1064 Taylors Island Road , Madison, MD 21648(Dorchester County)

Presenting Black Pearl Lodge and Farms. Located in Dorchester County, Maryland this complex of agricultural land, estuarine marshes, timberland, beaches, and sandy shorelines provides one of the most important wintering grounds for waterfowl on the Chesapeake Bay. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese call Black Pearl their winter home. This is demonstrated by the clouds of blue wing teal first seen in September and constant chatter of hen Mallards and Pintails heard from nearly every corner of the farm throughout the migration season. From the high marsh salt ponds to the yellow pine forestlands and every habitat in between, Black Pearl is more than the sum of its parts. The unique combination of natural and managed waterfowl and wildlife habitat, insulated by large forest blocks, is immeasurable. The matrix of quality habitat and legacy of wildlife management woven into the land and wildlife that use it are what make it the Black Pearl.

Black Pearl Lodge and Farms is an 850-acre private wildlife estate offering 6.5+ miles of waterfront and sole ownership of the entire shoreline of Woolford Creek in Madison, Maryland. The privacy, unique waterfowl habitat, and improvements are unmatched. The property is being sold as a turnkey opportunity. This includes farm equipment, decoys, boats, and nearly all furniture and fixtures within the two residences and lodge. The land includes approximately 300 acres of timber, nearly 200 acres of agricultural land, and 350 acres of marshland. The 200 acres of farmland contain a variety of shallow water impoundments which are strategically positioned throughout the farm and utilized for grain impoundments, served by on-site fresh water wells. Impoundments can be used for both moist soil management and winter agricultural flooding.

Black Pearl is improved by three residences, two agricultural and tool barns, and a modern pole building with living space for guests, a farm manager, or employees. The property comfortably sleeps 25 guests. The three dwellings include a newly renovated owners residence, a large guest house with a pool, and the iconic Black Pearl Lodge. All three residences are perfectly situated along the Eastern shoreline of Woolford Creek, providing southwestern exposure to the expansive views of the Little Choptank River and world-famous Chesapeake Bay sunsets.

From Garden and Gun: "The Lodge at Black Pearl is a private 840-acre farm bordering Marylands famed Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, along the northern Chesapeake Bay about thirty miles south of Easton. The property features flooded fields, cropland, marshes, woods, private oyster beds, and five miles of shoreline, and while it has functioned as both a coveted destination hunting lodge for the Washington, D.C., lobbying elite and a quasi-commercial hunting operation in the past, Black Pearl is strictly a family place today. Owned for the last ten years by Stephen and Vicky Mullaney, Virginia natives who met in Richmond in 1986, the property is now focused on introducing nonhunters to waterfowling, with a heaping side dish of conservation, ethics, and plain old hard work."

Woolford Creek

Both the Cove House and Lodge are improved with piers to grant access to Woolford Creek and seasonal activity on the water. The creek is comprised of over 4.5 miles of continuous shoreline with small guts, coves, and creeks for fishing, crabbing and oystering. The water depth of Woolford Creek and the shelter from open bay waters provide safe harbor for large boats and the water provides a thriving environ for blue crabs, rockfish, redfish, speckled trout, and almost any other water-dwelling creature in the Chesapeake. The open water of Woolford Creek and the Little Choptank River are ideal for kayaking, water-skiing, fishing, and many other activities. The sandy beaches along Woolford Creek allow for bonfires and relaxation with family and friends under the stars.

The Lodge

The Lodge at Black Pearl is located at the center of the farm and serves as its focal point for entertainment; allowing family, friends, and guests to celebrate the essence of this exemplary place. The character of the lodge must be experienced to be understood. It is the heartbeat of the farm and provides the foundation for creating timeless memories and appreciation for the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. The Lodge is currently set up to sleep eight guests and is equipped with a commercial kitchen suitable to serve hungry hunters or host a large Thanksgiving feast. From the waterfront dining room, Woolford Creek is center stage. Off the dining room, a well-appointed bar with a live wood edge offers the perfect setting for ending a day in the field over a glass of bourbon. The roaring fireplace in the great room is the setting for many stories to be shared of the days hunt and memories gone by. The collection of waterfowl mounts delivers silent testament to the many stories told and retold at Black Pearl Lodge.

The Oyster House

Historically, the Oyster House has been used as the farm managers residence. However, today it is set up to sleep 12 guests and sits on its own waterfront parcel on the northeast edge of Woolford Creek. The home offers an incredible direct open-water view of the Little Choptank River. A beautiful waterfront pool completes this home and gives it great versatility for hosting guests in the summertime.

The Cove House

The Cove House is located at the head of the creek and functions as the current owners home. The open floor plan offers two bedrooms and two and a half baths with a garage. It was recently completely renovated with high end finishes and an expansion. Similar to the Lodge and Oyster House, it also has southwestern exposure to appreciate sunsets over Woolford Creek and the Little Choptank.

Working and Managing the Land

The turnkey offering of Black Pearl will include all equipment required to operate and maintain the farm. A list of agricultural and maintenance equipment will be supplied. A monitor style barn with run-in shed sides provides ample storage for decoys, ATVs, boats, and small tractors. Two recently constructed pole barns allow storage for larger tractors, implements, and other equipment. Small grain storage is adjacent to the pole barns. The working barns are well located to offer access to the eastern and western sides of Woolford Creek. Road systems around the farm are well maintained with multiple culverts and crossings and many of the low-level berms are managed as roads for ATV access throughout the farm. Woodland roads are also kept open and maintained for ATV access to reach the outer edges of the salt marshes and throughout the forests on site. Impoundment water levels are managed by two wells, one on each side of Woolford Creek. Water lines are trenched underground to provide on-demand water for waterfowl habitat. Over twenty water level control devices are located around the farm to raise or lower water levels as necessary. The property is being conveyed with all Bush Hogs, tractors, disks, bulldozer/loader, grain drill, and other equipment necessary to operate the on-site agricultural operation.

Setting the Table A Habitat Story

Tens of thousands of ducks and geese find their way to Black Pearl annually as they migrate south (and back north) and to winter on the Chesapeake Bay. Blue wing and green wing teal, Wood Ducks, Wigeon, Mallards, Shovelers, Pintails, Gadwalls, and the occasional Goldeneye and Redhead use the impoundments year-round. Canvasbacks, Ringnecks, Bluebills, and even Scoters and Mergansers visit the open water on the Creek and Little Choptank River. Buffleheads and Ruddy Ducks skim the surface of the water throughout the cold season. The diverse habitats and management of them are Black Pearls secret sauce to waterfowl management. The abundance and quality of habitat provide habitat for waterfowl to.

In the Chesapeake Bay, a primary concern when managing waterfowl is providing high quality food resources to wintering birds after their southern migration. These food resources are critical to ducks and geese arriving after their energy reserves have been depleted from their long journey south.

Due to land use changes since the 1800s, wetland losses by some estimates have exceeded nearly 70% in the Chesapeake Bay. This gives context to the importance of the conservation and management effort performed at Black Pearl. Black Pearl sets the table with their effective and consistent habitat management each year.

The three primary habitat types Black Pearl offers for wintering ducks and geese are agricultural flooded lands, dry agricultural fields, and natural marshes. Additional habitat types offered at Black Pearl include palustrine wetlands (flooded woodlands), submerged grass beds, and open water. Surrounding uplands create a buffer from disturbance to the East and West while the woodland buffers insulate the managed interior habitats.

Winter Agricultural Flooding

Waterfowl managers most often refer to this practice as plant flood. Plant flood is a simple practice of adding water to standing crops. The low-level berms constructed around the farm have over 20 locations where pipes fitted with elbows are easily turned up or down to manipulate desired water levels of the fields based on the standing crop or vegetation type and time of year. Wells located on each side of the farm offer the ability to flood standing crops. Black Pearl has historically planted milo, millet, rice, Egyptian wheat, and corn in the impoundments.

Natural Salt Marsh and High Marsh Ponds

Salt marshes in the Chesapeake are the life force of the bay. Estuarine salt marsh offers important habitat in its high marsh ponds to create submerged grass beds preferred by many wintering waterfowl such as Widgeon, Gadwall, Teal, or the elusive American Black Duck. The open water creeks, coves, and guts on both the eastern and western sides of Woolford Creek create loafing areas out of the wind for both dabbling and diving ducks that frequent Woolford Creek. The sandy point and western shore of Woolford Creek is especially popular for ducks and geese to wait out heavy northwest winds during the winter months.

The Uplands

The interiors of Black Pearl are surrounded by both upland woods and fallow agricultural fields. These habitats provide important distance from outside disturbances and cover for upland wildlife such as Whitetail Deer, Sika Deer, and Eastern Wild Turkey. The presence of wild turkeys in Maryland is a story of conservation success. In 1973, an estimated 2,000 wild turkeys populated Maryland. Today, it is estimated more than 30,000 birds inhabit Maryland on farms like Black Pearl. Spring turkey season at Black Pearl proves to be an important time as the farm transitions from winter waterfowl management into agricultural activity of tilling the soil and planting crops for the coming season. While Black Pearl is not managed primarily for Sika, Whitetail, or turkey, these animals significantly benefit from the habitat management and populations thrive on the farm. The 300 acres of timberland on both the east and west sides of Woolford Creek offer significant opportunity to manage and hunt both species of deer. The salt marshes and wooded marsh hummocks provide an ideal Sika environment. Whitetail thrive in the higher woods and agricultural fields but also live on the marshes at Black Pearl .

Highlights

850 Acres in 12 Parcels

300 Acres of Timberland 200 Acres of Agricultural Land 350 Acres of Estuarine Marsh and Fallow Agricultural Land

Two miles of Shoreline Along the Little Choptank and 4.5+ Miles Along Woolford Creek

Property is Permitted as two Regulated Shooting Areas (RSAs) with Maryland DNR

Residential Improvements Include the Lodge and two additional residences known as Cove House and Oyster House

The Lodge is set up to sleep eight and is equipped with commercial kitchen and large, open great room with open fireplace, private bar, and waterfront dining room.

Oyster House is set up to sleep twelve and is oriented on its own waterfront parcel. It is located on northern end on the east side of Woolford Creek

The Cove House is at the head of the Creek and currently functions as the owners house. The open floor plan offers two bedrooms and two and a half-baths with a garage. The Cove House was recently renovated.

Two pole barns and a tool/decoy barn with eight bed apartment space above.

Two wells serve the farm for managing water on the east and west sides of Woolford Creek.

Mallard Hill (west side) provides a nearly 20-acre impoundment and multiple agricultural fields capable of winter agricultural flooding or cropland management.

Black Pearl (east side) is comprised of five primary impoundments where approximately 70 acres are flooded annually with variety of waterfowl management strategies.