Homosassa is one of Florida’s original quaint fishing villages and has one of Florida’s most popular state parks.
The area has many wonderful waterfront restaurants with fresh seafood straight off the boats, springs loaded with manatees, and wild monkeys marooned on their island. Homosassa has everything you need for a fun-filled stay.
The Town of Homosassa
But Homosassa, Florida is so much more than manatees. Homosassa is one of Florida’s top sport fishing destinations. It’s also a working commercial fishing port on the Gulf of Mexico.
For all the boating enthusiasts, there may be no better place than Homosassa, Florida. The nearby Halls River zig-zags through marsh and estuary with many incredible fishing spots. Not to mention an abundance of wildlife.
Hop onboard the Boat Tour to Homosassa Springs State Park
Our first stop was the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park. We had a few choices here. Would it be the 15-minute Boat Tour that departs from the Visitor Center Boat Dock, walk, or take the tram on the Pepper Creek Trail? We decided to relax and take the breezy cruise through Pepper Creek. We departed hoping to see some manatees on our journey to the wildlife park, but we only saw turtles sunbathing on a log.
Visit The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Wildlife
This stunning park offers a unique opportunity to see Florida’s native wildlife, including black bears, red wolves, key deer, and alligators.
The colorful flamingos are like all the other animals in the state park. They would not be able to survive in the wild.
Lu is a crowd favorite and the oldest, and perhaps most famous, hippopotamus in captivity, this lovable beast turned 65 on January 26, 2025!
The park also offers plenty of education on manatees for anyone who wants to learn more about the beloved sea cows. And there is so much more for you than just manatees here. While we did see a few in a distance, they were quite scarce during our visit. Normally you can view manatees underwater at the Underwater Observatory but it was closed due to hurricane damage. It is set to reopen soon.
When the temperature rises the manatees skedaddle back to the ocean for food.
This Florida Panther lives here at the park permanently. The panther is an ambassador for their species, allowing visitors to learn about them and their habitats.
Great egrets can also be found at Homosassa Springs. Yeah, I thought he was standing on an alligator too, but it was just a log.
Boardwalks and Wildlife Trails
The 1.1-mile paved walkway and elevated boardwalk trail guide visitors around the park’s centerpiece, the Homosassa Spring. Outside the park, you can enjoy a shaded walk along Pepper Creek Trail, a ¾-mile multi-use paved trail connecting the visitor center on U.S. 19 to the park entrance. This section of the Great Florida Birding Trail meanders through natural communities, from hydric hammocks to flatwoods.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL
Homosassa Main Springs
There are nearly 30 springs in the Homosassa area, but the Homosassa Main Springs is the largest. Collectively, these springs discharge 65 million gallons of water daily, qualifying this group as a first-magnitude spring and one of the largest springs in Florida.
Lunch at The Florida Cracker Monkey Bar
The Florida Cracker Monkey Bar is an open-air restaurant and bar overlooking Historic Monkey Island.
We enjoyed an ice-cold beer riverside and dined on a brick-oven pizza while watching the monkeys play.
Yulee Sugar Mill
After lunch, we stopped to learn more about the history of Homosassa, Florida at the Yulee Sugar Mill ruins. Once the site of a 5,100-acre sugar plantation, the remnants of the processing mill are all that is left of this early 19th-century settlement. Underneath the shade of ancient oak trees, visitors can learn about the complex history of the mill.
Dinner at Crump’s Landing
After a fun day at the wildlife park, we headed to Crump’s Landing in Homosassa, Florida. We were able to grab a seat under the tiki hut. This was the perfect place for dinner with tasty food, and friendly service. I started with the Crump Runner cocktail. For my meal, the Maui Moah ( Chicken breast with pineapple, habanero bacon jam, bacon, bread and butter pickles, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Served on a Hawaiian bun. Sitting back, enjoying drinks with my cousin Keith, and catching up was nice.
11210 W. Halls River Road, Homosassa, FL
I just noticed the sign that says “Do not Touch” this 1935 GMC Panel Van. Oooooooops!
Conclusion
Well, that is it for our day in Homosassa. Next, we head North to Crystal River in search of more manatees.
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