Homosassa: Springs, River and History

Homosassa combines spring water, river scenery, wildlife viewing and local history. When planning your stay, you can give these themes different levels of priority: from viewing life beneath the spring’s surface to activities on the Homosassa River, as well as a designated hiking trail, historic mill ruins and an annual festival. This helps you decide in advance which reasons for visiting matter most to you.

Observe Manatees and Springs

At Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, one attraction focuses directly on the underwater world. The Underwater Observatory lets visitors observe fish and manatees beneath the spring’s surface. The park also offers a Manatee Educational Program, with an opportunity to observe manatees up close in their natural surroundings.

The two offerings differ in focus: the observatory is about fish and manatees beneath the spring’s surface; the program focuses on observing manatees up close in their natural surroundings. When planning, you can therefore choose between an underwater view of several animal species and a program specifically about manatees.

Experience the Homosassa River

The Homosassa River is a first-magnitude spring system that originates in western Citrus County. Its character changes along its course: after merging with the Halls River, it widens and transitions from a clear freshwater spring into a tannin-colored brackish river. This sequence describes more than a single view of a spring: the river scenery includes both the clear spring and the later transition to brackish water.

A guided clear-bottom kayak tour on the Homosassa River offers views of fish, manatees and underwater springs. Unlike the Underwater Observatory, wildlife viewing here takes place during a guided kayak tour on the river. The two offerings therefore differ in the type of visit and the perspective they provide on the aquatic environment.

Another destination on the river is Monkey Island. The island is located in the middle of the Homosassa River in Homosassa and can be visited by kayak or on a boat tour. Here, the island itself is the main attraction, while the clear-bottom kayak tour offers views of wildlife and underwater springs. So when comparing these water-based activities, both the way you visit and what you get to see are different.

Hiking and History

Hiking is allowed in the Homosassa Wildlife Management Area, which has a designated hiking trail. This provides a specific hiking option alongside the river activities. The trail complements wildlife viewing and kayak or boat tours with a distinct opportunity to explore on foot.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park combines historic sites with picnic facilities: the park has a picnic pavilion, picnic tables and grills. It preserves the remains of a steam-powered mill where sugarcane was processed into syrup, molasses and rum, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mill ruins provide a tangible connection between local history and sugarcane processing.

November Festival

The Homosassa Arts, Crafts, & Seafood Festival includes a juried art show. It takes place annually on the second weekend in November in historic Old Homosassa, at the Homosassa Civic Club’s festival grounds. Since the exact date may vary from year to year, check the date for your travel year.

On May 3, 1975, Eppie Boatwright, then president of the Homosassa Civic Club, organized a “Spring Fling Art Show” as a community fundraiser.

Discover more destinations: Inverness, Floral City, Lecanto, Crystal River, Hernando

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