CONSERVATION-PROTECTED RECREATIONAL ACREAGE IN THE TOWN OF POLK, WASHINGTON COUNTY SELLS FOR $92,020

WHAT THE LAND OFFERED

Not every parcel sells because of what a buyer can build on it. This 18.99-acre corner lot at Sherman Rd and Scenic Rd in the Town of Polk, Washington County sold because of what it is, and what it will remain. The land sits under a conservation easement that permanently protects its natural character, keeping it recreational only and non-buildable in perpetuity. For the right buyer, that restriction is a feature, not a drawback.

The terrain was level with wooded sections and pockets of wetlands throughout. Topography was flat, zoning was Agricultural and Other, and the parcel was raw land with no water or waste infrastructure. Road frontage ran along both a town/city road and a paved road at the corner, giving the property solid access. The present use was recreational, and the land had been left in its natural state, making it a ready-made habitat for deer, turkey, waterfowl, and other wildlife. For a hunter, birdwatcher, or anyone looking for a private outdoor retreat in Washington County, the acreage delivered exactly that.

HOW THE SALE CAME TOGETHER

The property listed at $94,900 in October 2024 and went under contract in 24 days, closing December 6, 2024 at $92,020 cash. The buyer was represented by Corey D. Tousey of First Weber. A cash close on recreational land with a conservation easement in under a month is a clean result, and it points to a specific type of buyer who knows exactly what they are looking for and does not need financing to get there.

Al Wisnefske of Land & Legacy Group LLC represented the seller. "This one was always going to appeal to a particular buyer," Wisnefske said. "You are not buying this land to develop it. You are buying it because you want 19 acres of wetlands and woods in Washington County that nobody can ever touch. That is genuinely hard to find, and the buyer who closed on it understood that. The conservation easement was the selling point, not an obstacle."

RECREATIONAL LAND VALUES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Washington County recreational land does not trade as often as farmland or residential acreage, which is part of what makes transactions like this one worth paying attention to. At $92,020 for 18.99 acres, the sale came out to roughly $4,846 per acre for conservation-protected wetland and wooded ground. That figure reflects the permanence of the easement, which limits buyer demand to a narrower pool, while still demonstrating real market value for natural recreational land in the county.

For landowners in Washington County or surrounding areas who are sitting on recreational ground, wetland parcels, or land already under conservation agreements, this sale is a relevant data point. There is a buyer market for protected natural land, particularly for parcels with good road access, wildlife habitat, and proximity to communities like Jackson, Slinger, and West Bend. The key is reaching the right buyer with the right positioning.

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If you own rural land, farmland, or acreage property in Wisconsin and are curious what it might be worth in today's market, Land & Legacy Group LLC specializes in exactly this kind of transaction. Visit landandlegacygroup.com to learn more, or reach out directly to discuss your property.