The park houses Lu, a hippopotamus that was granted 'honorary Florida citizen' status by the state governor due to his history in film and long-term residence.
The spring run is a tidal influence zone, meaning saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico can reach the park during high tides.
The 'Fish Bowl' observatory was originally built in the 1940s and served as a movie set for several Hollywood films, including 'Easy to Love'.
It is one of the few places in Florida where visitors can see the endangered red wolf in a controlled environment.
The Homosassa River, fed by these springs, supports a significant winter congregation of West Indian manatees.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the springs have been a gathering place for humans for at least 5,000 years.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park serves as a critical rehabilitation center for injured manatees and other native Floridian wildlife. The park is centered around a natural first-magnitude spring that maintains a constant water temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Visitors view animals in both captive settings and their natural habitat via elevated boardwalks winding through the cypress swamp. The park features an Underwater Observatory, known as the 'Fish Bowl,' which allows guests to observe manatees and fish submerged in the spring run. Rehabilitation efforts focus on animals that cannot be returned to the wild, including Florida panthers, red wolves, and a variety of raptors. A pontoon boat tour is included with park entry, ferrying visitors from the visitor center to the main wildlife park entrance. The site was formerly a commercial attraction known as Nature’s Fish Bowl before being acquired by the state of Florida in the 1980s. The park encompasses 210 acres of varied habitat, including hardwood forests and salt marshes.
The Underwater Observatory window provides unique, eye-level photos of manatees and freshwater fish.
Take the first available boat shuttle in the morning to see manatees when they are most active.
Carry polarized sunglasses to better see through the surface of the spring water into the depths.
Apply insect repellent, as the boardwalks traverse dense swamp and forested areas.
Avoid visiting during mid-day heat in the summer when wildlife, particularly larger mammals, tend to retreat to shaded, non-visible areas.
Open daily, including holidays; occasionally closed for specific facility maintenance as announced on the official park website.
Maintain silence near the rehabilitation enclosures to avoid stressing the animals; do not feed or attempt to touch any wildlife.
