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Homosassa Springs, Florida: Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Built as "Nature's Giant Fish Bowl," a 1940s tourist attraction. Now a state park. Still features the observation area built over the mouth of the spring, and the Bowl where you stand underwater and watch the fish. Has a resident hippopotamus named Lu.

Address:
9225 W. Fishbowl Drive, Homosassa Springs, FL
Directions:
US Hwy 19/S. Suncoast Blvd to the town of Homosassa Springs. At the stoplight (CVS, Walgreens) turn west onto W. Halls River Rd. Drive a half-mile. Turn left onto W. Fishbowl Drive. Drive a quarter-mile. You'll see the small parking lot on the left; the Springs are on the right.
Hours:
Daily 9-5:30 (last admission 4:45) (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
352-628-5343
Admission:
Adults $13.
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Visitor Tips and News About Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Hippo.

Homosassa Wildlife State Park

The current version of the Park is great for kids, and has all sorts of animals. To get there you can take a trolley or a boat, and the only bad thing is the roads under construction -- so you may drive by the entrance if not careful.

[Savannha, 10/08/2018]

Tourists observe.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Just watched Lu, the now 56 year old hippo, sh*t right up against the wall of his prison, then shake so it splashed tourists and...wait for it... laughed. Yes, he laughed. Confirmed with keepers that he laughs, regularly. Hippo sh*ts on tourists and laughs about it: now that's a good roadside show.

[Vvadim, 07/10/2016]

Manatee.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Aside from a few manatee sculptures, there isn't anything odd about this state park. This is a great stop for nature and wildlife lovers: manatees, flamingos, bald eagles, otters and the reptile house are just a few attractions. Educational programs occur throughout the day. Fascinating to see the manatees! $13 for adults; AAA and AARP get a 20% discount. Humans aged 6 and under are free.

[Jenn, 02/04/2013]

Manatees! Manatees are odd. To us, anyway.

Vintage billboard.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Former roadside attraction in Citrus County, Florida turned state wildlife park. Just minutes up the road from Weeki Wachee and well worth the trip. In the '60s and 70s they featured exotic wildlife and even filmed the TV show "Gentle Ben" there. Today the only exotics are abundant flamingos and "Lu" the 6-ton, 50 year old hippo, himself a veteran of many films and TV shows. Great place to see Florida Panther, Manatee, Whopping Crane and other endangered species up close. Giant Fish Bowl attraction, built right over the mouth of the spring allows for great views of fish and other aquatic life.

Display in welcome center chronicles history of the park. Restaurant in park is not bad for state-run operated eatery.

[Rick Kilby, 01/28/2009]
Homosassa Springs

A classic pre-Disney attraction taken over by the State of Florida and added to the State Park system. While now primarily a zoo of native Florida fauna, there's still a holdover hippopotamus from its days as an independent attraction, kept on by local outcry when all the other foreign critters were divvied up to other zoos. Much of the park remains as it was in the '60s and '70s -- wonderfully nostalgic for an old Cracker like me.

[Dave Mitchell, 09/17/2007]

At one time Homosassa Springs featured a jumping gator show and a monkey performance. Tips we receive these days make claims such as "a great place to view the endangered Manatee."


Nearby Offbeat Places

Bubbles the ManateeBubbles the Manatee, Homosassa, FL - < 1 mi.
Monkey IslandMonkey Island, Homosassa, FL - 2 mi.
GMC Strong Man StatueGMC Strong Man Statue, Homosassa, FL - 3 mi.
In the region:
Sphinx of Tampa, Tampa, FL - 52 mi.

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