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Welcome to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Visitors can see West Indian manatees every day of the year from the park's underwater observatory in the main spring. The park showcases native Florida wildlife, including manatees, black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American alligators, American crocodiles, and river otters. Manatee programs are offered three times daily. At the Wildlife Encounter programs, snakes and other native animals are featured. Recreational opportunities include picnicking, nature study, and bird-watching. The park features a children's education center, providing hands-on experiences about Florida's environment. Transportation from the visitor center on U.S. 19 to the West Entrance is available by tram or boat. The park has two gift shops and a café with a selection of beverages and snacks. The park is open daily 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The ticket counters close at 4:00 p.m. Located in Homosassa Springs on U.S. 19.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, please call 352-628-5343.


Hours of Operation

Open every day of the year from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Last tickets are sold at 4:00 p.m. We recommend that you allow 3 1/2 to 4 hours to tour the park.

Wildlife Encounters Programs: An educational program instructs kids and adults of all ages on Florida’s wildlife including Florida snakes, birds of prey, gopher tortoises, turtles and opossums.
10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Manatee Programs: An educational program on the West Indian manatees and the park’s manatee rehabilitation program.
11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Alligator and Hippo Program: An educational program on American alligators and the park’s Hippopotamus.
12:30 p.m.

PET POLICY Pets are NOT permitted in the wildlife park with the exception of service animals. A Self Service outside kennel is provided free of charge at the Visitor Center.

Dogs are permitted in parking areas and along Pepper Creek Trail on a six foot hand held leash.

SMOKING POLICY: For the health and welfare of all of our animals, particularly the endangered species, and our Park visitors, effective May 23, 2006, smoking will no longer be allowed within Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. For those visitors desiring to smoke or use tobacco, an area has been provided outside the West Entrance of the park. Please feel free to ask a Park Ranger for the reasons behind this policy. Thank you for your cooperation.

Driving Directions

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is located in Homosassa Springs, 75 miles north of Tampa on U.S. 19 and 90 miles northwest of Orlando.


Park Fees

Admission Fee:

$13.00* Adults.

$5.00* Children, 6 -12.

* Includes state and local taxes.

The Florida State Parks Annual Entrance Pass is accepted at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The Individual Annual Entrance Pass waives the admission fee for one person. The Family Annual Entrance Pass waives the admission fee for two people. Additional guests may wish to purchase additional passes or pay the daily admission fees.

Group Fees:

$9.20 Adults in group (ages 13 and over).

$3.50 Children in group, 6 -12.
Children under the age of 6 years old are admitted free.

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more with advanced reservation. Two weeks notification is preferred. To make a reservation, call (352) 628-5343, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Room/Area Rentals:

$200 per day: The Florida Room.

$100 per full day: Garden of Springs.

$150 to $750.00 per day: Visitor Center/Event Field.

For reservations and more information on room and area rental, call (352) 628-5343, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Activities at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Wildlife Viewing Icon

Birding

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is an excellent site for birdwatching. The Pepper Creek Birding Trail runs from the Visitor Center parking area along the tram road and loops through the parking areas at Fish Bowl Drive and returns via a boat ride along Pepper Creek. This trail is one of 20 birding trails in Citrus County that are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. A Gateway and Information kiosk for the trails is located in the Visitor Center.

Participation Requirements
Boat Tours Icon

Boat Tours

Included in your admission, weather permitting, is a boat tour that transports you from the Visitor Center to the West Entrance to the Wildlife Park along Pepper Creek. Rangers give an introduction to the park and the Florida Park Service. Wildlife is identified along the way.

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Concessions

The Wildside Café is located at the park's West Entrance offering indoor and outdoor dining areas. The hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To reach the Manatee Café, call 352-621-0317.

The Park has two Gift Shops for visitor shopping. The State of Elegance is in the park's Visitor Center and offers unique gifts, clothing, books, etc. on a Florida nature theme. The Nest of Treasures is located at the West Entrance and offers a variety of gifts and clothing for younger park visitors. The hours of operation are daily from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. To reach the Gift shops, call (352) 628-1202.

Official Universal Symbol of Accessibility The Men's restroom located at the West Entrance is ADA accessible.
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Nature Trails

A 1.10 mile trail winds throughout the Wildlife Park including paved trails and elevated boardwalk systems. Benches and rain shelters are conveniently located along the trail. Bleachers are located at the Manatee Program area and Wildlife Encounters. The park offers many opportunities to photograph the Real Florida and its wildlife. Commercial photographers should check-in at the park office.

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Picnicking

A picnic area is located in the Garden of the Springs.

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Visitor Center

Our Visitor Center and main entrance is located on U.S. Highway 19 and includes several interpretive opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Exhibits include U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Manatee Education Center and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Migratory Bird exhibit. A display on the history of Homosassa runs along the length of inside wall of the Visitor Center. A diorama shows what the town of Homosassa looked like in the early 1900's and includes a working replica of the Mullet train with a recorded message on the Mullet train. A life-size crocodile and alligator made from molds greet visitors to the center.

Participation Requirements

Official Universal Symbol of Accessibility The restrooms in the Visitor Center and the Children's Education Center are ADA accessible. There are also ADA accessible restrooms located next to the Wildlife Encounters Pavillion.

Special Events for Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park


Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Ranger Programs


Frequently Asked Questions about Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park


Question: What does the word Homosassa mean?
Answer: "Homosassa" comes from the Seminole and Creek Indian languages and means "place where the wild peppers grow." Holly bushes used to grow in abundance along the banks of the Homosassa River. The Indians may have referred to the holly bushes as peppers.

Question: How far is it from the main spring inside the park to the Gulf of Mexico?
Answer: The river runs for 9 miles until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

Question: How many gallons of water flow from the main spring?
Answer: Homosassa Springs is a second-magnitude spring and produces millions of gallons of water every hour.

Question: Why are there more saltwater fish in the spring than freshwater?
Answer: The amount of flow from the spring has decreased over the years and there are many small saltwater springs along the river. As a result there is enough salinity in the water to make it an acceptable habitat for saltwater fish.

Question: Why does the park have an African Hippopotamus?
Answer: Since Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park’s focus is on native Florida wildlife, visitors are surprised to see an African Hippopotamus in residence. The hippopotamus first came to live at the park, then called Homosassa Springs Attraction, when it was a commercial, privately-owned attraction. The hippo, a retired star of movies and television was part of Ivan Tors Animal Actors. These animals wintered at the attraction during the late 1960’s. The hippo became very popular with visitors through the years and was one of the animals who became a permanent resident after the Ivan Tors Animal Actors moved out of the attraction.

When the State of Florida purchased the Park it set about finding new homes for the exotic animals. Local residents who didn’t want to see the hippo relocated wrote thousands of letters asking the State to allow the hippo to remain at the park. Governor Lawton Chiles made the hippopotamus an honorary citizen of the State of Florida and allowed him to live out the rest of his life at the park.

Question: Why are there only female manatees inside the park’s manatee rehabilitation area?
Answer: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction over all captive manatees and decided to separate male and female manatees in facilities with captive animals to prevent captive breeding of manatees. The goal is to concentrate on rescuing; rehabilitating and releasing injured and orphaned manatees.

Question: What can we do as individuals to help save the endangered manatees?
Answer: Individuals can help the endangered manatees by learning as much as they can about these marine mammals. If you see what appears to be an injured or orphaned manatee in the wild, you should report it to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission by calling 1-888-404-FWCC.

Question: Why are there so many birds living in the park around the alligator lagoon?
Answer: Locations that are populated with alligators often become natural sites for bird rookeries.

Question: Where does the spring water come from?
Answer: From 20 to 30 miles around the springhead.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park History

The Calusa and Seminole Indians first inhabited the Homosassa River and surrounding islands. Excavations made during the past few years have revealed not only burial grounds, but also canoes, cooking pots, axes and many other artifacts.

In 1846, David Yulee, a former United States Senator, established a 5,000-acre plantation and sugarcane mill. This was the area’s first known settlement made by the white man. With the beginning of the Civil War, sugar made by the mill and other products of the plantation were used to supply the Confederate Army. The Union Troops, after intensive spying and treachery by one of Yulee’s slaves, burned the family mansion on Tiger Tail Island. Yulee surrendered and spent two years in prison.

The mill is the only antebellum sugar mill in the United States. The original structure, boiler and most of the machinery, is now part of a small State Park located on State Road 490, southwest of U.S. 19.

At the end of the Civil War, families fleeing from the aftermath settled on many islands of the Chassahowitzka, Ozello and Homosassa Rivers. These island homes were self-supporting. Each had its own kitchen garden, livestock and fruit trees. Usually the islands were known by the names of the families who occupied them…such as Gordy Island, Shiver Bay, Loennecker Point and Petty Creek. Provisions were made for the establishment of a school. Early settlers were well educated, and expected the same education for their children. An island church was the next addition. Houses were built of native palm logs with thatched palm leaf roofs. These homes were inexpensive, yet practical and attractive.

Commercial fishing was the mainstay of the economy with the catch being transported 60 miles North to Cedar Key by sailing sloop. Household supplies were brought back by these sloops, as there was no railroad until the late 1900’s. Mail came to Cedar Key, and from there a fleet of boats carried it to the island settlements.

A group of New England financiers bought most of the riverfront property on the Homosassa River in 1886. Then, much of the riverfront property was uninhabited because the land was too swampy. No property became available to the public until about 1921, and at that time extensive land filings began.

The Homosassa area has been known for many generations to famous and wealthy sportsmen. Arriving in Ocala by train, they then had to journey by horse and buggy to Homosassa. The buggies were driven by former slaves who stayed on and were now loyal retainers at Osceola Inn, Meeker House, Dunn Cottage, the Rendezvous and the Atlanta Fishing Club.

The local cemetery is called Stage Stand. It was on this location that a station stood. This was not a train station, but one for changing horse teams and seeing to the needs of stage coach passengers. The station also received mail from all surrounding areas. A town called Mansfield was established in 1887 and served as the County Seat. A trip to the County Seat by wagon was a real event and much looked forward to by the whole family. Not only was business taken care of, but it gave the family a chance to socialize with other county residents. In 1891, the County Seat was moved to Inverness. Mansfield is no longer on the map.

The following years brought many changes. The West Coast Development Company purchased the Homosassa area, including thousands of acres, in the late 1920’s. They instigated extensive advertising, encouraged improvement of highways, transportation systems and brought many interested investors and prospective property owners to investigate the area.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has been a tourist attraction since the early 1900’s, when trains stopped to let passengers rest at the spring. The train track ran on what is now Fishbowl Drive, which runs through the park. While passengers rested, the train loaded fish, crabs, cedar and spring water. The spring and headwaters of the Homosassa River is the only known place in the world where thousands of fresh and saltwater fish congregate. These fish are free to come and go to the Gulf of Mexico, nine miles away.

The 50-acre site, and surrounding 100 acres, was purchased in the 1940’s and operated as a small attraction. In 1964, the Norris Development Company bought property and expanded and promoted Homosassa Springs as "Nature’s Own Attraction." From 1978 until 1984, the land exchanged hands under several private ownerships. In December 1984, the Citrus County Commission purchased the attraction to protect it as an environmentally sensitive area. Today, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the Department of Environmental Protection.

* * *

To provide the best possible view of the spring, previous owners of the park, then called Homosassa Springs Attraction, installed a floating underwater observatory in 1964. The 168-ton structure floats in the spring. It was built like a ship and launched on ways using bananas instead of the usual grease to prevent disturbing the fish population. This novel idea was adopted from an old Max Sennett movie.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Volunteer Information


Volunteers can do many things; greet visitors, conduct tours, help rangers remove exotic plants or maintain the natural beauty of a beach, waterway or trail. The heart of Homosassa Springs is our employees; the soul is our volunteers. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the Homosassa operation, without them we could not provide such a high level of experience for our visitors. The Friends of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs have been extremely supportive through their education, fundraising and special event efforts. The volunteer program at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park provides the community with an opportunity to give something to the park while providing a much-needed work force to enhance the overall operation of the park. This program has grown into one of the largest volunteer programs in the Florida Park Service. Volunteer Service makes up about 40% of the work accomplished in the park.

Welcome to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, one of the most unusual places in the Florida Park Service! All of our staff, which includes full-time employees, OPS employees, and volunteers, play a vital role in our mission to provide a quality recreational experience for our visitors.The Park has seen many changes over the years. As we grow, we will continue to experience a dynamic Park operation. Expect change and embrace it as an opportunity to improve how we do business. We need your help to make Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park the best it can be . Art Yerian, Park Manager

River Alliance plans Shoreline Restoration Project for 2006


The Homosassa River Alliance proposes to plant native Red Mangrove along our shores. At the same time, the organization will help State agencies turn back the spread of invasive Brazilian Pepper-trees. With the help of local volunteers the River Alliance intends to plant 1000 mangrove seedlings right where the Homosassa River and the Gulf of Mexico meet.

Mangrove-stiltroots stabilize the soil at the waterline, provide cover for young fish and nesting places for birds. The new growth can stop further erosion of the riverbanks and will slow down any incoming storm-surges in future.

Brazilian Peppers are exotic invaders that are crowding out local vegetation along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

The River Alliance hopes to situate the demo-project in the mouth of the Homosassa River where everyone can follow the growth of the mangroves and the die-back of the pepper-trees.

The project is planned to start in late April 2006. Members of the public are welcome to participate in the planting, boosting its educational value. Cooperation will be sought with local civic groups, garden clubs and service organizations.

Funding for the project is being applied for through a community education grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The need for any permits and/or permissions is being evaluated.

The Save the Homosassa River Alliance was established in 1999 to help improve the natural health of the river and of the ecosystems that are supported by it.

For additional info please contact Dan Hillen, Homosassa, 352-621-1202.

Visit the Main Volunteer page for information on volunteering in Florida State Parks

Visit the Main Volunteer page at http://www.floridastateparks.org/volunteers/default.cfm for more detailed Information


Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

4150 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, Florida 34446
Phone: 352-628-5343
Fax: 352-628-4243


Citizen Support Organization

Friends of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, Inc.
4150 South Suncoast Boulevard 
Homosassa, 34446

Visitor Service Provider

Evelyn Astore, Concession Manager/Gift Shop
Art Yerian, Park Manager
4150 South Suncoast Boulevard
Homosassa, FL 34446
(352)628-5343
Fax# (352)628-4243

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