I have bought and sold land parcels before, and always done fairly well with them.
The best, though, happened after I got divorced, and was renting a duplex on a lake in a golf course development. An acre lot next to the duplex belonged to a guy who was selling off everything to pay off big medical bills, and wanted only $20K for a quick sale of the lot. I jumped on it, and 5 years later, I was contacted by a guy wanting to know if I would sell it. He wanted to build a house on the lot. I ended up selling it to him for 6X my original price, and reinvested it in the purchase of a farm I presently own. Wish I could find a few more deals like that today!
I love those deals! But they don't come up as often as people believe. But like you did, when they do you better be ready to pounce on it.
