Living in Loxahatchee and The Acreage: Rural Acreage Close to Wellington

Living in Loxahatchee and The Acreage means trading subdivision lots for acreage: one-acre-plus parcels, horses in the backyard, and wide-open views at the western edge of Palm Beach County, roughly 15 to 18 miles west of downtown West Palm Beach. It is a rural lifestyle with the equestrian world of Wellington, the shopping of Royal Palm Beach, and the preserves of the Everglades ecosystem all minutes away.

I'm Rhonda Townsend with 1st Real Estate Solution Inc., and I help buyers throughout western Palm Beach County find acreage, ranch, and hobby-farm properties that fit how they want to live. This guide covers what daily life in Loxahatchee and The Acreage is really like, and what you should verify before you buy.

Where Are Loxahatchee and The Acreage Located?

Both communities sit in the western part of Palm Beach County, mostly along the Southern Boulevard (State Road 80) and Okeechobee Boulevard (State Road 7) corridors, west of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. The Acreage is an unincorporated community, and Loxahatchee is the surrounding area, a portion of which incorporated as the Town of Loxahatchee Groves in 2006. Unlike most of the county's coastal towns, this part of the county is rural, unincorporated, and governed largely by Palm Beach County.

The landscape is the first thing people notice: long driveways, pasture fences, mature oaks draped in Spanish moss, and, beyond the roads, thousands of acres of protected wetlands. The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1951, protects more than 145,000 acres of the northern Everglades just to the west, and the Grassy Waters Preserve borders the area to the east. You are literally living at the edge of a wilderness system the size of a small county.

For the full community overview, my Loxahatchee neighborhood guide covers the area's character, amenities, and typical price ranges in detail.

What Kind of Homes and Lots Will You Find?

Parcels are the defining feature. Most homes sit on one acre or more, with one to two acres typical in many neighborhoods and five, ten, and twenty-acre tracts common for hobby farms and equestrian use. Homes range from ranch-style single-family houses on open lots to improved equestrian properties with stables, paddocks, pole barns, and workshops.

Because much of the area is zoned for agricultural and equestrian use, a surprising number of properties include horse facilities or room to add them. If keeping horses at home matters to you, this is one of the few places in coastal Palm Beach County where that is realistic without an HOA's approval. Many acreage properties have no homeowners association at all, which gives owners freedom over sheds, trailers, and landscaping, and also means you carry more responsibility for property standards and maintenance yourself.

Price points vary widely with lot size and improvements, from entry-level acreage to large estate properties. Buyers who want a base for comparison can look at my guide to moving up to a bigger home in Palm Beach County and the county-wide guidance on relocating to Palm Beach County.

Many buyers come for privacy rather than farming, and the area has options at both ends of the spectrum: improved parcels with a move-in ready home, and raw land where you handle the driveway, utilities, and improvements yourself, which is a different timeline and budget entirely. It helps to be clear about which type you are shopping for before you start touring, because the properties, inspections, and due diligence look very different.

What Is the Day-to-Day Lifestyle Really Like?

The short version: quieter, slower, and outdoorsier than anywhere else in the county. Mornings start with birdsong instead of traffic, neighbors are spread out, and the biggest daily decision is often which trail to ride or walk. Wildlife is part of the package: sandhill cranes, deer, songbirds, and water birds are common along the roads and preserves.

The trade-offs are real. Commuting to the coast takes planning, since the distance to downtown West Palm Beach, the airport, and oceanfront offices is roughly 15 to 18 miles each way. Much of the area relies on private wells and septic systems instead of city utilities, which means well water treatment, septic maintenance, and occasional pumping are part of homeownership. Seasonal insects and the occasional water-management schedule near the preserves are simply part of living at the edge of the Everglades. Cell service and internet also vary by road and provider, so if remote work or connected living matters to you, test the coverage at the property during a visit rather than assuming it matches the nearest town.

If you have lived on city lots, the space itself is the adjustment: you can actually see your neighbors' lights across the pasture, and your property line may be a quarter mile down the road. For people who want room for horses, toys, gardens, or simple privacy, that is exactly the point. For turning that open acreage into a manageable, low-water yard, my guide to gardening with native plants in South Florida is a practical place to start.

How Close Are Shopping, Dining, and Everyday Services?

Despite the rural feel, you are not far from everyday conveniences. Royal Palm Beach is a short drive east, with supermarkets, medical offices, restaurants, and the amenities around Okeechobee Boulevard. Wellington's commercial district, including the Mall at Wellington Green and its dining and entertainment options, is minutes away for a broader range of services.

Along Southern Boulevard itself, Loxahatchee and Loxahatchee Groves have their own mix of small businesses, farm stands, and services. For larger errands, the western communities are well placed relative to the county's major corridors, and commuters reach the coast by crossing through Wellington and Royal Palm Beach rather than fighting coastal traffic all day.

For a sense of the neighboring market, my living in Wellington guide describes the equestrian and suburban lifestyle immediately to the east, and my Wellington equestrian lifestyle article covers the horse scene many acreage buyers come for.

What Is There to Do Outdoors Around Loxahatchee and The Acreage?

This is where the area shines. The outer limits of what you can reach from your own driveway are genuinely unusual:

• Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge: More than 35 miles of levee trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding through Everglades marshland, plus boardwalk trails and some of the best birdwatching in South Florida.
• Grassy Waters Preserve: A 23-square-mile wetlands system that supplies West Palm Beach's drinking water, with canoe and kayak trails, boardwalks, and year-round nature programs.
• Lion Country Safari: The drive-through safari park in Loxahatchee has been a local landmark for decades, with miles of drive-through wildlife habitats and a walk-through amusement area.
• Loxahatchee Groves Park: A county park in the area with sports fields and recreation space at 13901 Southern Boulevard.
• J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area: Thousands of acres of public hunting, fishing, off-road, and hiking grounds managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife just beyond the western communities.

Then there is Wellington itself, the winter equestrian capital of the world, with world-class shows at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center minutes from the Loxahatchee border. For day trips and coastal excursions, Discover The Palm Beaches maintains the official guide to beaches, parks, and attractions across the county.

What Should Buyers Verify Before Buying Acreage?

Acreage purchases come with a longer verification list than a typical suburban home. Work through these items with your agent before making an offer:

1. Utilities: Confirm whether the property uses a private well and septic, community water, or a sanitation district, and get the septic system inspected. Budget for any connection fees or well maintenance.
2. Flood zone and drainage: Low-lying acreage near preserves can carry flood zone designations. Check the FEMA flood map for the property and talk to an insurance agent about flood coverage early. My flood zones and insurance guide explains how to read the maps.
3. Lot lines and easements: Review the survey for boundary lines, easements, and right-of-way, since acreage parcels are often irregular and some land may be encumbered.
4. Zoning and covenants: Confirm the zoning allows your intended use, whether that is horses, a workshop, an accessory dwelling, or none of the above. Some communities within the area do have associations and deed restrictions.
5. Permits for improvements: If the property has outbuildings, barns, or a pool, confirm the county issued permits. My article on unpermitted renovations in Palm Beach County covers what to check.

An experienced local agent makes this list manageable. I walk every acreage buyer through these items and connect them with the right inspectors, surveyors, and well and septic contractors.

Is Loxahatchee or The Acreage a Good Fit for You?

This lifestyle fits people who want space, privacy, and the outdoors enough to accept a longer commute, well and septic responsibilities, and a slower pace. It fits equestrians, hobby farmers, families with horses and toys, and anyone who has ever looked at a subdivision and wished the lot went on for another acre or two.

If you are considering a move to the western communities, the best next step is a conversation about what you actually need: acreage for horses, room for a workshop, a retreat with privacy, or a home base close to Wellington's equestrian calendar. Call me at (561) 236-9772 or email rtownsendrealestate@gmail.com, and I will help you sort through the options with clear, low-pressure guidance.

Thinking About Acreage Living?

Life on the acreage is wonderful, and it is also a different kind of homeownership: wells, septic, zoning, drainage, and lot lines all matter. Tell me what you are looking for, and I can help you compare acreage properties across Loxahatchee, The Acreage, and the rest of western Palm Beach County.

Schedule a Consultation Contact Rhonda

Rhonda Townsend, REALTOR® · A.I. Certified Agent™ · 1st Real Estate Solution Inc.
(561) 236-9772 · rtownsendrealestate@gmail.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Loxahatchee and The Acreage the same place?

They are neighboring rural areas in western Palm Beach County rather than one official place. The Acreage is an unincorporated community, and Loxahatchee is the broader area around it, parts of which incorporated in 2006 as the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. County services, codes, and taxes apply across most of the rural western communities, so what matters for your purchase is the specific property, its lot, utilities, and zoning, which your agent can verify for any address.

How big are the lots in Loxahatchee and The Acreage?

Most properties sit on one acre or more, with one to two acres common and five, ten, and twenty-acre parcels available. Some communities and subdivisions have smaller minimums, while true acreage tracts offer room for horses, outbuildings, workshops, and privacy. Lot size, building envelopes, and setbacks should be confirmed on the survey and with the county before you make an offer.

Do homes in The Acreage have city water and sewer, or wells and septic?

Many acreage properties in the western communities rely on private wells and septic systems instead of city water and sewer, because the area is unincorporated and largely outside municipal utility service areas. Some pockets have access to community water or sanitation districts, so the answer varies street by street. Confirm the water source, septic system age and inspection status, and any connection fees for a specific property early in your search.

How far is Loxahatchee from Wellington and West Palm Beach?

Loxahatchee sits roughly 15 miles west of downtown West Palm Beach along the Southern Boulevard and Okeechobee Boulevard corridors. Wellington is a short drive to the east, and Royal Palm Beach is closer still for groceries, shopping, and everyday services. Actual drive times depend on where in the area you buy and the time of day, so it helps to test the commute from the properties you are considering.

Can I keep horses on a property in Loxahatchee or The Acreage?

Yes, for most parcels. The western communities are zoned for agricultural and equestrian use, which is why you will see stables, paddocks, and training facilities throughout the area. Check the zoning and minimum lot size for the specific property, confirm any covenants, and plan for the improvements horses require, such as shelter, fencing, and water. Wellington's equestrian world, including the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, is a short drive away, and the wildlife refuge's perimeter levees allow horseback riding.

Sources

Sources referenced in this article:

• • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
• • Lion Country Safari — Drive-Through Safari Park in Loxahatchee
• • Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation — Loxahatchee Groves Park
• • Discover The Palm Beaches — Official Palm Beach County Tourism