Babcock Wilderness Adventure

Punta Gorda, Florida: Lost in history is the town of Rouxville and the rich lumber industry created by industrial pioneer EV Babcock. But in it’s place is the hidden gem of the Crescent B Ranch, home of the Babcock Wilderness Adventure. Sit back and take a buggy ride into the heart of the wilderness where you will see wild animals and learn about the history of the Babcock Florida Company.

Located in Eastern Charlotte County, Babcock Wilderness Adventure is a 1 1/2 hour buggy tour through the Crescent B Ranch. The ranch founded in 1914 by lumber giant EV Babcock for the Babcock Florida Company. Babcock Florida Company would provide lumber harvesting and create the logging town Rouxville on the property. In it’s prime, Rouxville had almost 200 residents working and living on the 156,000 acre property. To adapt to the changing times, the ranch began to be used for cattle ranching and farming.

In the 1940’s, the Babcock family sold 65,000 acres of the property to the State of Florida which would become the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area. The remaining 90,000 acres remains in operation today as the Crescent B Ranch. The Crescent B Ranch has three main functions today; livestock, agriculture and education.

Much like in the past, the cattle herds of the Crescent B Ranch are worked by cracker cowboys. The herd of cattle are moved around by cowboys on horses and by cattle dogs. The term Florida cracker can be witnessed at the ranch by the sound of the whip used by the cowboys. The distinct “crack” sound created by the whip is how the term “Crackers” originated.

The main attraction of the Crescent B Ranch is the Babcock Wilderness Adventure. Here you can take an eco-tour deep into the heart of the ranch and get a first hand look at the cattle operations and the diverse ecosystems that comprise the ranch. The tour departs from the visitor’s center near the entrance to the ranch. This is where you will climb aboard your tour buggy and head out to the trail. During the trip, the tour will go through oak hammocks, pine woods, pastures and wetlands.

The tour travels through several distinct habitats including the Telegraph Swamp. The 10,000 acre swamp cuts through the the ranch and provides a great place to look for wildlife along the tour. The swamp gets its name from the telegraph lines that can be seen running along the swamp.

As the tour continues, you will travel through the heart of the ranch. Here you will come pass the Commissary building. This was the lifeline of the ranch. Here you could visit the doctor, purchase necessities and much more. This was very important to the residents since the ranch was so remotely located.

It was a bird and gator kind of day during our tour. We saw tons of alligators on the tour, including a large group that had assembled to sun themselves on Alligator Bridge. In addition to the gators we saw; Cormorants, Anhinga, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Heron, Great White Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Osceola Turkey, Grey Squirrel, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Sandhill Cranes and a Belted Kingfisher. 

While we didn’t see anything unusual during our visit, the recent sightings at the ranch are amazing. I would have loved to see a Panther or a Black Bear, but I was very happy with the action we saw during our visit. I can’t wait to go back again because with a unique environment like this, no two tours will be the same. 

Babcock Wilderness Adventure is located along County Road 31 in eastern Charlotte County. The tour costs 20/24 for adults, 19/23 for seniors, 12/16 for children depending on the season. In addition to the Eco-Tour, they also offer a photo tour and a Cypress Lodge Heritage Tour. Currently, Groupon is offering a discounted admission rate to Babcock Wilderness Adventure.

Click on any of the photos above to see my Babcock Wilderness Adventure photo gallery.