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Denny's World Now!

Updated: 34 minutes ago

I know why I live in the 573. I know why I moved here, and I know why I haven't left—there are several reasons, but one stands out: water. Southeast Missouri truly is the fountain of youth, with its beautiful spring-fed rivers pumping out billions of gallons of fresh, crystal-clear water for all to enjoy. Yes, the area is a naturalist's dream with all our forests, springs, and wildlife. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, caving, climbing, hunting, and fishing…the 573 has it all.  


Recently, I got a call from an old friend and the president of the MACOA arts council, who said he had retired. I was like, wait, what? Yup, he said he retired from his role as Executive Director at SMTS, which provides Rural Public Transit for 21 Missouri counties. He may be just old enough to retire, but a guy like this doesn't sit in front of his TV and a sunken sofa somewhere. I was right, turns out he got busy again. I always say, If you want something done, ask a busy person. Meet Denny Ward and his newfound way to stay busy— a real estate agent and his newest listing, S-K Ranch in Missouri.


Denny Ward with glasses smiles, holding a fluffy dog by a lake. Autumn trees with orange leaves reflect in the water. Cozy, serene setting.
Denny Ward and his dog Maudi May take a hike around the his new listing.

I'm the 2nd oldest of 13 children. I was born and raised in Marquand. Growing up in that little town was magical and likened to Mayberry, USA. We played in Whitener Creek, the Castor River, and the Mark Twain National Forest as kids. Family is everything, and I am very close to my siblings and 50 nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. As an animal lover, I'm attached to the hip to Maudi May, my very rotten and lovable Cavapoo. I'm also an avid gardener, and love spending time in my formal gardens around my historic home. I've always had a passion for history and the preservation of historical properties. As an adult, I dedicated many years to helping preserve local historical buildings.   


Denny Ward in suit gazes at serene spring-fed lake in Missouri from deck, surrounded by autumn trees. Warm, peaceful setting with vibrant fall colors.
 I've always had a passion for history and the preservation of historical properties.

Having diverse interests made it easy for me to reinvent myself over the years. I've been everything from a Tour & Travel planner and guide to a Sales Manager to a Human Resource Manager to a Controller and an Executive Director for a nonprofit organization that provides Rural Public Transit for 21 Missouri counties—SMTS. I love helping others, and my personal mantra has always been "Any act of kindness, no matter how small, is never wasted."  This made my career with SMTS a dream job for me. Mobility is so crucial to success and life in general. Can you even imagine not being able to take yourself to the grocery store, for a haircut, or a medical appointment? Rural Public Transportation is vital to our communities and helps allow individuals to remain in their homes and be independent for as long as possible.  


Elderly man, Denny Ward, with white hair and sunglasses leans on a railing, thoughtful. Background features trees and a building in soft focus.
...flourish in an environment that provides clear, clean living, untouched by man and his machines
S-K Ranch 285-acre spring-fed lake estate Southeast Missouri listed by Denny Ward Swinford Realty #SKRanchMissouri #573HiddenGems
Call Denny today!
Elderly man, Denny Ward, in a suit jacket leans on a wooden railing, gazing at autumn trees. Warm sunlight and a brick house create a peaceful mood.
I feel so lucky to be the one who will help the next family create a new history at the ranch.  

I've also always been passionate about The Arts. I've served as President of the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies for more than one term, and was an active board member for many years. I helped develop the Homan Hall Performing Arts Center in Marquand to promote The Arts in rural communities. As Program Director at Homan Hall, I try to schedule between eight and twelve performances annually. In addition, I work with Marquand Development Corporation to plan and coordinate four community festivals each year.  


Three people in a small boat on a calm lake, surrounded by vibrant autumn trees reflecting in the water. Peaceful and serene setting.
Have you ever fished on a lake that never gets fished? Yes, you catch a lot of fish.

I currently serve as the President of Mineral Area Council on the Arts. A regional Arts Council that sponsors both Visual and Performing Arts in a multi-county district.  


I also deliver Food Boxes for the SEMO Food Bank in the Marquand area monthly. Nutrition is vital to quality of life, and SEMO Food Bank generously provides boxes filled with products to help supplement an individual's food supply each month. It's a great program! 


Calm lake reflects vibrant autumn trees and a clear sky, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.
A view of the house from across the lake. It's in there somewhere!

Real estate as a retirement career?  I've always had a fascination with real estate and the market. I love wide-open fields, the forest, and architecture in general. When I formalized my retirement plans from SMTS, I knew I wanted to pursue another career, and real estate just seemed to fit my next chapter. 



In today's world, it's rare to find a hidden gem like the S-K Ranch. It's secluded, pristine, and filled with amazing views and wonders from the spring-fed lake to fascinating rocks and beautiful wildlife. It's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise: hiking, horseback riding, ATV trails, fishing, hunting, and so much more! For a Naturalist, you'll find the perfect mix of organic life, excellent places to flourish in an environment that provides clear, clean living, untouched by man and his machines—I feel so lucky to be the one who will help the next family create a new history at the ranch.  


Brick house with garage in a sunny, wooded area. Foreground features a stone patio with round table and benches. Autumn foliage is visible.
In Spring, the big magnolia tree in front of the house blooms super large white flowers.
Sunlit autumn scene with a brick house. Tall trees with golden leaves cast long shadows on a leaf-covered path. Tranquil and bright mood.
Room with large windows showing a serene lake view, autumn trees, a bench, and a birdhouse outside. Warm colors suggest a tranquil mood.
Every room has a view!
Wooden deck with scattered leaves, brick house on left, overlooking a calm lake and trees with autumn foliage, creating a serene scene.
House with a large deck in a wooded area during autumn. A person stands on the deck. The scene is peaceful with fall foliage.
Warm-lit bathroom with a large tub, wooden cabinets, dual mirrors, and diamond-patterned tiles. Windows show a forest view. Cozy ambiance.
Inside and out, the property is very nice and well thought out for nature lovers.

The Crown Jewel of S-K Ranch —the 5-acre, Spring-fed lake —is filled with fish just waiting to be cooked for dinner. Talk about a recreational extravaganza —think about the opportunities for weekend retreats filled with swimming, floating, and fishing. Nightlife on the deck couldn't be sweeter than this, with the moon glistening over the water and laughter filling the air! The lake is spring-fed. It's crystal clear and the water has no smell. And as a bonus, that lake itself is supported by an old groth stand of cypress trees—they are beautiful with their bellbottom trunks!


Elderly man, Denny Ward, in flannel shirt drops water into a calm lake, surrounded by autumn trees with orange and green foliage, reflecting on water.
The lake is spring-fed. It's crystal clear and the water has no smell. It is something very special.
Hands cupped with water dripping, wearing a green and blue sweater. Background of calm water and blurred autumn trees, serene mood.

Denny Ward with glasses drinking water from hands by a lake with autumn colors reflecting in the background, wearing a green plaid sweater.
I love the outdoors. This place is a one of a kind!
Smiling older man, Denny Ward, in glasses and sweater holds water in cupped hands by a lake. Autumn trees reflected in calm water create a serene scene.
The Crown Jewel of S-K Ranch —the 5-acre, Spring-fed lake.
Denny Ward holding a dog by a lake surrounded by autumn trees. Barefoot, standing beside shoes. Calm evening light reflecting on water.

Calm lake reflects clouds and autumn trees in vibrant oranges and greens. Tranquil setting with a bright sky and serene mood.


Moonlit pink sky over a tranquil lake, surrounded by autumn trees with red and green foliage, reflecting serenity at twilight.
Every step on the property is a wonderful image waiting to be made.

A tranquil lake reflects autumn-colored trees and a misty sky, with water lilies floating on the calm blue surface.


A brick house surrounded by autumn trees glows warmly with orange lights at dusk. The setting is tranquil and cozy.
The house was designed for nature lovers who want to experience the changes of the season up front.
Close-up of a jagged stone on rough bark with blurred yellow leaves in the background, giving an outdoorsy, autumnal mood.
A hike around the lake and you will discover the property is set on top beautiful white marble.

S-K Ranch has been, and still is, the equestrian's dream! Three stables, a hay barn, pasture with watering stations, numerous marked riding trails, fields with established grass hay to be harvested each year, and so much more. In my mind's eye, I can envision organized trail rides that end with a campfire and cookout. It would be easy to establish campsites with hookups for trailers, and the 285 acres lends itself to building cabins or chalets tucked away in the woods for privacy, or to maintain the environment in its pristine condition, or as someone's private dream home.


A red barn with white doors in a sunlit forest clearing. Mist rises in the background, and autumn leaves scatter on the ground. Quiet setting.
Three stables, a hay barn, pasture with watering stations, numerous marked riding trails, fields with established grass hay...
Truck and horse trailer parked in a large brown barn. Person stands with a horse outside, surrounded by a forest with autumn colors.
The stable system is a horse lovers dream.
Sunny forest scene with wooden sheds, pine trees casting long shadows on green grass. Sunlight filters through branches, creating a serene mood.
Denny Ward smiling, leaning on a wooden fence in a sunlit pasture. Trees with autumn leaves in the background. Casual, peaceful setting.
A gateless corral system for people—easy walk-around entry, keeping your animals safe and secure.
Reagan Evans leading a horse out of a brown barn, surrounded by trees. Bright daylight creates a serene, rural atmosphere.

Three people ride horses from The Stables Equine Therapy through a sunny autumn field, surrounded by golden grass and vibrant orange trees, under a cloudy sky.
It's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise: hiking, horseback riding, ATV trails, fishing, hunting, and so much more!
Three riders on horses from The Stables Equine Therapy traverse a sunlit field with autumn trees, accompanied by a dog. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene scene.
Riding trails meander through open prairie fields and forests.
Jeff & Reagan Evans on horseback ride through a grassy field with a dog. The sky is cloudy, creating a serene, pastoral scene.

A white horse with a purple rope halter stands next to a silver trailer in a wooded area. Sunlight filters through the trees.

Two people in cowboy hats stand by a fire with a dog in a rural setting. The fire's bright flames create a warm, rustic scene.
The gang from The Stables, professional equine-assisted therapeutic horse riding and lessons, came out to give the property a spin. They gave a big fat thumbs up. Their horses and staff are just wonderful. Click here to learn about them.

Three people in cowboy hats sit on a bench by a campfire, with two horses in the background, creating a cozy rustic scene.
A large bonfire pit at the stable makes for a great way to unwind after a long ride.

Missouri's bald cypress reigns as the iconic wetland deciduous conifer that sheds its feathery, light-green needles in fall, revealing a "bald" silhouette against fiery russet hues. Towering up to 130 feet with swollen, bell-bottom trunks, these ancient giants thrive in soggy bottomlands or around springs. Their quirky cone-shaped roots poke from watery soils, aiding aeration and stability in oxygen-poor mud, and can live up to 1000 years—it looks like a tree from the time of dinosaurs. Rot-resistant wood and a symbol of resilience, bald cypress is a reminder of lost wetlands in the 573.


Cypress trees with orange leaves line a tranquil lake, their reflections mirrored in the water. Bright, serene autumn setting.
The cypress trees are simply amazing. It's like walking through Jurassic Park in places.
Cypress trees with exposed roots and fall foliage in a sunlit swamp. Orange leaves contrast with the dark, earthy ground and green water.
Bright autumn trees with orange leaves by a calm lake, reflecting in the water. Clear sky and serene atmosphere.

Cypress trees with vibrant autumn leaves reflected in calm water, surrounded by cypress knees. Lily pads float on the surface.

Southeast Missouri harbors over 4,000 crystal-clear springs, fed by ancient limestone aquifers that have filtered rainwater for centuries. These cool 58°F waters, naturally filtered and mineral-rich, anchor Ozark National Scenic Riverways, drawing kayakers and anglers amid karst landscapes.


Calm lake reflecting blue sky and clouds, surrounded by autumn-colored trees. The water is clear, revealing the sandy, leaf-strewn bottom.


Whoever ends up with this property is going to own one of the world's most beautiful, no-smell, crystal-clear springs.


Get Out There! Create something. Learn something new. Take a hike. Start a business. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you. 


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