Situated on the west central coast of Florida, Citrus County encompasses 20 towns, including Crystal River, Homosassa and Inverness. In the 1800s, Citrus County contained acres of orange groves. Now known as the “Water Lovers Florida,” the county consists of six lakes, seven rivers, and small streams and pond, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. The waterways along with the preserves and parks create a natural playground for nature-loving tourists to explore.
On the Water
The lakes, rivers and other waterways in Citrus County provide accommodates watersport enthusiasts visiting the areas. Its six large lakes offer boat ramps, and fish camps are located along the waters. Located near the county seat of Inverness, the Tsala Apopka Lake Chain is the largest lake in the county, and sport fishers primarily find largemouth bass. The rivers appeal to boating, canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. King’s River contains deep caverns, but divers and snorkelers receive natural light as far down as 50 feet. Withlacoochee Rivers flows through seven counties and features a large population of aquatic and land wildlife. Manatee communities live in areas of rivers where freshwater begins mixing with the Gulf’s saltwater. The environment created by the mixture support manatee life.
Wildlife Parks and Preserves
Citrus County has 29 parks, nature preserves and wildlife refuges, boasting an abundance of wildlife and native plants. The 210-acre Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park operates as a rehabilitation center and home for injured and orphaned manatees. Its natural spring water prepares manatees for life in the wild. The park has paved trails and boardwalks where visitors see black bear, alligators, grey foxes, otters and cougars. It takes about four hours to complete a park tour. The 157,479-acre Withlacoochee State Forest provides services such as wildlife management, ecological restoration and outdoor recreation. Activities allowed at the park include hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing.
Before the Spanish settled Florida, Citrus County served as ceremonial and trade center for Native Americans. The Citrus County Visitors & Convention Bureau website notes that each year approximately 7,500 Indians journeyed to the Crystal River to bury their dead and exchange ritual objects. Historic sites date back to that time. A National Historic Landmark, the 61-acre Crystal River Archaeological State Park consists of a six-mound complex with a plaza, temple/platform mounds and burial mounds. Downtown Floral City has been listed on The National Register of Historic Places since 1993. In the winter of 1893-94, a freeze destroyed the county’s citrus industry; however, phosphate found in Floral City ignited the mining industry. Historic landmarks include Frazier Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and oak trees planted in the 1880s.
Citrus County has more than 50 hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, lodges and condominiums, in addition to campgrounds and RV parks. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection certified the 232-acre Plantation Golf Resort and Spa in Crystal River as a green lodging. At the 2008 World Travel Awards, it was named “North America’s Leading Green Hotel.” The hotel offers 27 holes of golf. AOK Ranch Guest House & Horse Hotel sits on a 10-acre property on the Withlacoochee State Forest and has a fully furnished guesthouse, RV sites and covered horse-boarding paddocks.
Dining options in Citrus County include family restaurants, fine dining, international establishments and seafood. Vintage on 5th in historic downtown Crystal River serves Southern foods like shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, black grouper, as well as pasta and rack of lamb. Homosassa’s Neon Leon’s Zydeco Steakhouse is family restaurant that serves Cajun and Creole dishes liked jambalaya, seafood etouffee and frog legs. For visitors older than 21, The Grove in downtown Inverness specializes in martinis and features live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Based in Tucson, Ariz., Cicely A. Richard has been writing since 1996. Her articles have been published in the “Arizona Daily Star” newspaper and “ForeWord Magazine.” Richard earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and journalism from Louisiana State University. .