Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs used to be a popular train station in the early 1900s. The passengers from the train could have a picnic and head for a swim by the spring while the train was being loaded up with crabs, fish, cedar, and spring water. During a visit in 1924, Bruce Hoover of Chicago had called it “the most beautiful spring and river in the world.” Over the last half-century, the Homosassa Springs haven't changed from its initial beauty. At Homosassa Springs an astonishing number of fresh and saltwater fish still gather together in the natural spring bowl, fish such as large jacks, snapper, snook are found around here. Tourists can look down into the depths of this beautiful spring and can also have the chance to find some fish and manatees swimming around in their natural habitat.

The Homosassa Springs park also has a large variety of animals such as Florida alligators, whooping cranes, black bears, red wolf, Key deer, flamingos, and as well as the oldest hippopotamus that is captive. The native animals that live in the park act as ambassadors for their type as they provide visitors with one on one interactions with the animals and their habitats. Each animal at the park has its own unique life story, but the uniting trait of all the animals present at the park is that all of the animals here are not able to live on their own in the wild.


The visitors at the park can see the famous West Indian manatees throughout the year through the park's underwater observatory that is found in the mainspring area. The park has a lot of native Florida wildlife that includes the  American alligators, manatees, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American crocodiles, black bears and river otters. The Manatee programs for visitors are offered thrice daily. Visitors can also go to the Wildlife Encounter program as they have snakes and other native animals that they can experience. The park offers recreational chances to the visitors that include bird-watching, nature study, and picnicking. The Homosassa Springs park also has a children's education center that provides hands-on experiences about Florida's environment. Visitors have transport from the visitor center at the park to the West Entrance by tram or boat. The Homosassa Springs park has two gift shops and a cafe with a wide array of beverages and snacks.  


Manatees can be seen throughout the year at Homosassa Springs Park as it is dedicated to the Florida’s native wildlife conservation effort. Tourists can see manatees, panthers, alligators and crocodiles as well as various other species of birds, reptiles and mammals at this Homosassa Springs Park which is centered around the beautiful Homosassa Spring. The park offers an unforgettable experience inside, where they have an underwater observatory in Homosassa Springs which is known as “The Fish Bowl", it gives viewers an incredible underwater sight of manatees and schools of fish.