Jimmy Carter’s family farm near Plains to become public wildlife area

The Conservation Fund has acquired approximately 2,458 acres of the former President Jimmy Carter’s family farm near Plains, Georgia, according to Atlanta News First. The nonprofit plans to transfer the land to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 2028, with public access expected as soon as 2027.

This addition will expand the neighboring Lanahassee Creek Wildlife Management Area to nearly 7,000 acres, offering opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, the Conservation Fund said.

The farm holds historical significance as the place where Carter worked as a boy and returned throughout his life for hunting and fishing. His father farmed peanuts, corn, and sugarcane on the land, and Carter himself managed the farm after his Navy service.

The property also provides important habitat for native species including the gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile, which depends on longleaf pine forests preserved on the land. The Conservation Fund noted that development has reduced such habitats across the Southeast.

Until the transfer to the state, the Conservation Fund will own and manage the property. The expansion supports conservation efforts and public recreation in Georgia’s wildlife areas.