Ridge Manor’s history is closely tied to Florida’s railroad era and early agricultural development, serving as a crossroads community that supported timber, citrus, and farming industries.
The area’s history is anchored by the Richloam General Store, built by Sidney Brinson on June 28, 1922, shortly after the arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1921. Serving as the community’s general store, post office, and express office, the building became a vital hub for the rural settlement. After a fire destroyed the original structure, it was rebuilt in 1928, continuing to serve the community until 1936, when Richloam and surrounding lands were acquired by the U.S. Land Resettlement Administration and later incorporated into the Withlacoochee State Forest in 1958. A descendant of Brinson reacquired the property in 2016, leading to its restoration and recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.
The development of Ridge Manor began when James Earl and Frances G. Miller, winter visitors from the North, identified the area’s potential and purchased approximately 3,700 acres in eastern Hernando County. Defined by rolling terrain, oak and pine forests, and a series of small lakes, the community evolved alongside expanding outdoor recreation opportunities. Today, Ridge Manor is closely connected to the Withlacoochee State Trail, a 46-mile paved corridor for cycling, walking, and skating, with parallel equestrian paths.
