspass anybody because they don't know whos land is whos because there is not many of the propterties that have been surveyed!!!

I wouldn't call it a priority seein it's dated back in December 2008! I know Polk County is a little slow but still don't think it's a priority!  ;D

I was there yesterday and I had a blast. Everyone was really friendaly and it is HUGE.  I rode witha rew people that live out there and this is what they tolf me:

   It was supposed to be a neighborhood/subdivision. They started tearing down the forest (the unfinished roads are what's left) and they found an endangered turtle species and they were forced to stop construction.

I loved it out there.  lost of trails, mud pits, open areas.  There are places to ride alone  or with people. HUUUGE

I am goign this weekend agian if anyone wants to join

What day are you going?? I was thinkin about checking it out on Sunday...

I going to go on Sunday too. We should ride.  Have you been before?

Never, I live in Brandon and from what I hear, its the place to go... Im just not sure if its a place I should bring my kid...

Was there still a old bronco stuck out in the back with the rear tire up in the air off the ground?

There were several families put there riding and grilling. The young adults that i saw were respectful of space and speed when around the youngsters.

There were people out there that looked "sketchy" but that is me judging a book by it's cover. Everyone I interacted with was nice. The guy I went with is bringing his kid next time

No I didn't see that Bronco but there was one that broke down in 4 foot of water but they towed it out

Say on the News last week that the county is trying to shut down Rancho again

Talked with people that went to the meeting. Basicaly not enough money in the budget to do anything at this time. Put on the back burner for now!!

But still you don't want to get caught entering or leaving the place. You will
get into trouble. If you go be careful not stupid.

I have never got into trouble Entering or Leaving the place. I've even stopped & talk with
Polk County's finest on the occasion that they're out there & had no problems!!!!!!! No problems
with anybody as far as that goes day or night!

rode there many times and never had a problem.

You cannot get in troble for enter or leaving unless you already have a warrant or are there to dump trash, etc.  If your just there to ride you will not have any problems with LEOs

there  was  a big  articl  in  the lakeland  ledger about  2 weeks  ago  about  rancho  .Its  owned  by  mostly  people  from  puerto  rico  or  northerners that  bought it  back  in  the  70s  since  there  are no  roads  its considered agricultural  and they  cant  build  . Since its not  posted   they  cant do  nothing  to  you  unless  you  are  doing illegal  stuff  or  have  a  warrant  .I ve  been  out  there  and  talked  to  Polk  county  sheriffs  and  all  they  are  doing  is making  sure  nothing  bad is  going on   


here s a article
http://www.theledger.com/article/20110915/NEWS/110919563?tc=obinsite (http://www.theledger.com/article/20110915/NEWS/110919563?tc=obinsite)

Me & the wife had a blast today riding with Dirty Brutes & his wife. Bumped into some friends &
made a couple new ones & had a group ride! The creek is starting to go down but still plenty wet after the recent rains. I will give you a call towards the end of the week Dirty Brutes about
going to ONF next weekend. I might just head back out there later for a night ride, ain't done one in a wile!

Had a great night ride!!!  Seen a few hogs & had a few beers with some campers! :T
Can't wait for the first frost to kill off them skeeters tho!!!

Great time like usual! Glad you had a good night ride. Keep me posted about ONF. Get a friend who called me today about going to his property in North Florida. He wanrs to ride also. We will make something happen. Have fun.

Sounds like river ranch

Looks like a nice place to ride. As long as people that go out there BEHAVE !!!!!

I've been riding ATV's for a few years now and i'm also a LEO, the biggest problem cops have

with ATV riders is their lack of respect for the law. It is also a disrespect to the community to go

there and do what you want to do. It is completely careless. Not to mention dangerous. For the

most part ATV riders are good law abiding citizens, but as we all know the bad always overide

the good. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch. We are the future of this sport.

What ever happens will be our doing. Good or Bad.

And.. Can I please get directions from Miami-dade County ?

Come up I75 and I think its exit 275 but not sure, its the New Port Richey/Z-hills , SR54 exit.  You want to go eastbound towards Z-Hills. You will stay on SR54 and once you have crossed two separate railroad crossings its on the left side. If you get to US98 you have passed it.  There are no signs its just in the middle of no where.  There is a guy who lets you park on his property for 5 bucks or with a trailer is 7 bucks its worth the money to park.  It would be best if you met up with someone to ride with that knows where it is, the place is easy to miss. Have fun.

Thank You. Any chance we could do a group ride ?

When do you plan on coming up?  Deff. ride with you, always looking to meet people to ride with.

When you looking at coming this way.  My wheels are in pieces but it should be running within the next two or three weeks. I should also ask what you are riding.  My outlander is running, that one is good for trail and mudd riding the sport quad is getting the work done thats the one I like to ride the most.

Sorry!! Didn't mean to butt in on ya'lls conversation!! If you would like i could get the guys address so you could GPS the way to the parking Caospop.  Thinking about going for a ride tomorrow afternoon.

Your not buttting just helping another rider thats :ThumbsUp.gif  Wish I could ride but have to work :'(

Gonna be out there for a ride Sun. 10-23. Anybody wanna ride along?

Wish I could but I have to work. :'(

No problem Patches!! Dirty Brutes may make it out. Either way gonna have fun!!!!!!!!!

new to the area - will be out there tomorrow morning if you want to meet up to ride. Ride a trx450r and there will a dirt bike.

What time you gonna get there?  Just got back from ONF! Man what a great day to be riding!!!
We made it back to the trail head as the sun went down. 

sorry we missed you. we were there from 9:30 to 1. Pretty wet still but probably not a prob for you. Was with a couple 3 wheelers that could not go through the water. But did get to the back section in the morning.

No problem Kevchil! Maybe we can meet up next time you go.  Made it out there about 11am. Didn't get back from ONF till late. Bumped into Dirty Brutes & his wife, little girl & rode around with them. Talked with a few riders that i have towed back to the front.   Hate to see anyone stranded!!!!  Man them skeeters have gotten intense in the back tho!!!!

One question can you still ride out there i heard they will arrest anyone out there and sieze both your ATV and your car and take you to jail.... i have ridden out there last year and now i have my ATV back and completely re-biult i was eager to go but then i heard that you cant ride there anymore i want to go riding but not sure if your allowed

Still open, haven't seen anyone go to jail or get their stuff impounded!!!!! I'll be riding there this weekend!

Was great to meet you out there this weekend.


Quinn

2012 sportsman 500ho red

Same here!!! Had fun as usual. Post up when you go riding again & will to try to meet up!
Enjoy the new wheeler!!!!!!!!!!

So SMP63 what is the status at Rancho I am hearing horror stories?    Would like to come ride with you one of theses days.

Hows it been going patches? What you been hearing? Allot of people starting to camp out again.
The front is starting to dry up finally, won't be long before the main entrance will be in use. David, the guy who parks people in his yard is going to have to stop soon. The county said he needs to have a common use permit to park vehicles on his property. The only bad thing I've seen recently is the scumbag thieves trashed a stolen Chevy SUV early Sunday morning sometime after 1am, it wasn't there when i left but was when i went back out there about noon. AZZHOLES!!!! Other than that haven't seen or heard anything bad.
I'm there to ride & have fun not look for trouble!

I have talked to people out there that Croom is supposed to be putting on a person that is supposed to groom the trails fulltime, I hope that happens, would buy a sticker & start riding there some.  We'll get together one of these day & ride, don't have to be @ Rancho!!!

  I am great SPM63 thanks for asking.  Just that the entry ways to Rancho were being monitored and folks getting locked up for trespassing.  I have no problem if they are illegally dumping or riding hot wheels and get sent to the pokey but I do not see how a blanket no tresspass warning for all would be legal.  There are multipal property owners out there and they would all have to agree on this blanket no trespass issue.

Groomed trails at Croom that would be outstanding.  Croom is one of my favorite places to ride.   

One of they days we will get it together for a ride.

Agree with the dumpers & thieves getting locked up!!!!!!! I have talked to 4 property owners
that have been contacted & they say no to the blanket tresspass. After turkey day gonna try to become a property owner with 3 freinds to keep from getting locked out when they do shut it down.

The paid parking @ RANCHO has officially CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!  AZZHOLES playing their music too loud & riding like MORONS causing a constant dust cloud in the parking area this last weekend got the neighbors in an uproar. Code Enforcement of Polk County paid David a visit on Monday & they are going to start FINEING him if he does not stop!!!!!!!! Because of the MORONS & AZZHOLES listed above he has no choice but to CLOSE DOWN. Yet again the BAD FEW have gotten a GOOD thing for the many SHUT DOWN!!!!!!! 

Is he still able to let people drive threw? Never park there but like to camp just on the other side.

Well thats sucks, I guess I will not be coming that way anymore my trailer is to big and heavy to go through all that mud and water at the main entrance. >:(

I'll check it out & let you know!!!!!

Well it explains why more people are coming to Hudson to ride now and it won't be long before they get run out of there too thanks to all the trash being left around, people riding up and down the streets all day and night, loud late night music and rampant gunfire. Just a fair warning to anyone coming this way,"ENJOY IT, DON'T DESTROY IT".

The Answer is "NO" on the drive thru!!!!!!!!!!

Well was fun while it lasted.... :(

It won't be long & the main entrance will be dry!!!!!!!

Just did a drive by Rancho. Azzholes & morons have cut the fence & broke off the fence posts
of a property owner just off the main entrance & are parking all over it. They got a surprise coming for as i went to 54 & 98 to turn around, Polk County's finest are fixin to go teach them a lesson. Stopped & talked with them & they are responding to said property owners complaint. They are parked so you can't see them from the main entrance & according to the officer i spoke to if there stuff ain't right there going for a ride!!!!! I will never understand why people got to tear up, destroy, or steal other peoples property.  I'm glad I was raised better than that!!!!

Playing it safe so I rode Croom today, no arz holes in sight!

Hope you & Dirty Girl had a good time!!!!!!!! Wanted to make out there but didn't get back in time. Went to the wife's Xmas party @ Downtown Tampa Marriott Waterside & spent the night.
Them Doctors know how to party!!! Good food & they gave away some great stuff! They pick names of employees from a big basket,from $100 gas cards to a 40" LCD. Employee of the year
gets $1,500 cash & gets to park in the Doctors parking spot of their choice for a year!! Wanted to get an earlier start yesterday but the wife had alittle hangover. We almost killed a 1.75L of Bacardi.  I'd rather poke a grizzly bear with a stick than mess with the wife when shes gotta
hangover!!! LMAO!

Gotta call from a couple friends that were hanging out in the back of Rancho waiting for the cops to get done & asked if I would ride out & take a look to see if they were gone. The only one there was the property owner fixing up his fence once again. Lets just say he was really unhappy!!!!!!!

WOM said they were closed down, not sure though! It is a fun spot to ride, but don't bring kids there after dark or overnight!

RANCHO  is  closed   POLK  County  Sheriffs  deputies   had  it  fenced  off   said if  anyone  gets  caught  out there  they  will  arrest   them 

They  were  giving  warnings  and telling  people  to  leave   had   some  buddies  that  went  out  there  and  were told  to  leave 

Ok, so now someone ask the polk county sheriffs office where in polk county can You ride this off-road vehicle that can legally be purchased in polk county. Legal to buy but not legal to ride anywhere?     

Well i know of 2 places you can legally ride in Polk county.. Dirty Foot Adventures and Triple Canopy Ranch. I don't know about any one else but when i decided to spend a few thousand dollars on a ATV i checked to see where i could legally ride before i bought one.

Key word "LEGALLY"

Rode out there Friday night with a deed owner. Bumped into 6 Polk Sheriffs & a couple wildlife officers on wheelers & a 4 seat Ranger @ different times & locations. It was nice & quiet out there! Went by there yesterday on my way to Lakeland & laughed because people were parking on that guys property again. I new it was a matter of time before the sheriffs would be there!

So SMP63 if you own property your good to go?  It sounded like they fenced the place off and restricted everyone.  I could not see them stopping property owners that would be a lawsuit in the making.  Now how can they prove your own property or are riding with the permissing of a property owner? 

all  they  Have  to  do  is  search  the  Property  Appraisers  office  if  your  name  is  on  the Deed   your  good  to  go !!!!

Hey just wanted to let everyone know that some friends of mine were arrested out at rancho as soon as they entered the gate!!!! The officers said the land owner of one specific tract of land had his land surveyed and anyone that entered on his property was to be arrested. The vehicles were impounded.....police said it was zero tollerence and warnings were not to be given!!! Of course this one land owner has the property right off  HWY 54 where everyone enters. The land owners last name is Bedi and he is working with the county to shut down rancho. I understand a lot of crimes go on out there but it sucks for the people who just want to ride around and have fun!!! Just a warning....I talked to the tow truck guy who impounded our stuff and he said 117 people were arrested there last weekend.....I dont want to see it happen to anyone else. We even had one of the land owners on the phone and the police said they didnt care if we had permission or not, fight it out in court!!!!

Sorry went out of town hunting.  Yes Patches if you are a deed owner you can ride out there. According to the officers we spoke to that Friday night, if you are a guest of a deed owner you
need a permission slip from the deed owner with your name or names & the deed owners contact info.  Agree with FORDFANZ.       As far as I know if you are caught parking on that property you speak of kortmae yes you are going for a ride!!!!   

they can only tresspass you on that paticular lot.  The main entrance gate is a dirt road that SHOULD be free for anyone to travel on since it was supposed to be a road into the subdivision.  Not worth the risk IMHO to ride out there anyways, Croom is only about 30mins away and is much better than that trash-ridden swamp.

Any way you look at it they are riding on property that belongs to some one else.  (Not Them).  If you look around there are places to ride legally.  If more people would support those places that are legal we might see more private and state ATV trails.   

This  why  I  bought land in Suburban  Estates   10000 acres  and   no  drama  !!!!!!!!

never heard of the place?  Where is it?

Do they still have land for sale?

http://reviews.ebay.com/Suburban-Estates-Holopaw-FL-Lots-for-sale?ugid=10000000004904205 (http://reviews.ebay.com/Suburban-Estates-Holopaw-FL-Lots-for-sale?ugid=10000000004904205)

Thanks Thunderdually!!!

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I've lived next to rancho for over 40 years and also own land inside, What a mess it's become! Riders coming into our pasture at all hours and tearing down gates. I can hear the loud ATV's sometimes until early morning, cows get agitated, dogs barking all hours. I quit worrying about my 10 lots since they are all chewed up and trash everywhere. I wonder how these riders would feel if this was happening to them. We all had a good place to ride but now I will help shut it down any way I can!

Welcome to the forum Jeeper.  I can't say i blame you. When i first started to ride out there i started to pick the area i parked @.  Had it all picked up, missed 3 weekends going out there & on the 4 weekend it looked like it did when i started parking there so i gave up!!!! Its a crying shame people are like that now days. Total lack of respect!!!!!!!!!!!

The worst part about it is, the ones that trash it are the first to whine and complain and don't understand why it was shut down....

I had a lot of fun out at rancho. Now it appears I have to go else where for short trips.

Really? When was the last time you were really there?

How's the weather where you're at?

 :)

Respectable " Family" looking to bring family to Ride, our 4 wheelers for the day and Enjoy...

Is there a " Deed' you can buy for access
To Rancho?

Please email me @ wicked.jeep@hotmail.com