A 45 foot deep natural spring is the centerpiece of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This 210 acre park is in Homosassa Springs, Florida, about 70 miles north of Tampa. The springs are the headwaters of the Homosassa River that flows west into the Gulf of Mexico. Saltwater and freshwater fish are attracted to these springs with their constant, year-round temperature of 72 degrees.

One of the most interesting encounters at this natural attraction is the floating observatory. Here you can go underwater to view the thousands of fish and Florida’s endangered manatees. Homosassa Springs is one of the only places in the world where manatees may be observed at close range 365 days a year.

The park offers visitors a rare opportunity to observe Florida’s native wildlife in natural settings. Visitors stroll along paved trails and boardwalks to see manatees, black bear, bobcats, deer, alligators, gray fox, otters and cougars up-close. Now almost 50 years old, Lucifer the Hippo is the last exotic animal who remains in the wildlife park from its early days as an exotic animals zoo.

Many varieties of birds, from colorful wood ducks and roseate spoonbills to majestic birds of prey make Homosassa Springs their home. Most of the birds and animals living at Homosassa Springs can not survive in the wild. The park provides these animals a habitat and diet that is as natural as possible.

Homosassa Springs has several different ecological communities in the park, including wetlands, hydric hammock, spring-run streams and a second-magnitude spring. Sabal palms, live oaks, loblolly pines, southern magnolias and wax myrtles are just some of the native trees and plants that can be found in the park.