What if we told you that one of the fastest-growing and most affordable communities in Southwest Florida started as a tax shelter tomato farm? Welcome to Lehigh Acres, a place with one of the most unique real estate origin stories in Florida.
With verified historical sources and updated 2025 housing data, this blog dives into how Lehigh Acres grew from cattle fields to a suburban housing hub.
🍅 The Origins: A Tomato Farm with a Twist (1951–1954)
In 1951, Lee Ratner, a Chicago entrepreneur and the founder of d-CON rat poison, purchased 18,460 acres in eastern Lee County for approximately $675,000. His original plan? Raise cattle and grow vegetables- especially tomatoes -on what he dubbed the "Lucky Lee Ranch"
But Ratner quickly realized there was a more profitable path: land development.
💡 Marketing the Dream: $10 Down for Your Slice of Paradise
By 1954, Ratner had teamed up with advertising executive Gerald Gould to form the Lee County Land & Title Company, later known as Lehigh Corporation. Their goal? Sell the dream of Florida living to northern retirees through:
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Newspaper and radio ads
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Direct mail promotions
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Installment plans as low as $10 down, $10/month
By 1959, over 12,000 lots had been sold—many to people who had never even seen the land in person
(Source: HomeQwest Real Estate History Blog).
🏙️ Building a Town from Scratch (1960s–1990s)
While Lehigh Acres grew in popularity, the infrastructure lagged behind. Most lots were just quarter-acre parcels platted into a rigid grid system, with no city sewer, water, or paved roads.
Still, by 1969, over 5,000 families lived in Lehigh Acres, and Ratner's land company had become one of the largest private landholders in Florida
In 1963, the development was sold for $12.5 million to a company linked to the Catholic Church
🔁 The 2000s Boom, Bust, and Rebirth
Like much of Florida, Lehigh saw a housing boom in the early 2000s - followed by a major crash in 2008. Vacant homes and unfinished developments became common.
But Lehigh bounced back. Thanks to its affordable land, proximity to Fort Myers, and growing demand for suburban housing, builders returned. Infrastructure improved. And families began planting roots again.
🧠 Lessons from Lehigh: Florida’s Land Boom Legacy
Lehigh Acres is a case study in:
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Speculative land sales in the 1950s
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The need for infrastructure-first development
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How affordable housing can drive massive growth
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The resilience of communities post-crisis
From $10 down payments to $300K+ homes, Lehigh’s evolution is proof that sometimes the best investments start off as fields of tomatoes and wild ideas.
🏡 Should You Buy in Lehigh Acres?
If you're priced out of Naples or Fort Myers -or you're an investor looking for long-term growth -Lehigh Acres could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.