Homosassa, Florida

A Spring-Fed Treasure of Natural Beauty

Launch Map of the Area

Every second of every day, at least 100 cubic feet of water flow from an underground source into the 45 ft. deep Homosassa Spring, amounting to more than 64 million gallons of water per day. The spring outflow creates Homosassa River, a 9-mile waterway to the Gulf of Mexico through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.

Homosassa is said to mean "place where peppers grow" in a long-ago Native American language, and was a seasonal gathering place for nomadic tribes for many centuries. The first known commercial utilization of the area began in 1846 when David Yulee established a 5,000-acre sugar cane plantation and built a mill and processing plant to produce sugar for customers throughout the Southern states. Civil War hostilities led to the burning of the Yulee plantation, but remains of the mill still stand in a little park along State Route 490. In those earliest days of European habitation, food and supplies had to come by boat from Cedar Key, 60 miles to the north.

The beauty of the Homosassa River was recognized by a group of New England investors who obtained ownership of virtually all the land bordering the Homosassa River in 1886. Successors to the owners began selling land to the public in 1921, leading to the gradual growth of Homosassa as a fishing village and a place of permanent residence. Travel in those early days was by stagecoach from Ocala.

The big, crystal clear spring always was a major tourist attraction, with manatees—and the visitors who come to swim and snorkel with them—enjoying the year-round 72 degree water, a combination of fresh and salt water fish and countless waterfowl. A series of private businesses owned the property until 1984, when the Citrus County Commission bought the attraction. Today, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the State Department of Environmental Protection.

There are really two "Homosassas." The village of Homosassa Springs is a developed area along a stretch of U.S. Highway 19, with a selection of goods and services for permanent residents and passers-by. An office of the Wildlife Park is the gateway to a most unique experience of natural Florida, including a chamber where windows to the aquatic life give a close-up view of manatees and fish.

Homosassa (without the "Springs") is a village along the banks of the Homosassa River, offering lodging, dining, guide services and some small town delights including seasonal festivals and contests. A public school and a library serve a growing population of permanent residents.

Florida's Nature Coast has attracted many famous and wealthy people. President Grover Cleveland loved Homosassa and the resort where he relaxed alongside the Homosassa River was known, while he was in residence, as "The Winter White House." John Astor was another seasonal visitor, as was Winslow Homer. Modern facilities offer hospitality at every level, from basic overnight accommodations to full service resorts.

For a downloadable guide to Historic Homosassa, visit www.homosassahistory.com or Click Here.