Today's daytrip takes us on a historical journey and tells the story of one of Florida's oldest industries. This site was once home to one of the largest cattle ranches in the state. Today we're checking out the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch.

"This was kind of the last settled frontier in Florida," says Lee Mitchell. "There wasn't much here at all."

Mitchell manages the pioneer museum and he'll give you a walking tour through this historical property. The museum tells the story of the pioneer days of Collier County and the homesteader, Robert Roberts.

Mitchell says, "Being a cattle man he liked the open area and stuff, liked the open range. You have to understand when they moved here, there were no stores; just a handful of families here."

You'll find some of the farming tools at the pioneer museum, used to help keep up the citrus groves in the area. You'll also find what's left of the original cabin and kitchen.

"They (the Roberts family) had about 300 head of cattle and all their possessions and they came south," Mitchell tells us. "They had to cross the Caloosahatchee."

Roberts used this land to run his business, "The Red Cattle Company." As his business grew, so did his ranch and land holdings between Immokalee and what is now Lehigh Acres.

"When they came here they homesteaded 40 acres and by the late 50s early 60s, they owned or least over 110,000 acres," says Mitchell.

You'll find the cowboy bunkhouse and the steps used to load cattle decades ago. You can also tour the Roberts family home. The family moved into the house in the 1920s and the house has been restored to reflect that period. On the property you'll also find a sugar cane grinder, a can boiler, and a water pump. These were all part of the pioneer lifestyle needed to survive in the Florida frontier.

The Roberts family donated the house and 6 acres back in 1995. The county bought an additional 9 acres to expand the ranch. Roberts himself died back in 1963. Mitchell tells us that one year later, oil was discovered on his property.

[CG :!PrePro\ \Immokalee Pioneer Museum\1215 Roberts Avenue, Immokalee, Just off Main Street (U.S. 29), 239-658-2466]
The Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch is located at 1215 Roberts Avenue in Immokalee.

This is right off Main Street. Make the turn just past the Popeye's Chicken on Main Street.

If you want to pay a visit, call Lee Mitchell at 239-658-2466.