By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Black Prong Equestrian Village won Levy County Commission approval on Dec. 7 for a master site plan that would transform 90-acres of the facility into a showcase for mostly horse-related recreational activities.

            Built into the second phase of the plan are things such as a 10-unit tiny home village for short term rentals, a covered arena 220-feet by 425-feet, a 5-star restaurant and cocktail lounge, a chapel, miniature golf, day spa, 3 treehouses, and equestrian family lodging building and additional RV sites.

            The first phase, which includes facilities that have already been constructed or have been approved for construction through 2025 include a luxurious swimming pool, hot tub, and pool house which already exist, 9 barns with apartments built by the previous owner, 17 existing RV sites, 14 new RV sites, and a 15-room bed and breakfast.

            “When completed, Black Prong will be a full-service, self-contained equestrian resort open to serve the public with private and public events scheduled throughout the year,” according to a statement submitted as part of the master plan to county commissioners. “It is intended for the property to provide lodging options for trainers, participants, guests and patrons, including transient facilities in the form of hotel and motel rooms and a campground.”

            Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the master plan, which is known as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). Most of the commissioners have never reviewed a PUD.

            Black Prong is located about 7 or 8 miles south of Bronson off County Road 337. Goethe State Forest borders Black Prong for the full length of the facility. The Florida Forestry Service is supporting Black Prong’s plans. Thousands of visitors ride the horse trails of Goethe Forest every year with many starting their rides in Black Prong.

            Commission Chairman John Meeks raised two main questions about the future equestrian resort. He was concerned about potential conflicts between trucks pulling horse trailers into Black Prong and regular traffic on CR 337.

             County Planning Director Stacey Hectus said the county will require long turn lanes leading to the entrances of Black Prong. She said she discussed possibly installing a flashing beacon light on CR 337 with County Road Department Administrative Manager Alice LaLonde but they ruled out a light.

            “We didn’t think it was a good idea. We’re requiring extremely long turn lanes for horse trailers,” Hectus said.

            Meeks said he was also concerned about accidentally creating a conflict between the chapel for Black Prong and the proposed cocktail lounge. State law requires a separation of 500 feet between a church and a place selling alcoholic beverages.

            “We’re not going to hamstring ourselves by allowing them to have a chapel and then when they ask for alcohol their own chapel is what prevents them from selling alcohol?” Meeks asked.

            Hectus said the law requires a minimum separation of 500 feet and the county will have to make sure the requirement is met.

            “We’ll have to make sure the chapel and convenience store and restaurant are 500 feet from each other,” Hectus responded.

            One resident asked why Black Prong needed a convenience store when there is a convenience store a short distance away.

            Black Prong Mayor Clayton Bratcher said the convenience store will be constructed in what was once a 200 square foot office. He said it won’t be big enough to attract customers from outside Black Prong. It is for Black Prong patrons if they want a bottle of water or a snack.

            Bratcher said the chapel is not a church. It will be used primarily for equestrian-style weddings.

            Responding to a question from Commissioner Matt Brooks about when the county commission would be asked to approve on-site consumption of alcohol, Hectus said the issue will be addressed in the final approval stage of the development.

            Bratcher said the planned changes to Black Prong are aimed at adding special events to the schedule.

            “What we want now is for outside special events to be able to use the facility,” he said.

            He said the PUD provides flexible zoning and merges previously approved land zoning permits for Black Prong into one master plan.

            “What we’re hoping to do is have fewer appearances before you over the coming year. If we didn’t do it this way, we would have to keep coming back to you over and over again,” Bratcher said.

            Construction of future improvements at Black Prong is expected to be completed by December of 2031.

            Goethe State Forest, a 53,000-acre environmentally sensitive area, sets aside a 100-foot buffer between the forest and commercial buildings at Black Prong. The master plan will allow Black Prong to build an additional equestrian lodging facility partially in the buffer, leaving a 30-foot buffer for firefighting. State officials have approved the variance.

            Bratcher said the master plan clusters new facilities into small areas to preserve as much green space as possible. As it stands now, Black Prong is mostly green space and horse paddocks spread over a rolling sand hill covered by oak trees. The luxurious pool, bathhouse, and stylish entrance at the top of the hill aren’t exactly what one might see in Levy County farm and horse country, to be honest, but they are extremely attractive.

            “We will maintain an agricultural and equestrian aspect of the property and that’s the main focus,” Bratcher said. “That’s what Levy County is about. Levy County is such a beautiful place.

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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting December 7, 2021; Posted December 20, 2021