Tampa Attractions

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

A showcase for Florida wildlife, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park enchants the visitor with its native animals and beautiful scenery. Formerly a tourist attraction, the Florida State Park System was fortunate to acquire the park for use as a rehabilitation center for injured manatee and other native Florida animals. The beautiful natural spring creates a perfect setting both in terms of appeal to the visitor and excellent habitat for the manatee, and visitors will especially delight in the underwater observation deck.

The park's biggest attractions, the manatee, are always on hand to delight the visitor. Rangers offer interesting programs several times daily featuring these gentle giants. Alligators are the stars in another of these programs, which includes their feeding time, and other offerings include information on native snakes, otter and other wildlife. A unique underwater observatory offers one of the best ways to observe the manatee as well as the thousands of fish in the spring. An easily walked trail takes you past the park's other inhabitants, which include deer, otter, cougar, bear, alligators, crocodiles, birds of prey, and a hippopotamus (left over from the tourist attraction).

In addition to the animal attractions, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park features scenic boat tours on nearby Pepper Creek, as well as a snack bar and gift shop. If you want to pack your own lunch, several picnic areas in the park offer great scenery to go along with your meal.