Ridge Landing Airpark Florida.

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Joe6269

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Joe6269
Hi all,

Long time lurker first time poster.

My family and I have been thinking about building a hangar home for some time. We came across Ridge Landing Airpark in Florida (4FL5). About 50 miles south of Orlando.

The lots are reasonably priced from what I can tell and location looks to be decent. We are west coast based and planning on making a trip over there but just wondering if anyone here has had any dealings with them or knows anymore information than what the sales brochure says!?

Thanks In advance!
 
I've not heard much about them either way. Looking at google earth it doesn't look like many residents yet. Pretty remote. If you're good with that, looks like a nice place.
 
I can't imagine moving from the West Coast to Florida as a pilot. Flying in the west is just so superior in terms of landscapes/scenery and interesting destinations; and the weather in Florida is miserably hot and humid for half the year.
 
Katamarino said:
I can't imagine moving from the West Coast to Florida as a pilot. Flying in the west is just so superior in terms of landscapes/scenery and interesting destinations; and the weather in Florida is miserably hot and humid for half the year.
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I did, and love it. It is hot in the summer, but there is no marine layer, and when it’s raining the ceilings are high enough to allow easy VFR below - plenty of room to safely avoid the bad spots. I do miss the mountains (especially on my motorcycle), but on the other hand you’ll never be density altitude-limited.

Plus, with the combination of VFR days, people with planes and the time and money to fly, and airparks, there are so many places to go. You can go to breakfast and/or lunch at a different field every day of the week and get good meals, have other pilots to hang out with and probably never taxi up to an empty ramp. I’m in an informal club that has weekly flyouts from fall through through spring, and we pretty much never have less than 50 planes show up, and up to 140 at some of them.

There are at least 60 airparks in Florida, and almost every weekend there is a pancake breakfast or some other event at one or more of them, often multiple choices.
 
I agree, not hard to find cool places to fly. I lived in Central MS a handful of years, with my Cherokee 140, got around plenty. OBTW, no A/C.


Do your research, evaluation, we all have different expectations. Not far from Sun & Fun, that’s a bonus.
It seems FL is still the rage, prices, insurance & the rest. Maybe more of a ‘sideways’ move cashing out of a CA home.
 
Katamarino said:
I can't imagine moving from the West Coast to Florida as a pilot. Flying in the west is just so superior in terms of landscapes/scenery and interesting destinations; and the weather in Florida is miserably hot and humid for half the year.
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How's that tax rate and cost of living on the west coast compared to Florida?

Although if I had a enough money to not have to work and fly around the world, I probably wouldn't worry about taxes or cost of living either. Some people don't have that luxury.

As far as the airpark goes. Lots seem a bit small/pricey for my taste. We got almost 3 acres for less than half of that last year. Granted, it was 2 states north of Florida where we bought.
 
EdFred said:
How's that tax rate and cost of living on the west coast compared to Florida?

Although if I had a enough money to not have to work and fly around the world, I probably wouldn't worry about taxes or cost of living either. Some people don't have that luxury.

As far as the airpark goes. Lots seem a bit small/pricey for my taste. We got almost 3 acres for less than half of that last year. Granted, it was 2 states north of Florida where we bought.
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Who's not working, exactly? :rolleyes:
 
EdFred said:
I wouldn't be if I was flying around the world. Unless I was getting paid to do so.
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That would be nice. If I didn't work, flying around the world would not exactly be a possibility. My trips are 100% self-funded through employment, and any money donated as sponsorship goes 100% to the charity I've been supporting.

"The West" is not limited to California. There are countless amazing spots with low cost of living and all the benefits of being west of the Rockies.
 
bflynn said:
Fixed that for you.

There are four seasons in Florida: Hot, Not quite so hot, Hot and Stay Inside.
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It gets pretty hot and humid here in Carolina too. When winter comes we hope it's on a weekend ...
 
Ridge Landing isn't far from me. I've driven through there and looked over the runway and properties in the past. All the taxiways run behind the houses, so there are separate roads which is a nice layout, but the taxiways aren't paved. The land is a bit low, and given our summer weather patterns I would be afraid the taxiways would be a bit soft and soggy from time to time.

When I looked at the place a few years ago, the transition from the grass taxiway onto the paved runway had a significant bump and wouldn't have been pleasant to taxi across.

The runway itself isn't too bad at 3000' x 60' but there's a line of trees and a railroad track just barely off the west side (maybe 20' or so before you're into trees). If you have a problem resulting in an excursion off the runway, it won't end well. The runway is up on a slight berm, so if you do go off it you'll keep going.

There's also not much cleared area off either end, and I'm a bit surprised the runway doesn't have a displaced threshold. In the pic below, you can see the property fence just south of the end of the runway. They pretty much paved right up to the edge of the property to fit in 3000' of runway, so I'm not convinced all that distance is really useable.

1719343051498.png

The location is somewhat remote, about halfway between Lake Wales and Avon Park. You'll have a decent drive any time you need to run out for a loaf of bread.
 
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Katamarino said:
I don't know - compared to Houston, Florida is pretty nice!
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I've spent a lot of time in Dallas, and in the summer it can be an oven 24-7. Florida at least usually gets rain in the afternoon, and that cools things down a bit for the evening.

Summertime here often has good VFR weather in the early morning or late evening, but lots of convective activity throughout the day. From the end of September until early May, though, there are lots of nice clear days.

BUT I would never recommend that anyone move here. It's much too crowded, the skeeters will kill you, it's overcrowded, the gators will kill your dog, there are too many people, the hurricanes will destroy your home, and it's waaay to crowded, especially with damnyankees.
 
Katamarino said:
I can't imagine moving from the West Coast to Florida as a pilot. Flying in the west is just so superior in terms of landscapes/scenery and interesting destinations; and the weather in Florida is miserably hot and humid for half the year.
Click to expand...
I would miss the west coast for sure. I just can’t deal with winters and there isn’t much for Airpark homes here that are not in the desert.
 
Half Fast said:
Ridge Landing isn't far from me. I've driven through there and looked over the runway and properties in the past. All the taxiways run behind the houses, so there are separate roads which is a nice layout, but the taxiways aren't paved. The land is a bit low, and given our summer weather patterns I would be afraid the taxiways would be a bit soft and soggy from time to time.

When I looked at the place a few years ago, the transition from the grass taxiway onto the paved runway had a significant bump and wouldn't have been pleasant to taxi across.

The runway itself isn't too bad at 3000' x 60' but there's a
Click to expand...
Half Fast said:
line of trees and a railroad track just barely off the west side (maybe 20' or so before you're into trees). If you have a problem resulting in an excursion off the runway, it won't end well. The runway is up on a slight berm, so if you do go off it you'll keep going.

There's also not much cleared area off either end, and I'm a bit surprised the runway doesn't have a displaced threshold. In the pic below, you can see the property fence just south of the end of the runway. They pretty much paved right up to the edge of the property to fit in 3000' of runway, so I'm not convinced all that distance is really useable.

View attachment 130585

The location is somewhat remote, about halfway between Lake Wales and Avon Park. You'll have a decent drive any time you need to run out for a loaf of bread.
Click to expand...
Half Fast said:
Ridge Landing isn't far from me. I've driven through there and looked over the runway and properties in the past. All the taxiways run behind the houses, so there are separate roads which is a nice layout, but the taxiways aren't paved. The land is a bit low, and given our summer weather patterns I would be afraid the taxiways would be a bit soft and soggy from time to time.

When I looked at the place a few years ago, the transition from the grass taxiway onto the paved runway had a significant bump and wouldn't have been pleasant to taxi across.

The runway itself isn't too bad at 3000' x 60' but there's a line of trees and a railroad track just barely off the west side (maybe 20' or so before you're into trees). If you have a problem resulting in an excursion off the runway, it won't end well. The runway is up on a slight berm, so if you do go off it you'll keep going.

There's also not much cleared area off either end, and I'm a bit surprised the runway doesn't have a displaced threshold. In the pic below, you can see the property fence just south of the end of the runway. They pretty much paved right up to the edge of the property to fit in 3000' of runway, so I'm not convinced all that distance is really useable.

View attachment 130585

The location is somewhat remote, about halfway between Lake Wales and Avon Park. You'll have a decent drive any time you need to run out for a loaf of bread.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the insight that is very helpful. Where we live now is a similar situation 25 + mins to any real entertainment or shopping. Definitely things to consider and look out when we make the trip out.
 
Half Fast said:
BUT I would never recommend that anyone move here. It's much too crowded, the skeeters will kill you, it's overcrowded, the gators will kill your dog, there are too many people, the hurricanes will destroy your home, and it's waaay to crowded, especially with damnyankees.
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My wife and I are looking to move out of the desert and that sounds like exactly what we are looking for.!! :lol:
 
I've flown in to Ridge Landings a couple of years back to look over the place and the lots on offer, I did encounter a deer which came out of the bushes and decided to bolt across the runway just as I was about to touch down, I clinched my butt cheeks as I waited for the expected hit and take the nose wheel out....but he/she managed to dodge a bullet and make it across the other side.. Hey but it is a rural location so you are sharing it with the local wildlife.

We didn't buy, but we were impressed with the place and the owners, it's certainly going to grow as is the surrounding area. and it is ideally located to drive/fly to other places in Central Florida.
 
Ridge Landing....No city water. Homes must have a fire system or a pool to provide water in case of fire! CRAZY
 
Florida Flyer said:
Ridge Landing....No city water. Homes must have a fire system or a pool to provide water in case of fire! CRAZY
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Our airpark is all on wells, too. Millions of homes all across the country are on wells. A bigger fire risk than not having hydrants is older construction and improperly done electrical work.
 
Same here
 
Weather in central Florida is spectacular from November through March. From May through September it is miserable. Snowbirds have it right: live here in the winter and migrate north in the summer.

Polk County is an acquired taste. I would not move there without visiting and spending some time getting to know the area.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Weather in central Florida is spectacular from November through March. From May through September it is miserable. Snowbirds have it right: live here in the winter and migrate north in the summer.

Polk County is an acquired taste. I would not move there without visiting and spending some time getting to know the area.
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We loved Polk when we first moved here in 2002. Very rural, lots of pastures and orange groves. Perfect spot for my wife to have horses. Today the county is exploding, with new housing construction and road expansion everywhere, much of the growth unplanned or poorly planned at best, and traffic getting worse by the minute. The quiet country atmosphere we loved twenty years ago is being quickly obliterated.

BTW, wx was terrific most of the way through May this year, many CAVU days. That's because my plane was in the paint shop and I wasn't flying. You're welcome. ;)
 
I flew in there in my Mooney this spring to visit a friend on my way to get my fuel tanks resealed. I didn’t have any issues, even the transition from runway to taxiway and the Mooney isn’t know for its great clearance. I found it very nice, difficult to find till you’re right on top of it if you aren’t familiar with the area.

OP - PM me if you want me to try to connect you with my buddy that has a place there.
 
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