Region:
Northeast
HOMOSASSA SPRINGS STATE PARK
Homosassa, Florida
Contact Information
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, 34446
(352) 628-5343 Driving Directions
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.
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. It
is recommended that visitors allow 3 1/2 to 4 hours
to tour the park.
Park Fees
$9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 3 through 12, children
under 3 are free. Group rates are also available for groups
of ten or more with an advance reservation. Please call the
park office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
to make your group reservation.
Season Passes, good for one year of unlimited admission from
the date of purchase are also available at the ticket counter.
Park Activities
Birding, Boat Tours, Concessions, Interpretive
Center, Nature Trails, Picnicking, Visitor Center,
and Wildlife Viewing
Birding
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.
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.
Concessions
Riverside Buffet House located in the park's Visitor
Center and offers a Lunch and Dinner Buffet offering
home style cooking and Southern hospitality. A Sunday
brunch is also offered.
Wildside Café is a snack bar with a selection
of beverages, snacks and lunches is located at the
park's West Entrance.
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.
Interpretive 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.
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.
Picnicking
A picnic area is located in the Garden of the Springs.
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