The Sunshine State...Owned by the Church? A Deep Dive (Maybe Not That Deep) into LDS Church Land in Florida
Florida: land of theme parks, alligators with questionable fashion sense, and retirees living their best, sun-drenched lives. But did you know, amongst the retirees and rollercoasters, there's a surprising hidden landowner: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
That's right, folks. Buckle up, because we're about to untangle the story of the Church's surprising stake (pun intended?) in the Sunshine State.
From Citrus to Cattle: A Landowner is Born
The story starts back in 1950, when the Church decided Florida's balmy weather and wide-open spaces were just the ticket. They snatched up a cool 50,000 acres, which morphed into the mighty Deseret Ranches. Think sprawling pastures dotted with happy cows, not exactly Deseret and Chill vibes, but productive nonetheless! Deseret Ranches is now the largest cow-calf operation in the entire US, so next time you bite into that juicy burger, there's a chance it mooed hello to the Church first.
But cattle aren't the only game in town. The Church owns a huge swath of timberland up in the Panhandle, perfect for, well, trees! It seems they're covering all their agricultural bases.
So, How Much Florida Exactly Does the Church Own?
Here's the juicy part (sorry, not sorry for the burger metaphor): Estimates say the Church owns over 2% of Florida's total landmass. That's a pretty decent chunk of real estate, enough to make Mickey Mouse raise an eyebrow. They're definitely Florida's biggest private landowner, beating out even the Roman Catholic Church (sorry, folks, no holy land wars here).
The Plot Thickens: Development Dreams and Industrial Ambitions
The Church isn't just content with cows and pine trees. They've got their eye on development too. Their holdings include land near Orlando's hot Innovation Way area, hinting at future homes, businesses, and maybe even a research park run by monks with PhDs (wouldn't that be something?). In late 2023, they upped the ante by buying a whole industrial park in Miami, because hey, diversification is key!
FAQ: You Asked, We Answered (Kinda)
How to move to Florida and become a ranch hand for the Church?
We have no idea, but it could be an adventure (with questionable footwear choices for wrangling cattle).
How to convince the Church to build a water slide on Deseret Ranches?
Good luck. Maybe start with a well-written proposal and a killer rendition of "Praise to the Man."
How to find out if your backyard technically belongs to the Church?
This might require a map, a good lawyer, and a deep breath.
How to avoid accidentally joining the Church while buying oranges from Florida?
Just focus on the fruit (and maybe avoid any proselytizing pamphlets).
How to ensure your next burger comes from a non-Church cow?
Honestly, that might be a trickier question than you think.
