What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5:30pm Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5:30pm

Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

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Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Citizen Support Organization of the...

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 South Suncoast Blvd.

Homosassa, Florida 34446
(352)423-5600

www.friendshswp.org A not-for-profit Florida Corporation founded in 1991. The Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, Inc. provides volunteer support through membership and fundraising events.

09/03/2026

Park Services Specialists Makenzie represented Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park during this new education and training opportunity.

08/19/2026

When you’re a part of a small community and you have a challenge, it’s always your community partners that step up to lend a helping hand.

The park had to make emergency repairs to the freezer that stores all of the park’s animal food and needed somewhere to keep a large amount of fish for an extended period of time. The amazing Shelly's Seafood Homosassa Florida worked with the park to securely store product while repairs were made to our freezer.

We are incredibly grateful for their generosity, kindness, and willingness to help and for being such a valued part of the Homosassa community. This is what community is all about!

07/31/2026

🌿Happy World Ranger Day!🌿
The Rangers at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park work hard every day to keep our park looking and running its best while taking care of the resident wildlife. On any given day they’re not just park rangers, they’re tour guides, veterinary assistants, janitors, plumbers, record keepers, electricians, dietitians, public assistants, fire lighters/fighters, biologists, SCUBA divers, educators, quality control, problem solvers, financial gurus, local knowledge, historians, and so much more.

Above it all they are Ranger First: providing resource based recreation while preserving, interpreting, and restoring Florida’s natural and cultural resources. Thank you, Rangers, for showing up every day and making this state park such a magnificent place.

07/29/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Patrice Jacobs, Senior Clerk

To close out our Ranger Spotlight series just in time for World Ranger Day, we're celebrating Patrice Jacobs, our longest-standing employee with an incredible 30 years at HSWSP! Patrice started out selling tickets at the gate and welcoming visitors, and over the decades she's fallen so in love with the park's history that she now works in the archives, and has even written several folk songs about Florida along the way.

Visitor Tip: Remember, HSWSP is a wildlife sanctuary, not a swim park! Every animal here calls this place home.

Thank you, Patrice, for 30 years of heart and dedication to this park! Happy World Ranger Day to Patrice and all of our incredible rangers!

07/28/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Andrea Marks, OPS Park Ranger

Andrea joined HSWSP in 2024 after years working in wildlife rehabilitation, and she's also a talented artist who paints our animal residents in her free time! Working closely with our manatees has been a highlight of her time here, and she says she's learned so much from other rangers and volunteers along the way.

Visitor Tip: Admire our wild birds along the boardwalk from a distance! They're unpredictable, especially the night herons, so please don't touch or feed them.

Thank you, Andrea!

07/27/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Laura Batchelor, Assistant Park Manager

Laura became a park ranger at age 54 at Myakka River State Park after applying for an AmeriCorps position on a dare! Since then she's operated swamp buggies, ran chainsaws, and served on the wildland fire and hurricane strike teams, including during Hurricane Ian, which she says showed her a level of camaraderie like nothing before.

Her motto: "our parks are for the people."

Thank you, Laura!

07/26/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Luke Freeman, OPS Park Ranger

Luke volunteered at HSWSP for two years before joining the team, and says it was watching our rangers' care and ethics up close that drew him in. He loves the small moments most: handing out stickers, sharing fun facts, and helping visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

He hopes every visitor leaves understanding just how much care goes into this park, from the rangers and from the whole community around it.

Thank you, Luke!

07/25/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Jon Gesell, FTE Maintenance Park Ranger

Jon's most memorable day on the job? Diving for the first time then helping weigh our manatees, and learning they weigh about as much as a Ford Ranger truck! A friend first invited him to volunteer, and his love of the outdoors made him a natural fit for the maintenance team.

He wants visitors to know just how much work goes into keeping the park looking its best, most of it happening long before the gates open.

Thank you, Jon!

07/24/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Arlene Gilbert, Administrative Secretary

Arlene has been part of the HSWSP team for almost 19 years and has worked nearly every role at the park, from the gift shop and ticket counter to her current role as Administrative Secretary. One of her favorite memories: getting to hold a baby black bear cub.

Visitor Tip: Keep in mind, HSWSP is a sanctuary, not a zoo! Every resident here has a story of rescue and rehabilitation.

Thank you, Arlene!

07/23/2026

RANGER SPOTLIGHT: Kaely McElerney, Volunteer Coordinator

Kaely is a fifth-generation Floridian with deep roots in Old Homosassa. Kaely's journey with HSWSP began as a high school volunteer. Years later, after earning her degree in Environmental Education, she volunteered at Honeymoon Island State Park, where she was offered a part-time ranger position on her very first day before becoming a full-time ranger. She later served as a ranger and Park Services Specialist at Rainbow Springs State Park before finally returning to Homosassa Springs as Volunteer Coordinator.
Kaely grew up on a farm in Crystal River learning heavy machinery and hard work and was inspired by her father, who managed the Crystal River Marine Science Station for 17 years, fostering her lifelong passion for environmental conservation. Combining these interests and talents a career in the Park Service just made sense.

She wants you to know: Rangers wear many different hats with the Florida Park Service. You never know what a ranger was getting into before you run into them in the park.
Thank you, Kaely!

Address

4150 South Suncoast Boulevard
Homosassa, FL
34446

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+13524235600

Website

http://www.friendshswp.org/

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