Welcome to Our Riverhouse!
There are numerous opportunities to enjoy our two local rivers, the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River. The crystal clear Rainbow River starts at the Rainbow Springs State Park on US 41 where the headwaters are located. The park is open daily and offers areas in which you can canoe, swim, snorkel, picnic, observe nature at it’s finest, or just plain relax. Rainbow Springs State Park hosts a wide variety of special events throughout the year. The KP Hole County Park.is located on SW 190th Avenue Road and has been in service for over 50 years. The Park offers canoe and tube rentals as well as other amenities, and is the only boat ramp on the Rainbow River for motorized vessels.
Kay's Comments: You can launch our kayaks from our river steps and kayak up to the State Park or downriver-free. There is only one place where you can swim in the park, but once out of the waters of the State Park there is no problem launching yourself into the water and floating downriver with the kayak.
If you wish to explore the State Park you can kayak or drive. Admission is $1 per person. It is a pleasant little park and there is a nice hiking trail that brings you through the woods and fields on the other side of the river from our house.
You can also float or kayak down river to the bridge in Dunnellon-where the Rainbow becomes the Withlacoochee and either kayak back (plan a whole day for this) or arrange for someone to pick you up with the car.
Kay's Comments: You can launch our kayaks from our river steps and kayak up to the State Park or downriver-free. There is only one place where you can swim in the park, but once out of the waters of the State Park there is no problem launching yourself into the water and floating downriver with the kayak.
If you wish to explore the State Park you can kayak or drive. Admission is $1 per person. It is a pleasant little park and there is a nice hiking trail that brings you through the woods and fields on the other side of the river from our house.
You can also float or kayak down river to the bridge in Dunnellon-where the Rainbow becomes the Withlacoochee and either kayak back (plan a whole day for this) or arrange for someone to pick you up with the car.
Behind the Dunnellon Area Chamber of Commerce office is the confluence of the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee Rivers and the site of the city beach. This park offers a sandy beach as well as a playground area and picnic tables. For the fisherman the Withlacoochee River and Lake Rousseau offer exceptional large mouth bass fishing, which is why we are the "Bass Capital of Florida". The Gulf of Mexico is only 20 minutes away heading west on CR 40, or by water through the Withlacooche River. The Withlacooche can be accessed from the City Boat Dock on US Hwy 41. Motor boat rentals are located across the street at Angler's Resort http://www.anglersresort.us/
I am hearing that Anglers Resort/Blue Gator Pub is the happening place in Dunnellon for music and socializing on the weekend.
I am hearing that Anglers Resort/Blue Gator Pub is the happening place in Dunnellon for music and socializing on the weekend.
Marion County Short History:
Marion County history begins before recorded civilization. Evidence of early man is found by remnants of pottery, weapons, jewelry and bones. The largest artesian water system (by flow) in the world, Silver Springs has been the site of discoveries of the traces of early man as well as the mastodon, mammoth and saber toothed tiger.
The Timucua Indians were one of the earlier peoples to inhabit the area. The Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, mentioned their culture in his writings about his expedition in 1539. The largest of their villages was called "Ocali", however, its exact location in Marion County is unknown. By the mid 1700's, the Timucuas had been decimated due to contact with the Europeans and disease.
In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States, and settlers immediately began to pour into this frontier area. The Seminole, a name applied to peoples of the Lower Creek from Georgia and later the Upper Creek of Alabama inhabited the new territory. Conflicts between the United States and the Indians were found even before the First Seminole War in 1817. Fort King, located near SE 36th Avenue and Fort King Street in Ocala, became an important military post, first occupied in 1827. The fort was at the center of events that led to the Second Seminole Indian War in 1835. With the Indian Removal Act in 1830, the United States embarked on the removal of the Indians from Florida.
In an effort to control the Seminole, the Armed Occupation Act of 1842 encouraged white settlers to move into Florida, offering 160 acres free to eager settlers. Many early pioneers came from South Carolina, where their local revolutionary war hero was General Francis Marion "The Swamp Fox". He led a guerrilla band that helped keep the British from conquering the South.. For this reason, on March 25, 1844, Marion was chosen as the name of the county. Florida became a state in 1845, and Marion County was one of the first names confirmed at the first meeting of the assembly. Marion County was quickly the hub of a rapidly growing state. Tobacco, rice, sugar cane, cotton and cattle flourished. In 1846 the county seat was platted and named "Ocala".
The latter part of the 1800's saw increased growth in the area. Between 1871 and 1875 the citrus industry began in Marion County and saw the development of the "Parson Brown" and "Pineapple" oranges. The discovery of phosphate prompted another land boom which is commemorated every year by "Boomtown Days" in Dunnellon. By 1890 Ocala was one of the largest towns in Florida. Silver Springs had become an international tourist draw and the first Florida tourist attraction.
The rich grazing, rolling hills, and year round pastures not available in other states, contributed to the development of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County. The first Thoroughbred farm, "Rosemere", was established in 1935. In 1956, an unknown three year old named "Needles" won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, and Marion County became a focus for the racing world. Marion County boasts over 1,000 farms and training centers including approximately 450 Thoroughbred farms, and is home to nearly 50 different horse breeds. In 1999, Ocala/Marion County was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture census as the "Horse Capital of the World" and as having more horses and ponies than any other county in the nation. Nearly 29,000 residents are employed in the county's Thoroughbred industry alone. This unique rural character combined with the Thoroughbred industry puts Ocala/Marion County in the elite company of Lexington, Kentucky; Newmarket, England; and Chantilly, France as the major Thoroughbred centers in the world. The Florida Thoroughbred industry has to date produced 41 North American champions, 18 Breeders' Cup champions and 6 Kentucky Derby winners, including 1997 winner Silver Charm. Florida-bred Affirmed captured the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) in 1978. Florida bred Skip Away was the 1998 North American Horse of the Year and Florida-Bred Beautiful Pleasure was named the North American Champion Older Female in 1999. In addition, Marion County is the home of many other champions, including locally bred Rugged Lark, a two-time winner of the coveted American Quarter Horse "Super Horse" title.Marcia photo graphed that owl in our backyard.
Area Interests
Rainbow River and Springs http://www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings/
Dunnellon boasts Florida's second largest artesian spring, Rainbow Springs, which feeds roughly 500 million gallons of crystal clear water each day into the scenic Rainbow River. With a year-round temperature of 68 to 72 degrees, the waters of this river are a popular destination for anyone interested in boating, tubing, canoeing, swimming, diving or snorkeling. Dunnellon Area
Surrounded by two beautiful rivers and steeped in a proudly preserved history, Dunnellon embodies Old Florida character and charm. What began as seven small farming communities boomed in 1889 with the discovery of phosphate in the area. A period of prosperity followed and the town developed a railroad, school, post office, electric lights, connected water and a wooden bridge over the Withlacoochee River. The Greater Dunnellon Historical Society has preserved many of the remains and visitors today can stroll oak-lined streets in Dunnellon's nationally registered historic district while viewing authentically restored nineteenth century homes. In the heart of Dunnellon on US 41 is the Historical Railroad Depot. The Depot is owned and operated by the Greater Dunnellon Historical Society. The Depot houses a museum and country store. It is open on Saturdays during special events.
Community Events for Dunnellon can be found at the link below. Look for the schedule at the bottom of the hompage. http://www.riverlandnews.com/
Average temps for Dunnellon
Travel in Florida
Traveling by car in Florida is enigmatic to new arrivals as most of the major roads, interstates and 4 lane highways, run north and south in the lower part of the state and only two major roads travels east-west in the "panhandle" from Jacksonville to Pensacola, and I-4 between Tampa and Daytona. Travel from coast to coast, Gulf to Atlantic, can take more time than you might expect and when travel requires passage through a major city such as Orlando or Tampa. Travel time can balloon during certain times of the day and often without notice.
The graphic below attempts to provide you with some sense of travel ranges and time needed to destinations you might choose. Some general time estimates are provided below the map.
Gainesville- 45-55 minutes
Crystal River- 20- 25 minutes
Ocala- Westside areas 15-20 minutes Eastside areas 20-25
Orlando- 2-2.5 hours
Daytona Beach- 2- 3 hours (two lane roads most of the way)
Tampa- 1.5 to 2.5 hours ( Sunshine Parkway 589 faster, I-75 to I-275 slower, much more traffic)
Tallanssee 2-3.5 hours depending on routes and timing of travel
Further afield:
Miami area - 5-7 hours with wide variances depending on routes, time of day, and the unexpected delays
Pensacola 6- 8 hours~ chosen routes can vary times.
Very far afield.
Key West- 9-14 hours~ depending on day of the week and timing of travel. Please note: Miami to Key West can take 3.5 -5+ hours... really! If you are planing this trip-- make hotel reservations first, try to avoid Orlando and Miami during morning and evening traffic (usually 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM), prepare to spend $$$ (all consumables are brought in by trucks) and take your patience with you. The road from Homestead to Key west is mostly a two lane road with high traffic load-- new construction, toursim and commercial traffic on this small roadway creates havoc without notice!
Key West- 9-14 hours~ depending on day of the week and timing of travel. Please note: Miami to Key West can take 3.5 -5+ hours... really! If you are planing this trip-- make hotel reservations first, try to avoid Orlando and Miami during morning and evening traffic (usually 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM), prepare to spend $$$ (all consumables are brought in by trucks) and take your patience with you. The road from Homestead to Key west is mostly a two lane road with high traffic load-- new construction, toursim and commercial traffic on this small roadway creates havoc without notice!
