The Porter Family, who owns Wiregrass Ranch, originally came to the Pasco County area in 1937. They owned what is now the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. At the start of World War II this hunting and fishing retreat was condemned in order to create an Army Air Force Training Station. The revenue allowed them to purchase about 14,000 acres from the Rockefeller Land Trust, what is now known as Wiregrass Ranch. James H. Porter moved with his loving wife Martha M Porter to the ranch in 1946. Their homestead sat directly across from the entrance of what is now Heritage Ford on State Road 54. The original home was actually an old moonshiner home that had been transported out of the woods!

Here is where they raised their three sons: Don, Tom, and Bill. However, the times were much different then, than they are now. For the first two years there was no electricity! Martha would sit on her front porch and wave to the four or five cars that drove by each day. The closest store was over thirteen miles away; clothes were made and food was harvested and produced by the land.

In 1950, the “Wiregrass” name stuck. Ed Madill, a Buick dealer, went on vacation to Mexico City and sent a postcard to his good friend James H Porter. Ed had no address and simply addressed it to: Wiregrass Porter, Gatorville, FL USA. The post card made it to its destination, and the title’s legacy name was in place.

As time marched on cattle were added as a revenue source in 1941. They planted citrus trees in 1950 as an additional source of income. The citrus groves have now grown to encompass a 10% of the Ranch. These both exist on the ranch today!

In 1972, Wiregrass Ranch had its first substantial land sale to Saddlebrook Golf and Tennis Center. James H. “Wiregrass” Porter, had a new vision for the area, and this was a major piece. Creating a community centered around family was the image he had in mind. The next year, the land for what was to become one of the top selling communities in Tampa, Meadow Pointe, was sold.  The small community of Williamsburg began that year as well from what was Wiregrass Ranch property. Today the ranch is just over 5,000 acres and is being looked at by multiple commercial, residential, and industrial businesses.  These developers will create the type of community that Pasco County has longed for.