Tourist Attractions Directory

The Historic Homosassa River

By Alicia Lowe of River Safaris & Gulf Charters, Inc.

The Homosassa River located in Florida is now and has been since the late 1880’s a popular place for tourism and recreation.  The spring head was once a “roadside attraction,” and the site of many a Hollywood-style movie.  The river drew movie actors, baseball players, and sportsmen with its beauty, fish, and game.

Taking a pontoon boat tour or airboat ride is an enjoyable way to learn about this area’s history. Most of the history is centered around the communities of farmers and fishermen located on the islands near the Gulf of Mexico.  But there’s so much more–the railroad called the “mullet train,” civil war experiences, and Native American tales abound.

The native peoples hunted and fished the springs area but also it was their source of fresh water for drinking, cooking and bathing.  The translation of Homosassa has been many and varied but the favorite is “home of many fish.”  There are largemouth bass in the fresh water, and many types of saltwater fish from the spring head into the Gulf of Mexico.  Fishing is a favorite pastime and sport in Homosassa, where trophy-sized tarpon are not uncommon.  Red drum (Redfish), spotted sea trout, black tipped shark, cobia, mackerel, bluefish, and grouper are just a sampling of the types of fish you may find on the end of your line.

Airboats have been part of Homosassa’s history for over sixty years, being excellent craft for navigating shallow water. They were originally used for duck hunting, but among visitors to the area these days they are a popular choice for airboat tours and airboat rides for fun and fishing.  Shallow water is the norm in the Nature Coast region, so outfitters use airboats to take visitors to see the saltwater marsh and estuaries, and the abundant wildlife that lives there.

Birds are everywhere you look.  Many of the offshore islands (and a few inshore) are literally covered with nesting birds, some of which live in Homosassa year round, along with others that have migrated to the area for the abundant food available to them.  Osprey, Bald Eagles, Anhingas, Rosetta Spoonbill, Pelicans, American White Pelicans, Frigatebird, Herons, Egrets, and more.  And don’t be surprised to see dolphins, alligators and manatees while plying the Homosassa River.

The 72-degree headwaters of the Homosassa River becomes home to upwards to 80 manatees each year in the winter.  Citrus County is the only state in Florida where you can legally swim with these docile and protected creatures.

Scalloping season opens each year from July 1 until September 10.  Historically, scallops were collected in large amounts and brought ashore for processing and transport on the mullet train to market in large towns.  Collecting scallops, shrimp, oysters, stone crabs and blue crabs keep the local population employed and very busy.  Now scallops cannot be commercially harvested, so people head to the Gulf of Mexico in boats to claim their share of these succulent creatures.  The experience is similar to hunting Easter eggs underwater using a mask, snorkel, and fins to help you see, breathe, and get around.  While you hunt for scallops, the plant and animal life you can see underwater is awesome.

And there are other surprises awaiting the visitor to the area, including the artists and crafters nestled in the community. Although the art of net making & mending, building crab and fish traps, and forging a living on the islands may be mostly lost, there are still people who practice those crafts, so folks who wish to pursue that kind of knowledge can find it on and around the Historic Homosassa River.

Come visit the area; we think you’ll find it fascinating!

Why preserving our heritage is so important and fun.

By Linda Ward

I am the author and one of your guides for Adventures in Print. My ancestors have lived in the White Mountains since the 1800’s. More…