Volusia County Council Purchases 1,299 Acres in Osteen for Conservation

The Volusia County Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of a large plot of land in Osteen for conservation. $20,100,000 million will go toward setting aside 1,299 acres under the Volusia Forever program. The area is known as River Bend Ranch. "To me, this is exactly what Volusia Forever is all about," said Councilman Don Dempsey. "I'm in full support of this [...] I have no problem with it being forever in perpetuity as long as the Council owns it by themselves." All seven members of the County Council voted in favor of the purchase. River Bend Ranch was reviewed by the Volusia Forever Advisory Committee on June 27, 2025. On September 4, the County Council approved a recommendation to place the land on Group A for active acquisition. In agenda information detailing the land, the County Council was given a list of benefits to preserving River Bend Ranch. The area contains vast areas of natural habitat, including pine flatwoods and forested wetlands. Parts of the St. Johns River run through the Ranch. The area falls entirely within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. As of the writing of the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, River Bend Ranch was listed at $23,540,000. Two appraisals commissioned by the County Council returned values at $19,890,000 and $20,459,000 respectively. The final purchase price of $20,100,000 was negotiated to land above the pair of appraisals, but 14.6% below the listed price. No matching funds sources were listed in relevant documents. The $20,100,000 to purchase River Bend Ranch comes from the Volusia Forever program. Approved by Volusia County voters in 2000, Volusia Forever derives its funding from a .2 millage tax solely devoted to purchasing land for long-term conservation.