Roberts Ranch

Immokalee, Florida

The Roberts' Ranch in Collier County represents the pioneer way of life carved out by simple, hard working people who helped their neighbors and developed one of the finest cattle ranches in Southwest Florida.  It is being developed as a historic site to capture the pioneer grit, determination, and spirit of the early settlers in Collier County.

In September, 1997, Roberts' Ranch got new life when Collier County Commissioners agreed to designate the Immokalee homestead a historically significant area.  This historical designation will help ranch fund-raising efforts.  The Friends of Roberts' Ranch, a committee of the Friends of Collier County Museum in Naples, has formed to raise money to turn the location into a working ranch tourist attraction and restore the original ranch buildings.

• Roberts Ranch is a remarkably intact collection of historic structures and artifacts on 15.2 acres depicting an early South Florida ranch.

• The Ranch provides a unique opportunity to portray a life style rapidly disappearing.

In 1914, Robert Roberts, Jr. started the Immokalee ranch with 40 acres.  The original log house is gone now, but its foundation, the well, bunkhouse, barn, hidehouse, syrup kettle and the original kitchen still stand.  Collier county now owns 15.2 acres of the Roberts' Ranch.  That land includes the home place built in 1926 and Immokalee's first church building, which was moved from its original site.  Over the years the Roberts' Red Cattle Company played a significant role in the Florida cattle industry.  For nearly half a century, this two-story home in Immokalee was the the family headquarters for a thriving cattle business.  The Roberts Ranch, at Roberts Avenue and State Road 29, is one of the last surviving living history museum.  The homestead is within walking distance of a middle school, high school and two elementary schools.  Roberts Ranch is a remarkable intact collection of 15 historic structures depicting an early South Florida ranch.  This is part of Collier County's history that should be preserved.