{RE/MAX Direct}
The subsequent owners of a newly listed property in Parkland will get more than two stately houses on a three-acre lot; they’ll be purchasing a fascinating slice of history from this rustic-themed city’s past.
The property, located in the Ranches at 8585 Ranch Road, was listed on Saturday for an asking price of $3.5 million, according to RE/MAX DIRECT’s Tracy Hibshman.
The original owner who built the white colonial-style home in 1973, when Parkland was nothing more than dusty, muddy dirt roads, farms, and horses, was Donald S. “Pete” Beaty, considered one of the city’s early pioneers.
This iconic home became colloquially known throughout the area as The Parkland House, says Hibshman, and for many others, the house is also known as the Beaty House.
Hibshman hears people say they’ve known that house since they were kids. “For some people, it’s very nostalgic,” she said.
Directly south of The Parkland House lies 15 acres of land, originally part of Beaty’s property. Now owned by the city, it is used for events such as the Farmers’ Market.
City Commissioner Ken Cutler is considered Parkland’s historian and has always been intrigued by the Beaty House’s history. Cutler has co-authored a book about Parkland’s history, A History of Parkland, and has a Facebook page called Parkland’s History with Ken Cutler.
When the city was in its nascent stages, City Hall had its home in Beaty’s residence, Cutler said. Plus, he used his farm equipment for the common good. “He used to clean up the canals for free and pumped water in from the Hillsboro Canal,” according to the commissioner. “That’s what all the farmers did back in the day.”
Beaty originally owned 1,500 acres of land and had 2,000 head of cattle, making him one of the biggest landowners in west Broward County decades ago. he became involved with various controversial issues at the time, including a lawsuit involving the de-annexation of land. Plus, he was at odds against former Parkland Mayor Becky Guerin over a contract he had entered with the city of Margate for them to bring their sewage sludge to Beaty’s farmland. “It was Beaty’s idea for the sludge,” said Cutler, and that it’ll be good fertilizer for the land. He was also getting money from the city of Margate.”
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Plus, lady luck was a good friend of Beaty, who, on Sept. 15, 1990, was one of two groups of winners on a shared $106 million Florida Lotto jackpot. Beaty, whose portion was $17.5 million, was part of a Florida group that purchased the winning ticket. He told the Sun-Sentinel he would “buy some corn seed and some fertilizer.
Beaty’s wife, Jean Ann, was active in civic affairs and was very involved with the Friends of the Parkland Library, said Cutler. “The Beatys were a large part of the early days of Parkland,” he said. “They did a lot to help the city when it was in its agrarian stage.”
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After their divorce, Jean Ann was granted the house and eventually passed away on May 24, 2013, at the age of 83. Pete Beaty, who was originally from Plant City and had three children with Jean, passed away on September 21, 2020, at the age of 91.
{RE/MAX Direct}
Hibshman says the sale is generating a lot of interest. “There’s been a lot of excitement for the property,” she said, adding that people who’ve been familiar with the home since childhood say it’s always been their dream home, and now they’re in a financial position to afford it. I’m not sure how long it will be listed for.”
{RE/MAX Direct}
The home has five bedrooms, 5 ½ baths, and a newly renovated kitchen and appliances. The property comprises the main house and a recently built second home or barn house.
{RE/MAX Direct}
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