.png)
Our History
In 2001, owner Will Butler purchased the original 550-acre tract in Gadsden County from the St. Joe Company with a vision for what the land could become. For many years prior, the property had been used primarily for timber farming, leaving much of the acreage heavily overgrown. Over time, careful forestry and habitat management transformed the land into a place where native wildlife could once again thrive across the property.
In 2013, the first major improvements were added with the construction of the original Pondside Cabin and the Bullet Pond Compound, creating gathering places that reflected the traditions and character of old North Florida. Then, in 2018, the Hilltop Complex — including two ranges and two barns — along with Creekside Cabin, added new dimensions to the property while expanding its ability to host family and guests for time spent outdoors together.
For generations, this remarkable stretch of land in the Plantation Belt has been recognized as part of the “quail capital of the world.” Once home to fields of cotton, peanuts, tobacco, pecans, and grain, the property has gradually returned to a haven for native wildlife across the Red Hills landscape. When the leaves begin to fall and the summer heat gives way to cool northern winds, this is where you’ll find us.
Since 2002, family and guests have gathered here while continuing the traditions that have long shaped the property and the lifestyle surrounding it. Today, the focus remains on the careful stewardship of extensive quail habitat, natural Florida lowlands, and the wildlife that depend on them. More than anything, Sosalla Solew reflects a deep connection to the land, its history, and the old North Florida way of life.
