White Oak Plantation (FOR SALE)

[Know Growth]

For some reason the John Delaney legacy stalls at Northeast Florida Timber Lands Preserve.

Fast Forward to Ocala to Osceola Corridor.

Conservation Corridor Expedition underway,and passing through the Metro Jacksonville Green Hedge as we post here.

Metro Avondale

[blizz01]

Interesting story today in the TU:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/arts/2012-06-24/story/ju-dance-students-white-oak-plantation-offers-refuge-which-learn

[blizz01]

***UPDATE***

From the TU:

Dodgers owner buys White Oak plantation

The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his wife have purchased the White Oak plantation and conservation center and plan to continue operating it as a wildlife preserve.

Mark and Kimbra Walter bought the 7,400-acre property outside Yulee from the Howard Gilman Foundation, according to a news release. The purchase price was not disclosed.
The Gilman Foundation put the center on the market last April. The Walters began looking at White Oak late last year, the release said.

Mark Walter is the CEO of Guggenheim Capital, a Chicago-based, privately-held financial firm that manages more than $170 billion in assets and has about 2,200 employees worldwide. He and an ownership group that includes former NBA star Magic Johnson bought the Dodgers last year for $2.15 billion.
Walter had an estimated net worth last year of about $1.3 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“We are honored to be the new stewards of White Oak and its unique and valuable conservation programs, which Howard Gilman initiated and his staff so ably managed,” Mark Walter said in a statement.
“Our primary mission is to build upon the work already under way at White Oak to create an international model for the humane and effective breeding and repopulation of endangered species.
“We also envision White Oak as a gathering point to inspire ideas and collaborations among individuals and organizations interested not only in conservation but issues such as environmental sustainability, land stewardship, arts and education.”
Founded in 1982 by the late paper magnate Howard Gilman, White Oak houses about 200 animals of more 20 different species, many endangered or threatened. Gilman turned over ownership of White Oak to his foundation before his death in 1998.
“The Walter family shares many of the perspectives on wildlife conservation and the performing arts that Mr. Gilman considered important,” Mary Farrell, President of the Howard Gilman Foundation, said in the release. “The Foundation’s board of directors and I are confident that Mr. and Ms. Walter will maintain and build upon the legacy Mr. Gilman fostered and his foundation has supported.”
Steve Shurter, who had been White Oak’s director of conservation, was named executive director of the center’s new company, White Oak Conservation Holdings.
“It is indeed a privilege to work with Mark and Kimbra Walter on the continued development of White Oak,” Shurter said in the statement. “The Walters recognize the important contributions White Oak provides to our community and wildlife programs. Their goals are ambitious and inspiring, and White Oak can play an important role in realizing them.”
The Walters support conservation programs in New Mexico and Texas and Kimbra Walter is on the women’s board at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-03-20/story/dodgers-owner-buys-white-oak-plantation#ixzz2O6HCg3LX

[bornnative]

I sincerely hope that the Walters will continue to make White Oak available to the public on a periodic basis, even if only through ticketed events as the Gilman Foundation did.  It truly is a unique, classy, and world-class facility.  Hope they can maintain that character moving forward.

[ben says]

In over two decades since I found out about this place, I've still yet to check it out. Looks amazing.

[bornnative]

Ben, I highly recommend it.  The animals are only a part of what is so impressive about the place.