Fred and I ignored the threat of Florida's afternoon thunderstorms yesterday to drive 40 miles west of Ocala to Homosassa Springs State Park.
Once a Zoo for exotic animals, since 1989 Homosassa Springs is a Florida State Park and celebrates Florida's natural inhabitants.We parked at the Route 19 entrance and took a tram into the park.
We wanted to see the manatees first so walked over the bridge to the viewing platform. There is also and underwater viewing station in the Spring but yesterday they were happy to float in the warmer shallow waters near the bridge. They are such peaceful creatures. It was fun to see them nibbling at the vegetation and scratching their backs by rolling over and rubbing themselves on the rocks.
The Park is home to 4 resident manatees. |
The spring water is so clear that you can see the manatees and fish clearly. |
Turtles on the Pepper Creek |
The spring at Homosassa have been a tourist attraction since the early 1900s, when trains stopped to let passengers off to walk the short trail to the first-magnitude spring.
1964 found it owned and operated by the Norris Development Company with an emphasis on wild animals and training them as actors for television shows and movies. Famous residents were on of the bears that played Gentle Ben and Lu the Hippopotamus that was featured in the movie and children's TV series Daktari.
Lu the Hippopotamus who likes to eat bananas with their peels still on. |
Barn Owl |
Animal welfare is very important at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Homosassa Springs is home to 4 resident manatees. Dozens of others flock to the park in cold weather to enjoy the relatively warmer water of the 72 degree spring.
Blue Heron |
A Wildlife Walk exhibits bobcats, cougars, otters, bears, turtles and hundreds of birds in a natural environment.
We enjoyed looking at the birds. There were Flamingo, Pelican (both white and brown), Wood Stork, Swans, Anhinga, Owl, Bald Eagle and a variety of shore birds.
Great Blue Heron nested in the tall pines and noisy Sand Hill Cranes swooped overhead like Pterodactyl.
Flamingo feeding in the shallows |
This curious creature was in the shorebird aviary. |
American Alligators |
Fred especially enjoyed watching the alligators.
He also spent a long time talking to the Florida Panther as it twitched it's tail and purred back at him lake a large housecat.
We returned to the parking area via a 20 minute boat ride along the Pepper Creek with a friendly pilot named John. He pointed out a huge Osprey nest in one of the tallest trees and turtles basking on rocks and logs. We also caught a glimpse of a Pileated Woodpecker and a few colorful Wood Ducks.
Wood Duck |
John also told us stories of the old park when Gibbons ran wild on an island along the Pepper Creek and boarded the boats to steal snacks and personal items from unsuspecting tourists. Thankfully the Gibbons were rehomed with the rest of the exotic non-native animals.
It was a pleasure to see butterfly's and dragonflies all over the park. The butterfly's seemed to particularly enjoy the Lantana that was growing everywhere.
Monarch Butterfly |
Broad Headed Skink |
Homosassa Springs State Park was delightful. It is very family oriented and easily accessible to those using wheeled carriers for transportation. There are Wildlife Encounter Programs and a Children's Education Center in addition to the Nature Walk that we enjoyed. To see more photos of this adventure visit our Flickr Photo Stream
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 South Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, Florida
34446
(352) 628-5343
Homosassa is one park we have been by, but never have gone to. We will have to check it out, Bonnie. We always say the traffic starts on 19 from that point southward. We want to spend some time in that area and really check it out. You've really shown some great finds in your recent posts! :)
ReplyDeleteDiana's dad was the GC super on the Central Florida campus in Lecanto in the late 80's. Back then, Lecanto was a couple of houses and a gas station. My, oh my...it has grown!
Jim
We have been so pleasantly surprised by the Florida State Park system. We have decided that If we Winter in Florida again we will by a years Family Pass.
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