Case Study: homosassa Springs wildlife state park
Note: Visit occurred in April 2022.
Along the old stretch of Hwy 19--where folks escaping the winter blues from ‘up north’ would travel in search of Florida sunshine, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park remains a rest stop for today’s scenic driver. In its glory days, the park was a vintage Old Florida gem; one of many kitschy tourist traps that dotted the Florida roads before Disney infilled the wetlands in Orlando to stake its claim. As with many of its kind, business declined in the 70s, and decimated by new highways and the flush of theme parks, the park was taken over by the state to become a government entity--and the experience feels as such.
One remnant of the ‘good ole days’ is the ten-minute pontoon boat ride that delivers guests from the main parking area along Hwy 19 to the actual wildlife park set back into the old forest along a natural spring creek. Here, drawn by the warmer spring water in wintertime, manatees gathered in the preternaturally blue creeks drawing tourists from all around. Taking advantage of this, the original owner installed a submarine-like underwater viewing station in the deepest part of the creek. Although the original windows have clouded over making visibility difficult, being surrounded by the surreal blue glow makes for a really cool experience even if no manatees are around.
Other hints of the state park’s vintage history are scattered throughout: the kitschy vintage welcome sign; the bubbling manatee fountain; the cute Jetson’s-like snack stand. Of course, the biggest and most well-known antique is the 60-year-old hippopotamus, Lucifer.
That’s right. Despite Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park being not much more than a large, glorified nature center highlighting Floridian native ecology, a large male African hippo resides at its heart. In a habitat built from stacked sandbags (apropos to Floridians like me) capturing the natural spring water presumably naturally filtered into the adjacent alligator habitat, Lu has lived a simple, solitary life, retired from an early Hollywood profession in acting. He has no holding building, so the massive steel barrier bars of his back area are visible from nearly all the 300 degree viewing areas. He also has no natural substrate on dry land, only concrete slabs. However, I imagine the outdated habitat is the result of the park not re-investing in an animal nearing his end, and who will likely not be replaced.
The park does have many interesting species, such as the Sherman’s fox squirrel and real, live Florida panthers. Habitats and experiences are as expected: large, naturalistic, but very simple and economical, with chain link fencing the preferred material supported by occasional heavy timbers. Habitats feel like Florida has simply been enclosed with fencing: protecting an animal’s natural home, rather than putting them somewhere unfamiliar. There is no theming, minimal interpretation, and aside from the manatee viewing, minimal, if any, glass viewing.
But, if you are looking for a taste of old Florida—wild, barely-touched nature, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is your place. Just keep your hands and feet inside the boat, and your eyes peeled for gators in the creek!
