Florida’s Lazy Springs Recreation Park Shutting Down After $5M Land Deal

A beloved off-road park in Hendry County will close on Nov. 30. S&O Ranch LLC bought the land for $5 million last month. The sale marks the end of a 25-year chapter in Florida's outdoor sports scene.

Staff will keep normal weekend hours until closing day. When the news hit social media on Oct. 11, 2025, visitors shared their shock and sadness.

"For years, we've watched kids grow up here — from first dirt bike rides to family campouts and fires by the lake," park management said in a statement, according to WGCU. "This park has always been more than trails and mud. It's been about community, family, and memories that will last forever."

S&O Ranch LLC took over from Lazy Ventures LLC of Prosper, Texas. The future of the property remains unknown.

"We don't know. And I wish that I did so I could tell everyone. But as just leasing the property, we aren't privy to that information. The property owner sold it," Ivey said.

Back in 2000, old citrus groves turned into this weekend getaway. Mud pits, lakes, and winding trails drew riders from miles around. The spot became a hub for swimming, camping, and fishing too.

The closing cuts deep for local riders. "There aren't many spots left, so people end up riding where they shouldn't," Ivey said. "No other place offers what we do at a price most can pay. It's a real loss for the community."

With just weeks left, staff urge visitors to "make one more memory at Lazy Springs" before the final day.