Homosassa

Homosassa Springs is home to the headwaters of the Homosassa River, one of the most beautiful rivers in the area which is teaming with a diversity of wildlife and aquatic creatures. Many Florida Manatee calls Homosassa Springs home.

The relatively warm, 72 degree waters attract these gentle mammals during the cool winter months. Homosassa Springs is known the world over as the Manatee Capitol. People flock to the area from all ends of the globe to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with the manatees. Homosassa Manatee Tours are available daily at the many dive and snorkel shops.

Homosassa Springs is also home to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, a zoo-like enclosure that is home to dozens of Florida native species and even a hippopotamus! Here you find alligators, panthers, bobcats, black bears, otters, flamingos, bald eagles, rattle snakes, and many more fascinating animals.

There is even a “fishbowl”, an underwater observatory, to view the manatees and thousands of fish that inhabit the Homosassa Springs.

Homosassa is a Native American Creek word meaning “place of many pepper plants”. The Homosassa River is considered the lifeblood of Homosassa and nowhere is this more evident than in “Old Homosassa”. 

President Grover Cleveland established his “Winter Whitehouse” on the banks of the Homosassa River and today a major street in Homosassa is named after him. Artists like Winslow Homer also visited  the area and painted many watercolors of the Homosassa River which are on display at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

David Levy Yulee owned a sugarmill to process sugarcane during the Civil War and also cultivated a variety of sweet oranges on his plantation on Tiger Island in the Homosassa River.

The fruit has been named the Homosassa Orange and is considered a local favorite fruit today.

Old Homosassa is steeped in history and is home to many colorful characters. The area is known for some of the most beautiful and unique waterfront homes.

There are many local bars and seafood restaurants to enjoy as well as local annual festivals including the famous Homosassa Seafood Festival.