In December 2025, the Tallahassee City Commission approved the sale of the Capital City Country Club in a 3-2 vote, transferring ownership of nearly 180 acres of land to the private club for approximately $1.225 million according to official city commision.
After months of deliberation through city meetings and discussions, the decision was made. The club was operating under a long-term lease agreement with the city prior.
Since 1956, the property has been leased to the Country Club under an agreement that allows the organization to operate the golf course for $1.00 per year.
City officials say turning the property over into a municipally owned facility would be too much of a financial burden. The proposed sale would eliminate ongoing maintenance and operational costs that are associated with the land.
However, some locals have expressed their discontent for the sale, with fears that the transfer of ownership of the property could cause negligent disregard for the historical value that the land holds.
“I want this area to remain owned by people in Tallahassee for them to have a say…I also care about this sale because they are going to desecrate and raise over black history in Tallahassee,” said Delilah Pierre, protester and President of Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC).
In 2019, archaeological studies conducted by National Park Service identified multiple unmarked graves and potential burial sites on the property believed to date back to the time when the land served as Edward Houstoun plantation.
“We are in charge, we are in power,” Thomas Spiers, member of TCAC, said. “It can feel like it’s not the case, but it is the case. If there was 500 people marching on this road right now, their tenor would be very different.”
As part of the sale agreement, 98,000 will be allocated toward the creation of a memorial to recognize those buried on the site. The agreement also outlines requirements for continued archaeological monitoring in designated areas according to the officials at the commission meeting.
City officials also mentioned a partnership with Florida A&M University as part of the agreement, which provides access to the course for the university’s golf program.
With the approval of the sale, ownership of the property will transfer to the country club, and the terms outlined in the agreement will guide future use and preservation efforts.
