Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park – So Much More Than ‘Nature’s Giant Fish Bowl’

The narrow two-lane road curves through a forest of pine trees, saw palmetto, and oak trees. Understory trees and shrubs fill the land beneath and crowd the road’s shoulder. Birds call to each other from the treetops. I stop walking when I hear the characteristic staccato of a woodpecker searching for a meal. I scan the trees, but Woody is hidden among the bright green foliage.

Except for a single tram which passed in the opposite direction, I have the road to myself. It’s not yet 10 AM on a Saturday, and I’m talking the 3/4-mile Pepper Creek Trail from the East Parking at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to the main entrance.

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This popular state park offers a West Parking just steps away from the main entrance. After a two-hour drive to get here, though, I want to stretch my legs. Plus, I rarely pass up an opportunity to explore a nature trail.

Homosassa Springs State Park offers three transportation methods to get from the East Parking to the main entrance, if you choose not to use the West Parking. The first is Pepper Creek Trail, which one can walk or opt for riding the tram. The second is a pontoon boat ride on Pepper Creek.

History of Homosassa Springs, Florida

The springs at Homosassa have attracted people to the area for thousands of years. In 1775, William Bartram described the springs as “amazing and almost indescribable, what troops and bands of fish, and other water inhabitants…all peaceable, and in what variety of gay colors and forms…”

The springs and their abundance were well-known to Native Americans long before Bartram surveyed the area. The name “Homosassa” comes from Chief Tiger Tail, who led the Seminoles here during the Seminole Wars. The word means “place where the wild peppers grow.” Chief Tiger Tail also lent his name to an island in the Homosassa River, Tiger Tail Island, on which Senator and entrepreneur David Levy Yulee built the plantation house for his sugar plantation in 1851.

After the walk from the parking area to the main entrance, I arrive at the boat docks and West Parking, where a sign encourages visitors to “walk under water” in Nature’s Giant Fish Bowl. The natural bowl-shaped spring has attracted tourists since the 1880s when the Mullet Train stopped for passengers to walk around the spring and observe the wildlife. In the 1940s, however, it became one of Florida’s first attractions in a burgeoning tourist trade.

The attraction has always had wildlife and nature trails to accompany the “giant fish bowl.” David Newell first used the name in the late 1940s. He built a three-tiered observatory from which to look down into the waters. The present day floating fish bowl slid into place on banana peels in the 1960s, the brainchild of Bruce Norris. Today, the underwater observatory remains in use as do many of the nature trails and the wildlife park.

Things to Do in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Most people head to Homosassa State Park to see manatees. The park sits right along both shores of the Homosassa River at the spring run, and the river is fenced off at the manatee walk-over, a bridge that traverses the river.

WARNING: There is NO SWIMMING allowed at this park.

Keeping the spring and headwaters of the river inaccessible serves a couple of purposes. First, and most important, keeping people and boat traffic out of the fragile spring helps preserve it and minimize damage and pollution. This is also why banana peels were used to slide the floating observatory into the water.

The natural bowl shaped area around the spring also serves as a natural place to hold manatees which are in rehab. Small fish can still enter and exit through the chain-link fence used to fence off the spring, but larger animals and boats cannot pass through or over.

The park is divided into two distinct areas. When I walked out from the cafe to explore the park, a volunteer suggested the Wildlife Walk first to catch the wildlife shows. I chose the other, less-traveled direction. One side of the park features the Wildlife Walk with a lot of native Florida animals, like alligators, otters, a bear, and a panther. On the other side of the park, the Springs Loop, visitors find the underwater observatory, an education center, the gardens, and the manatee care facility.

Homosassa Springs Underwater Observatory

The fish bowl has cloud windows and shows little of the surrounding spring. Once a major attraction, it pales in comparison now to the rest of the park. The growing popularity of water sports, boating, snorkeling, and diving has also opened the underwater world to many more people. While the fish bowl is unimpressive by today’s standards, the spring is stunning when looking at it above the water. The park is considering options for the underwater observatory, including replacing or refurbishing it and its windows to provide a better view of the spring.

Manatees

WARNING: Visitors to the park cannot “swim with the manatees” at the park.

Homosassa Springs State Park operates, in part, as a critical care facility for injured and sick manatees. The facility connects to the river via the handling pool where the manatee shows take place part of the year. The facility comprises an isolation pool, water treatment plant for the isolation plant, and the handling pool. Besides critical care and rehab, the care center provides a controlled environment in which researchers study and learn about manatees. Though swimming with manatees is strictly prohibited at this state park, there are many nearby places to swim with manatees in Florida. If you do choose to engage in this activity, please be aware of the laws regarding interacting with manatees.

In the river, several enclosures can house manatees or other marine animals. The day I visited, a red-eared turtle sunned itself on a rock in one enclosure. Just outside of it, one of three manatees grazed along the fence, which separates this part of the river from the rest. All three manatees in the park’s care at the time swam in the spring and spring run. As time for the show approached, two manatees gathered in the handling pool, conditioned to go there for treats. 

Lu, the Hippopotamus

Lu is probably the second most popular attraction at Homosassa Wildlife Park. Why is there an African Hippo living at a Florida State Park, you ask? Lu was born in captivity at the San Diego Zoo in 1960 and moved to Homosassa Springs in 1964, when the attraction was still privately owned.

In 1989, Florida purchased the wildlife park and found homes for all the exotic animals. Lu, however, had stolen the public’s heart. An outcry ensued and kept Lu at the park. The governor declared Lu an honorary citizen of Florida, and the hippo remained at the park. Hippos in the wild live 40 to 50 years and can live 60 years or more in captivity. At 62, Lu has lived a long and healthy life at his permanent home. His keepers educate visitors with daily shows and delight those who sit in the “wet zone” during the show.

Wildlife Walk

With the purchase of the park and re-homing of the exotic animals, focus shifted to showcasing Florida’s native animals. The Wildlife Walk provides a permanent home to animals which cannot survive in the wild. These animals have become ambassadors for their species.

Deer

The deer habitat provides a home for endangered Florida Key deer as well as white-tailed deer. A round observation deck allows visitors to watch the deer from within a corner of their enclosure. Key deer live in the Florida Keys on 26 islands from Big Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key. Limited resources on the Keys favored smaller individuals. Males grow up to 32”. Despite its small size, however, the Key deer is not one of the smallest deer species in the world. 

Alligator Lagoon

The Alligator Lagoon houses several gators in a part of the river, which has been allowed to become overgrown. Alligators lounge in the mucky banks or dark, algae-filled water. Several birds nest in the trees surrounding the lagoon. A nearby reptile house provides a home for smaller reptiles, such as snakes.

Otters

A pair of river otters make their home at Homosassa Springs State Park, too. Their part of the river offers them muddy and grassy banks, a floating platform, and an otter house behind the scenes. I spent a long time watching them play with a fish carcass and protect it from nearby vultures.

Black Bear

At the far end of the Wildlife Walk, a black bear sat with its back turned to us, a watermelon cradled in its paws. Ignoring visitors who called to it, the bear enjoyed the cool crispness of fresh fruit. Like many other popular animals, the staff hold wildlife encounters with the bear as star to educate the visitors about bears in Florida.

Birds

The park houses so many species of birds – pelican, storks, an eagle, and even a flock of flamingos. Besides the manatees and otters, I found the flamingos one of the most fascinating animals at this park. They meandered alone or in small groups along a shady creek, fed from the water and large stainless feeders, and stood around preening themselves. Other birds along the Wildlife Walk include the caracara and various hawks.

Garden of the Springs

The Garden of the Springs is a collection of native and exotic plants around a central gazebo and park-like lawn. A turtle pond invites kids to observe the turtles up close, and a pavilion provides several picnic tables to rest or eat at. An observation deck also overlooks the river here. This part of the river is public and open to anyone. Over twenty boats anchored in the basin, competing music blaring from the boats, many of the boaters enjoying the cool water of the river with a cold drink in hand.

Discover Center

If you attend the park with small children, they might tempt you to skip the Springs Loop side of the park (except the manatees, of course); however, the Discover Center sits on that side beside the Garden of the Springs and is a treasure trove of activities and information. Plus, it’s air-conditioned. 

The star of the Center is the manatee skeleton hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the building. A volunteer stands ready to answer questions, and several tables hold shells, bones, and fun kids’ activities. More information about the area and its history lines the walls. Be sure to stop in there while at the park.

Visitor Center

A visitor’s center at the East Parking holds tons of historical information about the springs and surrounding area. Old photographs and memorabilia in glass-enclosed boxes brings the history of the people here to life. There is also a large gift shop within this center.

After several hours walking, photographing, and taking videos, I found myself back at the main entrance. I purchased a ticket for the boat ride back to East Parking. Though the park had filled, it was still too early for most people to be leaving. Only five of us boarded the boat.

When I first arrived at the Visitor Center in the morning, I told the ticket cashier I would pass on the boat ride. “I’m from here,” I told her, “and have seen tons of creeks. It’s so much better to see from a kayak.” She agreed, and we shared a laugh.

Pepper Creek, however, showcases everything that is beautiful about this part of Florida. The banks of the creek are crowded and green with vegetation typical for this hydric hammock ecosystem – silver maples, laurel oaks, cabbage palms. Vines wind up trunks, and ferns grow on the outstretched branches of trees overhanging the bank. Turtles slid off submerged branches as the boat passed by. Dragonflies darted through the air. 

Halfway through the boat ride, a great blue heron lifted off a tree and flew across the creek in front of the boat. It settled on a partially submerged tree on the opposite bank, eyeing us as we got closer. A great breath lifted from deep within me, awkward and heaving like the heron when it first took flight. Then came a swift flight into gratitude. For this brief trip into nature on Pepper Creek. For a beautiful day to explore another state park. And for the preservation of this part of Florida in a unique state park that will care for injured animals and educate visitors for decades to come.

If You Visit Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Address: 4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa Springs, FL 34446

Phone: (352) 628-5343

Tickets cost $13 for Adults (age 13+), $5 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under enter for free.

Where to Stay Near Homosassa Springs State Park

For a unique stay, we love the Crystal River Lullaby B&B. Located just 6 miles from Homosassa Springs State Park, this beautiful property sits right on Crystal River offering stunning river views, a quiet and cozy ambiance, and a central location to all of the Nature Coast’s exhilarating action.

If you prefer the consistency of a franchise hotel, we recommend the Hampton Inn Crystal River. It’s hard to go wrong with a Hampton, especially their trademark breakfast and luxurious beds.

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