Things to Know About Crystal River

When you think about Crystal River, you probably are thinking about the manatees and springs it provides; but, Crystal River has so much more to offer than just going into a spring to look at the manatees. I have had the opportunity to be around the area all my life and I have been able to watch the growth in the city and community over the years and I am very thankful I was able to watch it happen for our small county.

Crystal River is backed with history dating back to 500 B.C. when the Native Americans built a settlement in the Crystal River Archaeological State Park (what It is known as today). The obsolete Native American name for this small town on the Gulf was originally “Weewahiiaca.” After the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, 22 men filed for patents for land and by mid-180s, families started settling in this small town. Fast forward to after the Civil War, Crystal River started to truly grow and because of the location, there was a potential to become wealthy growing citrus fruits. On July 3, 1923, Crystal River officially became a city.

History Crystal River not only has history in the town itself, but also has some of its original buildings and sites that anyone can visit. As I mentioned above, there is the Crystal River Archaeological State Park which is a 61-acre pre-Columbian site with burial mounds, temple/platform mounds, a plaza area, and a substantial midden for the Native Americans. Then there are some buildings that you can also still visit to this day such as the Old City Hall and the Historical Crystal River Train Station. The Old City Hall is now the Coastal Heritage Museum, but the building was built in 1939 and served its purpose as the first permanent home for the Crystal River Government and has housed the City Manager Office, Police Department, the jail, and the fire truck. The Train Station was built in 1887, shortly after the first rail line from Dunnellon was built. The depot ended up becoming the hub for a growing business area in Crystal River.

Now on to the things Crystal River has to offer either through the annual events or through the community. To start things off in the beginning of the year, there is the Florida Manatee Festival in January featuring manatee tours, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, and local fine arts and crafts. Then there is the Ozello Craft Show and Chili Cookoff in February, St. Patrick’s Day on Citrus Avenue in March, Mermaids and Margaritas Festival in April, the Kings Bay Pirate Fest in May, and an Old-Fashioned 4th of July. Then during the end of the year, there are events like the Heritage Village Scarecrow Festival in October, the Ozello Arts, Crafts, and Blue Crab Festival and the Stone Crab Jam in November, and then the Crystal River Christmas Tree Lighting Festival in December. 

_{Photo Credits Citrus County Chronicle} 

Crystal River Events

If you are not into going to the different annual events that Crystal River has to offer, there is still plenty of other things you can go to while you are there. Some of the common, well-known destinations that tourists and also the locals know about is the different parks you can attend is the Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Hunter Springs Park, Crystal River Preserve State Park, Fort Island Gulf Beach, and Southeast Kings Bay Drive. If you are into fishing and own a boat, you can visit Pete’s Pier, Fort Island Boat Ramp, or the Fort Island Beach Ramp. Then there are also different tours you can join to swim with the manatees, ride a Segway, and Ozello boat tours. There are also more family friendly things to do in Crystal River such as shopping at the local stores, going to the Faith Haven CRC’s Florida Tree Top Adventure, Escape rooms, Florida Fishing Adventures, or going to the Crystal River Mall and enjoying Just Amuse Me with ax Throwing, Kubb courts, and arcade games, mini-golfing and Painting the Town Citrus where you can learn how to paint by professionals. 

Things To Do

Crystal River is loaded with different activities to do with either yourself or the entire family, but that is not where it stops with things to do while you either live here or you are visiting the manatee capital. You can also go dine at one of the local restaurants and taste food like no other mainstream restaurant, these ones are more unique. Some of our favorite local restaurants in Crystal River are the Smoke Shack, Cracker’s Bar and Grill, St. Johns Tavern, Vintage on the 5th, The Crab Plant, and the Biscuit Barn.

Crystal River has so much culture surrounding it and fun activities throughout the year whether it is an annual event or something you can enjoy any day of the week. It is one of the best places you can raise a family or even make a weekend trip out of. The community is a very safe environment with friendly faces and compassionate people. As you stroll the boardwalk or walk downtown, you can see the community caring about the small, local businesses that give back also give back to them. There are not many places you will feel like you belong right when you enter the town. 

Fun Facts

• The "Big Freeze" of 1894-1895 destroyed most of the citrus groves in the county.
• Phosphate was discovered in 1889 in the east side of Citrus County.
• In 1882, James Williams moved his cedar mill to Crystal River, and began operating on King's Bay.
• The mill produced pencil boards, which were then shipped to Jersey City, New Jersey, by ship, and later by train.
• Crystal River had been part of Hernando County since its inception in 1843.
• The original depot burned down around 1900 and rebuilt around 1901-1902.
• At one time in the 1920s and 30s, there were four different trains arriving twice a day, including a passenger service to Ocala.
• In 1991, the Crystal River Lions Club leased the building and is now the center of activity with clubs and organizations.
• Mini Bowling, Rock Climbing Walls, and Indoor Go Cart Track is coming soon to the Just Muse Me located in the mall.
• The community is known as the place “Where Man and Manatee Play.”
• There are three main species of manatees, including West Indian, West African, and Amazonian.
• Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was created specifically to protect the endangered species and can arrange boat and kayak tours designed for spotting them in their habitat.
• Crystal River was once a center of cedar timber logging.
• Many professional athletes have come here to enjoy some of the best saltwater fishing available anywhere.
• It is considered the “Gem of the Nature Coast.”
• The Crystal River Energy Complex, which consists of four coal-burning power plants.