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Open lakes and the smell of pine brings Judith Manza back to a place her family's been returning for four generations. For her, there's nothing like it.
"There's just so much nostalgia, even just opening the windows when you drive onto the property and smelling the pine and the ferns, just being at Reed Ranch, it brings so many warm feelings," Manza said.
Over the years, the 6,500-acre Reed Ranch, located in Fairview in Oscoda County, has provided a getaway for Michiganders looking for hunting, cross-country skiing, fishing and a host of other outdoor activities. The property features three cabins, three lodges, more than 50 deer hunting blinds, bird hunting, shooting ranges, 12 lakes and more than 65 miles of two-track trails.
The ranch recently turned over to new owners, breaking from a 90-year legacy in the Reed family. The Reed Ranch is now known as Wilderness Ranch. The new owners are currently transitioning on-site signage, the ranch website and phone numbers to reflect the name change.
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Reed Ranch origins
The historic property was purchased by U.S. Senator James Reed, D-Missouri, and his wife, Nell, in 1934. The area served as a getaway for the Reeds, eventually expanding to a business to host visitors from across the state and country.
"It's the kind of place that once you've been there you really enjoy it and love the peaceful nature that it has to offer," Manza said.
The Reed family purchased land that would become the ranch after being recommended to visit the area for its abundant fishing. James Reed was a U.S. Senator from 1911 to 1929 and also worked as a lawyer. His wife had a successful career as a fashion designer and entrepreneur, running the Donnelly Garment Co.
Turning the page
Wilderness Ranch, LLC, the new owners, seek to maintain and expand the property's legacy , according to a post on the property's website.
"As the new custodians of Reed Ranch, Wilderness Ranch is committed to preserving the rich history that the Reed family has cultivated," the statement said. "Our goal is to build upon the established traditions and memories while introducing thoughtful enhancements to elevate your next overall experience."
The Reed family announced the sale in a March 24 letter to guests.
"Many of you have been visiting the property regularly for years, some all of your life, and maybe even followed traditions started by your parents or grandparents decades ago," the letter said. "We appreciate your patronage and loyalty and want to let you know that the Reed family has recently sold the ranch to Wilderness Ranch, LLC. We have always viewed ourselves as stewards of the Ranch, and we know that (the new owners) will continue that effort."
The ranch presents an opportunity to explore rural Michigan, said operations director Josh Carter.
"People can come up and unplug and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and get into nature and enjoy themselves in a very tranquil, very peaceful environment," Carter said.
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A family-friendly getaway
Located just north of the Huron National Forest, the ranch is open almost year-round — closed for about a month for spring cleaning — and provides a variety of seasonal activities.
"It's really a unique adventure for people to get out into northeastern lower Michigan and experience that wilderness and nature at its finest," Carter said.
With its calm environment and many outdoor activities, the ranch continues to attract guests. Some even stayed all year, joining the property's workforce.
Nick Socia grew up on the ranch, where his father Aubrey Socia served as manager, a role Nick later took on.
The Socia family moved to northern Michigan from metro Detroit in 1968 when Nick was 11 years old, then moved to the ranch a year later. His childhood on the ranch included helping his father clear roads during snowstorms and watching wild dogs chase deer across a lake out his kitchen window.
"I'm pretty privileged. I got to fish, I got to hunt, swim everyday," Nick said.
Aaron Smith of Howell started going up to the ranch when he was 3 years old with his father.
"It was a really unique place, I feel totally blessed to have been introduced to it. I mean, it was just amazing," Smith said.
The ranch's remote surroundings include rural roads and the remnants of old railroad tracks. Smith and Nick Socia recounted learning to drive on the roads as teenagers, enjoying the freedom of the traffic-free environment.
"I think it gave me a lot of character because I didn't have a whole lot to do other than ... the hunting and fishing, but work," Nick Socia said.
Visitors enjoy the bonds forged by family and friends at the ranch, spending time chatting, hunting, fishing and more.
The Smith family went to the ranch each fall with a hunting group including World War II and Korean War veterans, with Aaron Smith taking in the elder men's war stories and political discussions, cherishing group breakfasts and hunting sessions.
"Being in this small community of these all older guys was really influential and amazing, and taught me a different perspective on life in some ways," Smith said.
Manza's family started visiting the ranch in the late 1970s, enjoying summer fishing and winter sledding. Through the generations, the trip became a family tradition, with relatives gathering to watch family videos from previous visits before each year's trip.
"It just felt like you could leave and be away from it all and reduce your screen time and kind of escape for a week at a time," Manza said.
Manza's family gets excellent fishing on their summer trips.
Living in the isolated area taught Nick Socia about working in nature and wildlife, and adjusting to life without many close neighbors or playmates.
"It's one of the few places that you can go and be on an entire lake, sometimes by yourself or just with your own family, and the fishing there is phenomenal," Manza said. "I've caught huge bass and it's never overfished."
The ranch left a lasting impact on the Socia family, permanently transplanting them to the northern Michigan community from their roots in metro Detroit.
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Prior to becoming manager at the ranch, Aubrey Socia served as assistant superintendent supervisor of Clintondale Community Schools in Mount Clemens. He worked at the ranch for 18 years, maintaining trails, cleaning beaver dams, building hunting blinds and repairing buildings. Aubrey also became close with the Reeds, often going for drives with Nell Reed in her 1926 Lincoln.
The legacy continued with Nick Socia, who worked eight years at the ranch, serving as a laborer and later as manager from 2018-2021 before his retirement.
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"When I got there, the buildings were in pretty rough shape and I got very aggressive at repairing them," Nick said. "I took care of most anything that needed to be repaired."
Nick stayed in the area, currently living in the nearby town of Curran with his wife.
The Reed family maintained lifelong ties to the property. Nell Reed continued hunting at the ranch into her 90s, interviewed by Detroit Free Press reporter Tom Opre in 1980 on her experiences.
"I like the companionship. I love getting into the woods," Nell Reed said in the interview. "There's something different about the hunt than just a summertime visit up here. You sit quietly in the stand. You have time to reflect on happy memories, and you are so removed from any business worries or the ordinary irritations of life."
James Reed died at the ranch in 1944 at age 82. Nell Reed continued returning to the ranch after James' death, hunting and visiting with guests. She died in Kansas City, Missouri in 1991 at age 102.
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Carrying on the legacy
Smith hopes to return this fall with his daughter, passing on the tradition to a third generation of family visits to the ranch.
Nick Socia hopes the new owners continue the ranch's legacy and his work on infrastructure improvements.
"I would like to see them keep it the way it is," Nick Socia said. "I would like to see them continue to fix the buildings up."
The ranch will undergo renovations and additions in the coming years as the new owners look to bring in more visitors, Carter said.
This includes work on the cabins and lodges, possibly building lake houses and a clubhouse, and adding a commons area and farming space to produce fruit within the next one-to-three years. The ranch will also look to add recreational vehicles for rent, like pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
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Manza, 37 of Lake Orion, plans to continue her family's tradition by returning to the ranch with her children this summer.
"To be able to share that experience with my kids is really, really memorable and really, really emotional, almost," Manza said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Reed Ranch in Oscoda County gets new owners after 90 years