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Homosassa Springs fishbowl

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Looking for manatees? You’ll see them up close at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where families can get up close to Florida wildlife in a natural setting.

Homosassa Springs      ( 28.800759,-82.576596 )      

Homosassa Springs fishbowl
The Fishbowl at Homosassa Springs

When we were kids, Homosassa Springs was a roadside attraction, pre-Disney, showing off wildlife in a jungle-like setting. When Florida State Parks took it over, the park pulled in its focus strictly to Florida wildlife, and with a manatee rehab center on site, it’s one of the easiest places in Florida to see a manatee.

Resources

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Overview

Location: Homosassa Springs
Lat-Long: 28.800759,-82.576596
Fees: $13 adult, $5 children 5-12
Open: 9-5:30 daily
Kennels available for non-service animals

Location

Details

The year, 1969. The heft in my hand, a cabbage the size of a bowling ball. With the crowd egging me on, I pitched it directly into the yawning mouth of Lucifer, the giant hippo. The crowd cheered. Lucifer, now Lu, chomped. My Roadside Americana stardom faded as the alligator show began.

Rechristened for the woman who helped its transformation from roadside attraction to Florida State Park, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was a must-stop on my family’s many road trips through Florida. Opened in the 1940s, its main purpose was to showcase the swirl of marine and freshwater fish inside the springs, first via an observation tower and from the 1960s to today, via a underwater observatory dubbed “Nature’s Fish Bowl.”

The exotic wildlife – except for Lu, who was given Florida citizen status by a former governor – moved out once the struggling attraction was purchased by the state. Now, it’s a showcase for Florida wildlife, from manatees to flamingos, otters to panthers. Photographers will appreciate the ability to get close as much as the kids will.

While the park still has a splashy front entrance along US 19, it takes a tour boat – included in the admission price – or a tram, or a walk, to get back to the main gate, which has its own parking area along Fishbowl Road.

Explore the park

  • Lunchtime underwater at Weeki Wachee Three Days of Nature Coast Springs - Between New Port Richey and Crystal River, explore a variety of springs along the Nature Coast that provide splashing fun in summer and manatee watching in winter.

Visit their website

Category: Central Florida, Florida State Parks, Natural Attractions, Nature Trails, ParksTag: Alligators, Best Birding, Best Family Hikes, Birding, Crystal River, Family-Friendly, Favorites, Featured Articles, Florida State Parks, Guided Tours, Inverness, Picnic, Wildlife Viewing

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Marker 26 at edge of pine woods

Alafia River North Trails

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Sunset in a pine forest

Red Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area

Red Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area
Footpath in shade of palm forest with white blazes

White Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area

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Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

John R. Bonner Nature Park

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