A private parcel of land off DeBary Avenue in Enterprise is undergoing a long‑overdue cleanup after deputies discovered it had been overtaken by trash, drug activity, and unauthorized encampments. The property, owned by an 80‑year‑old woman who lives out of town, had become nearly unrecognizable as piles of debris and makeshift shelters spread across the grounds. She has been hoping to sell the land, but the worsening conditions made that impossible.
Deputies spent the weekend hauling away more than 500 pounds of garbage, though they estimate roughly 5,000 pounds still remain. What they found scattered across the property painted a grim picture: broken furniture, rotting food, drug paraphernalia, and containers filled with human waste. The encampment had grown into a small, hidden community operating without any permission from the owner.
Three people living on the property were arrested on charges including trespassing, littering, drug possession, and public nuisance. Deputies reported finding pills, methamphetamine, and fentanyl at the camp, along with evidence of long‑term habitation. The individuals claimed they had been given permission to stay there by someone they referred to only as “Gator,” though investigators say no such person has any legal authority over the land.
The cleanup is expected to continue throughout the week as crews work to remove the remaining debris and restore the property to a condition that allows the owner to move forward with her plans. The sheriff’s office says the case highlights the growing challenges posed by unauthorized encampments on private land and the strain they place on both property owners and local resources.
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