Citrus County Florida

Citrus County and King’s Bay are world famous as the “Manatee Capitol of the World“. People flock here from all over the world to experience this one of a kind experience. There are many local tour guides, boat rentals, and snorkel or dive shops located right on King’s Bay in Crystal River. The mild, 72 degree waters are maintained by a constant flow of millions of gallons of water per day from the deep natural springs. The manatees migrate into these warm waters during the cooler winter months making it a natural haven where you can swim with the manatee.

Crystal River offers docking as well as dry dock storage for boaters, world class tarpon fishing just off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico and some of the best fresh water bass, brim and catfish in Florida. You can also fish here for grouper, cobia, red fish and sea trout. There is even Fort Island Gulf Beach just 9 miles west of Crystal River for those who just wish to relax. Citrus County offers all types of fishing.

Nearby waterfront communities like King’s Bay Drive, Fort Island Trail and Ozello Trail offer secluded waterfront living at its best. A drive through some of these areas is like going back in time to what “Old Florida” must have looked like hundreds of years ago. The pristine, untouched wetlands abound with native wildlife including gray heron, blue heron and egrets. In fact, much of Citrus County is protected by state and local parks, preserves and refuges like the Homosassa State Wildlife Park, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River Wildlife Refuge, Citrus County’s 18 Birding trails, Withlacoochee State Forest, and Crystal River Archaeological State Park.

You cannot mention Citrus County without noting the palatial 232-acre Plantation Inn and Golf Resort with its meticulously manicured greens. There are in fact over a dozen world caliber gold courses in Citrus County including the prestigious Black Diamond Ranch, El Diablo, Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club and nearby World Woods practice facility.

Citrus County also has excellent dining and cannot be beat for great fresh seafood. Several restaurants, pubs and tiki bars on the water are boater friendly and you can dock right at the fine establishments. With seven rivers meandering through the region it won’t be hard to find just the right place to enjoy the water activities.

Homosassa Springs Manatee Feeding

According to the US Fish & Wildlife Services’ Aerial Manatee Surveys, as many as 400 of these unique creatures can be found in Citrus County at one time. This typically occurs only during the coldest months of the year.

Manatees can also be viewed in the underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Most of the park’s residents are injured animals undergoing rehabilition or unable to return to the wild. The notable exception is Lucifer, an African hippopotamus. When a permanent home could not be found for the retired actor, then-Governor Lawton Chiles created Lucifer an honorary citizen of the state.

Citrus County also has within its territorial boundaries a number of uninhabited and/or sparsely inhabited coastal islands that can be accessed via watercraft. While some of the Citrus County islands are state lands thus available for public use for recreational opportunities, many other Citrus County islands are private property and are either wholly or partially owned by private parties. A number of the interior islands have private vacation homes and cabins situated along the waterfront.