Southern Iowa Land For Sale

The word “rare” is used way too often in the real estate world, but in this case, the word “rare” actually fits the usage. This Union County property (right on the Union/Clarke line) – only 55 miles south of West Des Moines and 17 miles from Osceola – is 345 acres +/- of almost solid timberland, a large majority being quality hardwoods like White Oak and Red Oak on the rolling ridges and hillsides and Black Walnut in the bottoms, making it almost certainly one of the largest *privately held* contiguous blocks of quality hardwood timberland in all of southern Iowa, with major investment value for both current and future Timber Harvest income. Now that *is RARE*!

A professional forester spent 3 days here in November of 2025 and his final report estimated that there is *currently* $343,000 worth of 18” DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) marketable timber on the property *right now* – primarily White Oak, Red Oak and Black Walnut – that not only can be cut but *should* be cut selectively to help open up the forest canopy and let more sunlight in to help the younger trees grow faster. That is a whale of an investment income that is ready to happen as soon as the new owner takes possession! *See detailed Forester report below for download*. While only 18” DBH marketable trees were part of the 2025 timber appraisal, one look at the property and you can tell there is a plethora of younger hardwoods 10”-16”+ DBH that will be growing into a timber cash crop for decades to come into the future! A very positive side benefit of selective timber harvest on this property is that it will let sunlight get to the ground, stimulating the growth of natural browse and cover to benefit deer and turkey, but also the harvested tree tops will create massive amounts of top-tier deer bedding cover and increase the property’s deer population holding capacity.

The property has gravel road frontage with electric and rural water at the road, and is a multi-use recreational and lifestyle Gem! Good Deer & Turkey Hunting, Beautiful rolling miles of trails and ridges for Horseback Riding, endless locations for mushroom hunting, a fishing pond, and last but certainly not least, any number of secluded and beautiful building sites for a full time home, weekend getaway cabin, barn-dominium, or AirBNB rental for folks to leave the concrete jungle to get away for the weekend only an hour from Des Moines!

This property has not been seriously managed for trophy deer hunting, it has been more casually hunted over the years by family and friends more interested in fellowship and fun in the great outdoors, but you can see from the trail camera photos of the last several years that there are quality genetics and mature bucks on the property even without the efforts of intensive trophy management. The property is loaded with deer and turkey. There are multiple different kinds of deer habitat from open hardwood ridges to bottoms to cedar thickets, property is huntable with any wind direction. Several small food plot fields are already set up on the property, there’s a large area of Agriculture bordering on the west side, and some tree/ladder stands that are staying with the sale. This property is practically a blank canvas for a variety of management practices and projects that can benefit whitetail deer specifically over the years and other wildlife more generally. With time and sweat equity, this already very good hunting property could easily be turned into a top-tier quality hunting property. With miles of roads through and to much of the property, the infrastructure already exists for vehicles, tractors and equipment to get where needed for future projects and habitat improvement work.

There is an existing metal shed building with primitive cooking and eating facilities, lights powered by a solar panel set-up with battery, a stocked fishing pond with dock and crappie, bluegill, bass, and catfish, and a covered deck by the fishing pond, a good spot for gathering, eating, fishing and shooting the bull.

This really is the type of property that “rarely” finds it’s way onto the market. You won’t likely find another like it in southern Iowa on the market for years to come, if ever. 

Call listing agent and land specialist Joshua Flournoy at (641) 203-9427 to set up your own private showing of this beautiful property in a serene country setting yet within easy driving distance of everything modern! 

Please contact Land Specialist Joshua Flournoy at (641) 203-9427 for more information or to set up a showing. Showings by Appointment Only.