For generations, Hendry County’s land was valued mostly on what it could grow: sugarcane, citrus and cattle. That’s still true for many tracts, but it’s no longer the whole story. Today a flat pasture near a power line can interest buyers who have never farmed anything, and a small homesite in Montura Ranch Estates or Port LaBelle can appeal to families who can’t afford a house in Fort Myers.

Solar is reshaping rural land demand

Florida Power & Light already has a big footprint here. Its Sawgrass Solar Energy Center near Clewiston sits on a 605-acre property and began operating in 2022, and FPL’s first Hendry County solar center opened near LaBelle in 2018. (FPL)

More is planned. FPL’s 2026 Ten-Year Site Plan lists several preferred sites in Hendry County, including the Grapefruit, LaBelle and Mango solar energy centers, and projects roughly 12,293 megawatts of additional solar statewide between 2026 and 2035. (FPL Ten-Year Site Plan)

A word of realism: utility-scale solar needs large, flat, mostly dry tracts close to transmission lines. Most smaller parcels won’t qualify. But if you own a big pasture or grove near a major line, it’s worth knowing that solar developers are an active buyer type in this county.

A long-planned cargo airport

Airglades International Airport, on U.S. 27 outside Clewiston, has been working for years on a private expansion aimed at becoming a cargo hub for perishable goods to and from Latin America. (WGCU) Timelines for projects like this often shift, so treat it as a possible future driver rather than a sure thing.

Homesites and the manufactured home shift

On the other end of the scale are the thousands of small lots in communities like Montura Ranch Estates and Port LaBelle. With the average 30-year mortgage rate at 7.03% in late September 2026, many buyers are shut out of new site-built homes. (Freddie Mac) Manufactured homes, which cost roughly half as much per square foot as site-built construction according to industry data, are filling that gap. (PrefabMarket) If your lot allows one and has workable access, that’s a real selling point.

What drives value in Hendry County

  • Flood zone and wetlands. Low, wet ground limits what can be built, so it matters for every buyer type.
  • Road frontage and access. Many rural lots sit on unpaved roads. Legal, usable access is key.
  • Distance to power lines for large tracts, and to LaBelle or Clewiston for homesites.

Own land near LaBelle, Clewiston, the Caloosahatchee or out toward Lake Okeechobee? See our Hendry County land page or request a cash offer. We’ll tell you honestly which buyers your land fits.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures and project timelines come from the sources linked above and may change.