FORT STOCKTON — Zachary Swick plucked a pecan from one of the 78,000 trees at a sprawling West Texas farm — a rare sight in the desert known for oil rigs and pump jacks leaving a stain on his hands that would be difficult to wash off there might not be any pecans left to peel Swick is the farm manager at Belding Farms which has been owned for decades by the Cockrell family the farm produces 5 million pounds of the iconic Texas nut The farm sits atop a reservoir of underground water used to produce the pecans since the 1960s The farm shares the water with its neighbors all property owners have the right to use the water underneath their boots One of those neighbors is Fort Stockton Holdings a company established by oil baron and one-time gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams has sought to sell its share of the water to West Texas’ growing cities The 50-year deal between the company and the cities of Midland Abilene and San Angelo would exchange water from the aquifers for $261 million Midland is the capital of the Permian Basin a 61-county region that holds the state’s vast oil reserves And more are expected as the oil industry shows no signs of slowing sustainable water supply that requires minimal treatment and can meet the city's future needs,” Midland Mayor Lori Blong said in a statement Fort Stockton Holdings did not return requests for comment Belding Farms has asked the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District the local governing body tasked with managing water rights to protect the water to ensure it isn’t swallowed up by the deal Fort Stockton Holdings will sell 28,400 acre-feet of water per year as part of the contract more than twice as much as the farm uses on an annual basis the groundwater district rejected Belding Farms’ request to put more rules and fees around the exports the decision is only one factor in a yearslong feud between the two powerful families and that's our biggest concern,” Swick said “Will that water be as consistent as it has been in the past?” It is the only nut indigenous to the state according to the Texas State Historical Association The Texas Legislature in 1919 declared pecans the official state tree The Cockrell family began planting pecan trees in the 1960s about 40 employees work year-round to tend to the farm from the orchard manager and foremen to mechanics Workers stimulate cross-pollination throughout the year The pecans mature during the summer and fall Farming the 2,200 acres requires water — and a lot of it The farm uses between 11,000 acre-feet and 12,100 acre-feet of water annually The farm employs different irrigation mechanisms to keep the farm hydrated efficiently including a technique called land leveling in which excess water pools on a terrace between the trees to prevent run-off The farm also has cement canals along the property that hold the water and stop it from seeping into the soil the farm has bolstered its efforts to conserve water it spent about $455,000 to install a sprinkler system that covers 96 acres the sprinklers shoot out a stream of water to prevent evaporation Also scattered across the farm are soil moisture probes that monitor whether the ground needs to be watered Swick said that he and the farm try to be proactive in conserving water because a dry spell could result in a crisis for the farm and the surrounding community which are not able to pump water if the aquifers are below a certain threshold the ramifications of that could be huge,” he said.” We could lose large sections of our farm if not all of it.” Texas has a long history of private property rights larger cities have turned to rural landowners to buy their water The 98 groundwater conservation districts, which are mostly in rural or sparsely populated communities, manage the water supply. Groundwater districts are the state’s “preferred method of groundwater management in order to protect property rights,” an update to an old mandate known as the rule of capture that allowed landowners to pump water as they wished The conflict between Belding Farms and Fort Stockton Holdings began in 2009 when the latter first attempted to sell roughly 50,000 acre-feet annually One acre-foot of water is about 325,851 gallons of water The groundwater district initially rejected the request, in part because the exports needed more protections attached to it. At the time, then-mayor of Fort Stockton, Ruben Falcon, said the residents felt “that the future water supply is threatened by having a large amount of water transferred out of the aquifer.” Fort Stockton Holdings and the groundwater district reached an agreement to allow the holding company to pump and sell 28,400 acre-feet of water That’s when Belding Farms sued the groundwater district which controls the permits for export agreements like the one between Fort Stockton Holding and the other cities the farm has sued five times and petitioned the groundwater district to establish controls around the exports including defining so-called unreasonable impacts Unreasonable impacts would define the points at which the aquifer is too low The farm also asked the district to impose a 20-cent export fee for every 1,000 gallons These collections would provide financial compensation to landowners affected by unreasonable impacts The groundwater district rejected both in its October session Two of the cases reached the Supreme Court of Texas The first is the settlement agreement between Fort Stockton Holdings and the groundwater district which allowed the company to sell the water The second case concerns a renewal permit for Fort Stockton Holdings which will need to continue to sell the water Groundwater District board members say they must grant companies and individuals the ability to use the groundwater as they see fit adding it has been caught in the crosshairs of a generational dispute In 2012, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in an unrelated case that groundwater districts could not severely limit landowners from pumping water the attorney for the Edwards Aquifer Authority said the ruling would “make life much more complicated for groundwater districts.” it's like you have to keep giving big chunks of that pie out because if you start telling people no you’re going to get sued,” said Robert Mace executive director at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment “That’s a case the district’s probably going to lose.” landowners who drill a water well that is within the jurisdiction of a groundwater conservation district must register it Groundwater conservation districts issue permits for commercial wells or wells that pump large volumes of water from the aquifer Groundwater districts determine their supply by monitoring the water underground. Every five years, they submit a report to the Texas Water Development Board that calculates the available water for the next 50 years. The groundwater district uses that information for regional planning and how much water can be permitted for pumping a research assistant professor at the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas said the goal was to maximize the use of the available water while balancing that against protecting the supply the general manager of the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District said he sees his role less as a regulator and more as a relationship manager The groundwater conservation district must represent and protect the interests of groundwater users If a landowner disagrees with the groundwater district’s decision they can approach the board members and request changes Edwards said that is the point of a local governing agency Three pools of water flow underneath the soil in Fort Stockton a geographically unique makeup that isn’t common in Texas The Edwards Trinity aquifer is closest to the surface The Capitan Reef Complex aquifer is the deepest one The farm and holding company are not the only water rights owners in Pecos County Almost 3,000 of those belong to landowners who registered their wells One hundred wells make up the majority of the water use another pecan farm and a detention facility a combined 42,205 acre-feet of water was pumped from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer That’s more than Midland and Ector counties which pumped a combined 25,000 acre-feet of groundwater in 2021 according to the regional water plan submitted by 32 counties to the Water Development Board Fort Stockton Holdings’ deal with the cities will add 24,800 acre-feet more pumping annually Edwards said that the groundwater district evaluated pumping levels over the years and determined that the impact on the aquifer would not be a risk He said the monitoring mechanisms are protective of the aquifer Fort Stockton Holdings and the Cockrell family armed themselves with lawyers scientists and consultants who have sparred for years disputing the data they present to each other Edwards said the data Belding Farms provided helped them arrive at their decision Although it is not opposed to exports outright the Cockrell family argues this amount could drain the aquifer faster than it can recharge They said the groundwater conservation district's monitoring ability is not robust enough and can only provide estimates of the water levels Experts also pointed to excessive agricultural pumping in the 1950s who volunteered at Belding Farms in his youth He said the historical data going back decades portrays a healthy aquifer capable of withstanding the added demand “We’re not going to let their wells go dry,” Edwards said At the groundwater district’s October meeting The 11 board members sat around a conference table beneath a wide-screen TV where scientists lawyers and consultants gathered and waited their turn to speak a former commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality erstwhile chair and board member of the Texas Water Development Board Reed once again asked the groundwater district to consider setting stricter rules and defining unreasonable impacts What he is asking is not included in the law It would be up to the groundwater district to establish Fort Stockton Holding’s attorney spoke next calling the request a fearmongering tactic He said their studies show the aquifer can sustain the added pumping Board members said they would convene the residents and discuss adding export fees at their discretion not the 20-cent amount the Cockrell family recommended Edwards sat in his office with a plate of barbecue in front of him A groundwater field technician cooked the meal He said Texas law compels them to treat groundwater users equally and that the Legislature does not give them enough teeth to take on every battle “Nobody likes the fact that water is going to leave Pecos County,” Edwards said You're not going to find anybody in the community that supports them moving water out of the county Reed said the groundwater district’s decision was shortsighted in refusing to agree to the farm’s terms Reed did not say what the farm would do next Disclosure: Edwards Aquifer Authority, Texas 2036 and Texas State Historical Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here Choose an amount or learn more about membership 141% Increase in sales from November to January Year-Over-Year FORT WORTH, Texas, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pecan Plantation, one of Patten Properties' Texas acreage communities has experienced a 141% surge in sales from November to January The community's rapid growth is further underscored by 62 new permits issued and 80 new homes currently under development signaling strong demand in the Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market Record Sales Growth at Pecan Plantation – 141% Increase in Sales YoY Since Patten Properties launched sales at Pecan Plantation with $43+ million in sales volume - a testament to the growing number of families seeking a lifestyle change The demand for The Landings Pecan Plantation's private airpark community making it the fastest-selling fly-in community in the country Opportunities to secure a homesite in this exclusive enclave are becoming increasingly limited Existing home sales at Pecan Plantation were strong in 2024 with 146 units sold at a higher price per square foot compared to 2023 Buyer traffic at Pecan Plantation has more than doubled over the last three months and all indicators suggest another record year of homesite sales in 2025 "We specialize in identifying high-growth areas like Granbury—close to major cities with significant growth potential—allowing buyers to secure properties at below-market prices," said John Patten "With the Dallas-Fort Worth area expanding we're offering families the chance to own land in an area of increasing demand." Residents also enjoy a vibrant shopping village with dining and retail options now is the ideal time to elevate your lifestyle at Pecan Plantation Media Contact: Heather Robison, [email protected]  About Patten Properties: Patten Properties and its partners are recognized as industry authorities on real estate investment and development nationwide Their culture is founded on integrity and professionalism combined with a commitment to creating value and opportunity in today's real estate environment A community celebration will take place at Republic Grand Ranch on Monday honoring triple-amputee Zach Parker and unveiling his .. Patten Properties will host its first-ever Modern Homesteading Event on Saturday April 19 from 12–3 PM at Republic Grand Ranch in Montgomery County Banking & Financial Services Construction & Building Real Estate Residential Real Estate Do not sell or share my personal information: Virgil Vaughn's family and neighbors still halfway expect him to step out into his pecan orchard This autumn marks the third harvest at Vaughn Family Pecan Farm since “the nut man’s” death but his undeniable passion for pecans has kept his unusual project and intimate family business going the people who loved Virgil most spend hours working in his orchard of pecan trees located about 35 miles from downtown Louisville in Scottsburg they bring in as many nuts as they can from the 300 or so trees before the deer Then they spend countless hours husking the nuts by hand from their green ball-like casing the oil from the husks stains their fingers and hands black for days and skilled man they couldn’t help but adore “To know that a man of his caliber had that much passion for something The bounty last year, which they sell through the farm's Facebook page and at the Scott County Farmers Market totaled about 800 pounds of in-shell pecans a sliver compared to what you’d see from major commercial pecan producers in places like Texas and Georgia to the small team Michael leads that keeps this operation running The annual harvest isn't about making money It's about Virgil’s unconventional legacy as "the nut man." There’s no denying that Virgil’s dream of growing pecans in Southern Indiana was a highly unusual ambition His deep knowledge of trees and nuts was largely self-taught but he worked with the University of Texas to select the right varieties of pecan trees that would thrive in this climate Some species of pecan trees are native to Indiana but Virgil had never met anyone else in the area who had grown and harvested them successfully "The nut man" nickname wasn't just a description of the work he did It often reflected how some people in the community felt about his atypical passion it just fueled him to prove them wrong,” Michael said Virgil had a track record of pursuing unorthodox careers He spent 28 years working on the Alaskan Pipeline where he also did a stint as a trapper and even panned for gold Then he moved south to Indiana and met his future wife she agreed to go on a date with Virgil in December 1994 They were such a natural fit that they married weeks later on Jan He planted the pecan trees on their 24-acre property that spring the orchard would take much longer to grow he expected it would take seven to 11 years for them to produce but by taking wood from older trees and grafting it onto his young trees he didn’t have the machinery needed to pick the pecans So Virgil fashioned a lift of sorts to his truck and backed it up to each tree Several more years would pass before his farm could afford a shaker that rattled the tree so hard the pecans fell from the branches and another tool that collected the bright green orbs from the ground like the machine that picks up golf balls at a driving range But just as his wild pecan vision became a reality the future of the farm became much less clear He hired Michael to help mow the area around the trees while he prepared and recovered from his first eye surgery Michael took on more of a role in fertilizing and harvesting After three unsuccessful surgeries on his eyes Virgil knew Michael would have to eventually take over the pecan farm Michael became an investor in the company and general manager of the whole operation "The nut man" had memorized everything there was to know about his pecan trees Virgil could identify the species just by feeling the shell of its nuts feeling his way through totes of pecans and freeing them from their husks he could sense which of his trees might be ready for harvest first Sometimes he knew when the limbs needed to be trimmed Virgil would call Michael at his day job to send him out to the orchard later that night to see if his hunch was right Virgil had proven he could grow pecans in Southern Indiana he had to convince folks to pay a premium price for his homegrown When Virgil was alive he loved to offer samples He’d let prospective customers crack into the nuts themselves so they could taste the difference between his product and what they’d buy on the commercial store shelves he’d tell stories about how he managed to grow the trees and the details of the different species he had on his farm Some buyers could taste the freshness and would spend roughly $6 a pound for the nuts his family speculates they bought just enough to get Virgil to stop talking “You couldn’t get away from the man when he started to tell you stories,” Neda's son “He loved to share whatever he knew,” Neda remembered That knowledge went beyond the nuts and eventually took hold in other parts of the state through trees so that anyone who had the faintest interest could grow pecans he was comically given the name ‘the nut man,’ and they didn’t always mean it nicely,” Roger said “But now it’s not a joke to people anymore.”  his loved ones believe "the nut man" took on a second passion project beyond the pecans He wanted to make sure Neda would have everything she needed after he died He put off buying new equipment for the pecan farm and instead bought a beautiful remote-controlled fireplace in his house He also arranged for both of Neda’s sons to move to the farm so that she’d have all the help she’d need if he ever passed Neda believes he must have sensed his time was running short When he finally decided to check in to the hospital the doctors diagnosed him with lung cancer and his condition declined rapidly She thought she’d have a few more days with him there in hospice care Michael and Beth heard the ambulance drive away without the sirens on and rushed over to be at Neda’s side When the air chilled and the harvest began Virgil wasn’t there to sense when a tree was ready for shaking He wasn’t picking through totes of pecans and guessing what species they might be The loyal team he built, however, was dutifully there. The summer after his death the Bowles started selling the pecans at Scott County Farmers Market the pair spend four hours each Saturday selling the nuts Beth manages the Facebook page and arranges for purchases by appointment The Bowles say they’ll help Neda with it as long as they physically can She’s always thought of herself as more of an indoor person but this year is the first time Neda has been out with her son and neighbors working the harvest Neda’s fingers were still black from working in the pecan field the weekends before As she clutched a framed portrait of her and Virgil the black stain on her fingers matched his “That’s the only reason I want it to go on and he didn’t get to complete what he wanted to do,” she said tearfully To so many people Virgil was "the nut man." Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville your town or even your closet that fits that description — she wants to hear from you Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com The recent storm shows why farmers and manufacturers need to be proactive for the next disaster according to the CEO of pecan milk brand PKN While Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on many crops in the Southeast the pecan — one of Georgia's most beloved and iconic exports — has been hit particularly hard The recent hurricane isn’t the first time the crop has faced destruction A pecan tree takes 20 to 25 years to reach its full production potential Some experts predicted Helene damaged about one-third of Georgia’s pecan production area or more than 36 million pounds of this year's crop in the storm-affected region farmers and food manufacturers need to make sure they are prepared for the next disaster by making their supply chains as resilient as possible Farmers across Georgia and Alabama depend on those pecan trees for their livelihood they're now decimated by the storm,” Shenkar added “They're closed and likely not able to reopen any time soon.” Pecans are one of the only tree nuts indigenous to U.S They have experienced far worse weather conditions than Hurricane Helene Shenkar said pecan growers can look to almonds as a blueprint for what can happen to supply chains of a certain ingredient from distinct geographical regions all the almond crops were pretty much under one state and under very tight regulations in California What that enabled them to do is create a uniform and they had to eliminate a lot of the waste,” said Shenkar One way that PKN is building up its resilience to disasters is through partnerships and cooperatives that give consumers a direct line to farmers is a wholesale supplier of both in-shell and shelled pecans Many of the farms within the grower-owned cooperative are multi-generational Consumers feel like their purchase of PKN milk is making an impact consumers have a transparent view of how their crop is performing When consumers see their growers struggling Pecans also have sustainability attributes that have yet to be fully explored including potential for them to be upcycled to create new products “Pecan cases that would be thrown away otherwise can be made into pecan milk,” said Shenkar meaning few companies have used the tee nut to its fullest potential There are only a few companies that focus on pecan milk such as PKN Shenkar said it's essential for companies to work with farmers and shellers so that they have a viable product in 20 to 30 years Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts fertilizer and pesticides are expected to decline farmers are forecast to spend more on labor and taxes While prices in July were sharply lower compared to a year ago for most commodities meat and dairy producers benefited from lower supply Subscribe to Agriculture Dive for top news The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email In this episode of the Fork in the Road podcast we delve into Georgia's pecan industry by visiting EKC Farms in Metter a dedicated couple who have transformed their family farm into a thriving pecan orchard Discover the challenges and rewards of running a pecan farm from planting and harvesting to cracking and selling their delicious nuts and their unwavering passion for growing high-quality pecans Cultivating a Legacy: A Family's Journey in Pecan Farming Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Middle Georgia EKC Farms stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of family farming This episode of the Fork in the Road podcast will take you on a captivating journey through the lives of Mattie and Curtis Collins a dedicated couple who have nurtured their family's land into a flourishing pecan orchard From the early days of their farming venture to the present Mattie and Curtis share their personal stories We witness their unwavering commitment to sustainable practices their innovative approaches to pecan cultivation and their deep-rooted connection to the land As we explore the intricacies of pecan farming we gain a profound appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into producing this beloved crop this episode delves into the emotional and cultural significance of EKC Farms We discover the legacy passed down through generations the sense of community that surrounds the farm and the joy and fulfillment that comes from cultivating something so meaningful we gain a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of family farming and the enduring spirit that continues to shape Georgia's agricultural landscape writer and editor of the Fork in the Road TV show on GPB He also hosts the new Fork in the Road podcast as well.  GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia across the country and around the world.  Your support makes this possible.  Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service Let's visit Soldier of the Sea Distillery in Comer where Marine veteran Mark Davis crafts unique whiskeys some infused with local honey from his beekeeper wife Jennifer while honoring the armed forces and revitalizing the town blends art and science to create exceptional spirits and promote the local community and Georgia's agricultural bounty to explore the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and uncover the fascinating science behind cultivating trout for the state's rivers and lakes Learn from trout stocking coordinator John Lee Thompson about the intricate life cycle within the hatchery and its vital role in supporting both ecological balance and angling opportunities in Georgia Red Oak Lavender Farm is home to more than 20 varieties of lavender thriving against the odds in Georgia’s clay soil Host David Zelski explores how founder Tina Duffy turned a love of fragrance into a flourishing family farm—and a destination that smells as good as it looks Pecan Plantation— a 4,200-acre, master-planned development consisting of two airparks—dates back nearly 50 years. The community’s newest project, The Landings provided FLYING with a look at the popular fly-in community in Granbury 1 historic small city for three years in a row “I work for Patten Properties which is a third-generation land developer,” Milton said “We’ve done over 700 acreage communities across 36 states over the last 45 years or so but have never really done an airpark “The Anthony family owns Pecan Plantation when it was the largest pecan orchard in the country Then in the 1970s they started putting in amenities and a few hundred homesites on the land Pecan Plantation sports around 3,000 homes which includes around 400 lots between its two runways (0TX1 and 66TE) which is the one that I’m selling now,” Milton said “We’ve got another two or three phases to go Then there are probably another 30 or 40 that are not released yet We’re moving from north to south and in phases and have sold about 108 lots in the last year and a half I’d say we sell about 10 to 20 lots a month is far and away the fastest-selling aviation property in the country Milton, who routinely markets these runway homes at annual aviation gatherings like the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (Lakeland, Florida) and EAA AirVenture (Oshkosh knows why aviators have been so receptive to The Landings He explained that the community strikes the perfect balance between aviation and nonaviation amenities “[One of the things that buyers find attractive] is that Pecan Plantation has more than just one airpark,” he said which is one of the few gold-rated chapters in the world   The real appeal here is that it’s an amenity-rich community There is also a marina with access to Lake Granbury plus three riverfront parks with access to over 15 miles of the Brazos River It’s basically a $199 a month HOA and then another $55 a month for the airpark it’s a pretty good deal and checks a lot of their boxes.” Milton said that the relative proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is a positive attraction for career pilots who fly from area airports Some buyers have even planned well in advance for their retirement snapping up lots years before building their dream hangar home.   “I’d say most of our buyers are from outside the DFW area including a lot of airline pilots who are relocating from all over the country and are looking to live in an airpark,” he said “A big buying base for us is folks that are starting to plan their retirement and they’re getting their lot picked out and locked down They’ll take the next few years to meet with builders to dial in their plans and look forward to the future We’ve had people move here as far as Washington state We’ve even had somebody from Thailand come.”  He advised that all homesites have existing underground utilities “There is a 2,000-square-foot minimum (living quarters) a lot of people are buying lots just to hold getting their money out of the stock market We have a handful of people who already live here and are buying property as an investment They’ve seen when The Landings was first brought to market 10 years ago and 1-acre lots on the west side of the runway were between $75,000 to $100,000 the taxiway lots start at $189,900 while direct runway lots are in the mid $300,000s (only four direct runways remain).” Mills learned to fly in the aircraft and has completed a tip-to-tail restoration sparing no expense since assuming its ownership several years ago Living alongside his aircraft presents a novel way of life for the longtime pilot “I lived in Colombia and wanted to move back to the United States,” Mills said so I knew I wanted to move to an aviation community I was surfing the web one night looking for places in Miami Then a Pecan Plantation ad from Zach popped up in my Facebook feed Mills and his wife had the opportunity to check out the community in November 2022 Texas wasn’t on their initial list of places they considered moving to but they were sold as soon as they visited Pecan Plantation for the first time “We closed on the lot in January of 2023 and just moved in a few months ago,” Mills said One thing I enjoy is the fact that I can walk out my back door and be in my airplane in the same amount of time that I could be in my car I really like flying to new places around here for lunch I haven’t yet done a lot of flying in Texas so I am still learning the lay of the land and where good food is.”   By Nick Wooten Pecan Plantation located in Granbury about 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth has added a second runway on the eastern side of the development and is selling homesites with direct and taxi access to the strip Two are direct runway sites while the remaining lots have taxi access D-FW Real Estate NewsGet the latest real estate news you need to know GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Prices for the taxi lots range from the upper $100,000s to the upper $200,000s A direct runway lot would cost you more than $350,000 electric and high-speed internet utilities Milton estimates there will be 400 home sites with runway or taxi access making it one of the largest airparks in the nation behind Florida’s famed Spruce Creek (it) makes us the second largest airport community in the country,” he said “When you consider the amenities and everything and I think that’s kind of the real attraction here for pilots and their families.” While Pecan Plantation is recognized for its fly-in living A majority of the 4,200-acre development’s home sites sit away from the airstrip with no access Roughly 1,000 acres of the site are being developed and Patten is looking to sell 600 to 700 remaining lots ranging in size from half an acre to seven acres Pecan Plantation will have roughly 4,000 total homes when finished The gated community sits on the shores of the Brazos River and boasts amenities that include a marina The site was once the largest pecan grove in the state of Texas “People can basically come out and drive around the orchard and point to an area and essentially handpick their lot,” he said LinkedIn IconJoin the conversation Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines Please read the guidelines before participating This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A Granbury residential development containing the largest contiguous pecan orchard in Texas has been listed for sale which consists of about 3,200 residential lots and approximately 1,500 acres of productive pecan orchard the owners Anthony family announced Wednesday A 17-miles stretch of Brazos River surrounds the development located below the Lake Granbury Dam and about 12 miles from downtown Granbury who started the Pecan Plantation Community development in 1972 The Anthonys acquired 100% ownership of the property in 1988 continued to operate the pecan orchard and the residential development through their integrated home construction real estate brokerage and commercial businesses an affiliate of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International is working with the Anthonys to sale the property “Perhaps there is another developer or like-minded family like ours that would like to take on and continue what we have nurtured to this point in time,” Jim Anthony said in a press release Pecan Plantation Community has about 2,500 homes already built and the Pecan Plantation Owners Association had agreed that in the future the total number of developed lots on the original 4,200 acres will not exceed 4500 The property has a commercial center that includes a bank Its residents can enjoy various amenities such as a full-service country club an equestrian center and community center among others “I have had some interesting opportunities in my career but representing the Anthony family and this property will be a highlight,” Icon Global’s founder Bernard Uechtritz said in a statement “This is a life’s work of cohesion and collaboration as a family and a Texas business legacy that is unmatched They are handing over generations of made memories for thousands who have made Pecan Plantation a home and lifestyle like no other and there is more blue sky to come.” Any estimation on the price of the property was not disclosed Log in to leave a comment has witnessed an unprecedented demand for new homesites at Pecan Plantation since bringing new properties to the market in October 2022 This surge in sales reflects the unmatched lifestyle and exceptional amenities offered by the community making it one of the most sought-after destinations for families looking to build their dream homes Pecan Plantation brings to life the unique blend of natural beauty the development is nestled amidst scenic landscapes offering an unparalleled living experience for its residents Designed with the utmost attention to detail Pecan Plantation boasts a variety of home styles carefully crafted to ensure a harmonious balance between architectural aesthetics and eco-friendly living But Pecan Plantation is more than just a collection of beautiful homes; it's a lifestyle The community offers an array of unparalleled amenities private runways with direct taxiway access Pecan Plantation provides easy access to miles of picturesque walking and biking trails perfect for exploring the serene surroundings and the Brazos River expressed his enthusiasm about the community's success "We are thrilled to see such a strong response from land buyers The rapid sales of our homesites are a testament to the unparalleled lifestyle offered at Pecan Plantation We are excited to welcome more families to this community and look forward to building upon already thriving and engaged neighborhoods." Patten Properties has taken steps to accommodate more families seeking to join the community and infrastructure improvements are underway to ensure a seamless transition for new residents Those interested in securing a homesite or acreage lot at Pecan Plantation are encouraged to act quickly. New homesites with completed underground infrastructure start at just $69,900. To learn more about the available homesites or to schedule a viewing, please visit https://pecanplantationland.com/ or call (833) 273-2159 Patten Properties is a leading real estate development company with a proven track record of success in land acquisition Patten Properties aims to provide unparalleled living experiences for families across the country From Pine Knoll Plantation farm manager Mitch Bulger near one of the thousands of pecan trees blown down by Hurricane Michael Tucked away in a corner of the Pine Knoll Pecan Grove is one of those things that Mitch Bulger says made the decades he spent living and working here worth it — a bubbling spring-fed pool A flock of about half a dozen water birds flew through the cypress trees bordering the pool where he sat It was full of debris from Hurricane Michael but Bulger wanted me to imagine it cleaned up remembering the years spent raising his family on this plantation he's managed for twenty years The family that owns the plantation is mostly scattered to Colorado and Rhode Island this is the only home his kids have ever known That's a sentiment on a lot of farms around southwest Georgia that were hit with something like a bomb when Hurricane Michael plowed into the state last week Cotton fields near harvest were blown bare and decades old pecan groves like the ones at Pine Knoll were leveled Bulger is only now starting the work of recovering The rootball of a downed pecan tree on the Pine Knoll plantation Hurricane Michael caused massive damage to pecan growers in the state These giants were literally the moneymakers here Bulger said its one of the oldest breeds going The trees were ripped up from their tap roots pecans were piled like gravel in a dry stream bed "A hand crew could get in here and salvage a lot of this," Bulger said looking at one puddle of nuts The titanic trees on the ground were in the way of the tractors that usually do the job of harvesting but good luck finding the labor to get them up "I had a crew Monday and now I don't have a crew," Bulger said "I paid them 25 cents and they still didn't stay." A good hand picker can bring in 100 pounds a day Bulger said the problem was the crew didn't want to wait until the end of the week to get paid "They don't want to show up until they get out of money again Touring Pine Grove Pecan Plantation after Hurricane Michael these nuts would have been headed to China "This year we didn't contract a nut because China wasn't buying," Bulger said That's because of the tariffs on pecans that cropped up in the U.S.-China trade war Georgia growers had been looking at a year when nuts intended for China would be dumped into American markets "I don't know that we can supply what our Americans need," Bulger said There's still money to be made in the smaller grove of seven year old trees Eric Woods was walking the rows with a chainsaw Lots of trees that were still standing had broken taproots He said he'd cut over a thousand trees in a week walks away from a young pecan tree he had to cut down after it was mortally wounded by Hurricane Michael Behind Woods came a small bulldozer to pick up the limbs but Bulger said there was still plenty of hand work to do "Our Hispanic help that helps us every year they are picking up limbs behind us," Bulger said They'll likely end up in high end gift packs these younger trees are the short term future of the Pine Knoll plantation "We get those lean years coming ahead of us and we'll Bulger said that means replanting and tending and waiting for decades "There's stuff I planned to do 20 years ago that I still hadn't got to," he said "So I'm still got goals that I'm working toward." Bulger said his goal now is to hang around long enough to see the Pine Knoll Pecan Plantation thick with Moneymakers again Become an NPR sponsor By Steve BrownReal Estate Editor the Hood County property was the largest pecan grove in the state Now more than 1,500 acres in the Brazos River spread are being offered to residential developers who could fit hundreds of houses on the land Parts of the Pecan Plantation tract have already been developed into a gated residential community  with a country club an equestrian center and a marina on Lake Granbury More than 2,500 homes have already been built surrounding the pecan orchards The family that has been developing the pecan orchards since 1972 has hired a Dallas-based real estate broker to sell off the rest of the land "The Anthony family is now ready to pass the torch on to the next developer which they hope might continue to be a family-based operation such as themselves," according to a news release from real estate broker Icon Global Group "We have listed the entire developable property for sale with Icon Global Group and we look forward to ushering in new ownership and transition," Jim Anthony said in a statement "Perhaps there is another developer or like-minded family like ours that would like to take on and continue what we have nurtured to this point in time." Pecan Plantation is about 38 miles from downtown Fort Worth The pecan groves being put up for sale can be developed into 1,165 residential lots according to Icon Global Group's Bernard Uechtritz "I have had some interesting opportunities in my career but representing the Anthony family and this property will be a highlight," Uechtritz said "This is a life's work of cohesion and collaboration as a family and a Texas business legacy that is unmatched "They are handing over generations of made memories for thousands who have made Pecan Plantation a home and lifestyle like no other an affiliate of Dallas-based Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International is a top broker of rural properties and ranches in Texas and nationwide Join the conversation Jim Anthony made the decision to move the Leonard Nut Company operation from 2901 Cullen Street in Fort Worth to its operation within the Pecan Plantation orchard in Granbury The greatest benefactors of Anthony’s decision have been the orchard’s residents Lazily slaloming between pecan trees on the orchard grounds hundreds of happy consumers pick from the crop of nuts each fall They watch passers-by without so much as a greeting mindful to stay clear from the cars or harvest implement that shake the pecans from the trees Hundreds of deer live on the 4,000 acres of Pecan Plantation and they have significantly greater access to fresh pecans than the thousands of customers who routinely buy gift tins from the orchard’s retail operation Anthony and his family own and operate several business holdings within Pecan Plantation but none may be busier this time of year than the orchard Certainly none serve a more grateful population Anthony’s son Ben oversees the pecan orchard and feverishly shakes trees each November to generate a sustainable crop Which is to say Ben is charge of the orchard equipment that pulls anywhere from one to 2.5 million pounds of pecans from the sentry-like trees that line over 1,500 acres of workable orchard He took over control of the orchard operations in 2007 Nestled within the DeCordova Bend of the Brazos River Leonard bought nearly 4,000 acres north of Granbury after World War II Leonard began clearing and developing the land in 1948 and started training his own cadre of pecan trees Leonard Nut Company was established in 1957 for the purpose of processing the pecan production from the Leonard Farms Orchards that were located in Texas The pecans would be shipped to the Cullen Street warehouse to be processed and distributed Enterprising gift givers from across Fort Worth decided that it would be best to go straight to the source for their fresh pecans Local shoppers would go by the Cullen Street Leonard Nut Company warehouse to buy a pound or two of pecans for their pies and other creations Happy to add to the Leonard Nut Company’s sales the warehouse workers still had to halt production on their large commercial orders to help local customers obtain stocking stuffers “We’d be working on an order for 40,000 pounds but would also stop to sell four pounds to a lady to make Christmas gifts,” Ben Anthony said and the retail operation was set into motion in 1986 the Leonard Farms Pecan Store accommodated both holiday shoppers as well as those who simply wanted to buy seasonal pecans The Leonard Nut Company was promoting “buy local” and “farm to market” retail trends before they were actually trends and the mail order business began to thrive The operations of the Leonard Nut Company and the Cullen Street warehouse were discontinued in 2008 with the processing of Pecan Plantation’s pecan crops being moved to a contract shelter the holiday retail operation continues today based out of the family’s pecan orchard in Pecan Plantation a storefront continues to serve shoppers at 5261 Highway 377 South Ben Anthony utilized available space in Pecan Plantation’s barns and warehouses and has created an entire kitchen and shipping operation for thousands of holiday pecan orders the team creates white chocolate-covered pecans via an extensive production line that would rival anything Lucille Ball worked on An oven the size of a small fish tank handles thousands of cooking trays each fall to bake pralines and other goods Butter toffee pecans and other flavors are also created the holiday tins were enhanced with corporate logos ranging from local law firms to nationally-known corporations The Leonard Farms Pecan Store can produce these gifts year round Barring a massive growth in appetite from the local deer population the holiday season for Pecan Plantation and Leonard Farms Pecan Store should continue to yield great results While only a small slice of Pecan Plantation’s annual business pie chart the most entertaining part of its production Consumers and gift givers interested in viewing their offerings online can do so at by visiting www.chocolatepecans.com Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of 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