Missouri’s Largest Landowner Controls a Ridiculous 153,000 Acres

Missouri is the 21st largest state in terms of total land area. Its beautiful state parks, expansive lakes, and rolling hills make Missouri a prize spot for many landowners.

Perhaps some of the most beloved land in the state is located in Missouri’s Ozark Highlands — a physiographic region noted for its astounding natural beauty. The Show Me State is 69,715 square miles and the largest private landowner in Missouri controls a good portion of that land in the Ozarks.

Who Is the Largest Private Landowner in Missouri?

Pioneer Forest is the largest private land owned in Missouri. The forestry service features over 150,000 acres of land in the Missouri Ozarks. Land acquisition began in March 1951, when Leo Drey purchased approximately 90,000 acres of land from a private company known as National Distillers.

Over the years, Drey continued to purchase land in the Ozarks for Pioneer Forest. Drey spent over half a century restoring more than 153,000 acres of Ozark woodlands. The forest stretches across multiple Missouri counties. It features mainly oak, hickory, and pine trees over its expansive acreage.

Drey began purchasing land with the goal of creating a way to harvest the area’s trees while retaining the structure and character of the forest across the landscape, according to the L-A-D Foundation’s website.

Current Ownership

In 2004 Leo Drey and his wife, Kay, donated Pioneer Forest to the L-A-D Foundation, which remains the largest private landowner in the state of Missouri. This donation set a record for the largest private gift of any kind in Missouri.

At the time, Drey stated, “I have been privileged to have had such good people to work with over the years. I am pleased that the Foundation will continue to manage the forest just as I have done.” 

Visit Pioneer Forest

Pioneer Forest grows a number of high-quality trees that are harvested sustainability for wood products. It also includes many recreational areas that are open to the public, despite being privately owned property.

Visitors to areas such as the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry can partake in a number of recreational activities. Enjoy hiking, horseback riding, camping, bird watching, and fishing.

The Roger Pryor Pioneer backcountry features a 60,000-acre tract adjacent to Echo Bluff State Park. At least 50 miles of trails wind through the area.

Recreational History

From the beginning, Leo Drey welcomed the public to his privately owned forest land. Drey believed in sharing his privately owned land with the public and opened it up to recreational use. Following the establishment of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 1964, Drey created the first practical recreation policy on Pioneer Forest.

Today, the L-A-D Foundation upholds recreational policies and opportunities. Rules for the recreational use of Pioneer Forest are simple. They involve guidelines such as respecting wildlife and prohibiting the destruction of natural areas.

In the 1970s, Drey cooperated with volunteers from the Sierra Club to construct the very first 13 miles of the Ozark Trail on Pioneer Forest. Drey established the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry in 2001. Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry include the following:

• Bee Bluff Trail
• Blair Creek Section of the Ozark Trail
• Blair Creek Equestrian Trail
• Brushy Creek Trail
• Current River Trail
• Laxton Hollow Trail
• Sugar Tree Hollow Trail

Wildlife

The Ozark Highlands of Missouri are an ecologically diverse area. Pioneer Forest provides an especially ideal spot for birdwatchers. Over 400 species of birds make their home in Missouri, and the state’s Ozarks Forests are ideal for both amateur and professional studies of birds.

For example, scientists conducted research on bird species commonly found in mature forests, such as the red-eyed vireo, worm-eating warbler, and Acadian flycatcher. The study found that these birds were also prominent in Pioneer Forest.

Other common animals in the Ozarks include bobcats, coyotes, white-tailed deer, black bears, and mountain lions. Smaller creatures, such as shrews, moles, and squirrels also roam the area. Please note that hunting feral hogs is prohibited in Pioneer Forest.

Other Major Land Owners In Missouri

While the L-A-D Foundation is the largest private landowner in Missouri, other entities own a significant amount of land. For example, the State of Missouri itself technically owns the most land in the state.

The United States Federal Government holds more than 1.4 million acres of land, while the Missouri Department of Conservation is responsible for over 460,000 acres of land in the state.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Steven Schremp/Shutterstock.com