12 Oaks Sale to Land Trust Completed

Jul. 31–OCEAN SPRINGS – Judy Steckler said the deal to purchase Twelve Oaks closed last week, and the property now belongs to the Land Trust of the Mississippi Coastal Plain.

Steckler, trust director, during April announced the group’s intention to buy the 30 acres of woodlands and marshland from Jan and Juliette Vos. The land, so named for centuries-old Live oaks among other trees located there, will be used for environmental benefit, and as a cultural, educational, and tourism attraction in Ocean Springs.

The property, along Fort Bayou on Hanley Drive off U.S. 90, was once owned by a former slave and features a home that had been an African Methodist Episcopal church.

Steckler said the Land Trust anticipates receiving additional grants to pay off the property, but fund-raising efforts are ongoing in case the grant doesn’t happen. The property had been appraised at $2.8 million, but the Vos’ sold it for $1.9 million because they want to preserve its natural beauty.

Steckler and city planner Donovan Scruggs said state Rep. Hank Zuber of Ocean Springs worked hard to develop a partnership with the city, county, the Land Trust, the Audubon Society and other state and federal agencies and to provide tidelands funds for the property. They will know at year’s end if a $100,000 tidelands grant has been awarded.

“The Live oaks and bayous will not be impacted by further commercial and residential development on this tract of land,” said Scruggs.

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