Saltwater and freshwater fish are attracted to this large, natural spring with its comfortable and constant, year-round water temperature of 72 degrees. As many as 34 different species have been identified in the spring.

In addition to the spring and its hundreds of fish, the park has become well-known as a refuge for captive-born manatees and as a halfway house for rehabilitating manatees scheduled for release back to the wild. These endangered marine mammals are protected in the natural spring where they can be observed and studied. Park rangers offer educational programs on the manatees three times daily. Experts estimate there are about 2,400 West Indian manatees left in the wild.

To provide the best possible view of the spring, previous owners of the park, then called Homosassa Springs Attraction, installed a floating underwater observatory in 1964. The 168-ton structure floats in the spring. It was built like a ship and launched on ways using bananas instead of the usual grease to prevent disturbing the fish population. This novel idea was adopted from an old Max Sennett movie.

The large windows of the Fish Bowl observatory allow visitors to view fish and manatees at close range. Snook, sheepshead, redfish, jack crevalle, speckled trout and mangrove snapper are frequent visitors to the spring. Freshwater fishermen will enjoy seeing bluegills, bream and an occasional largemouth bass.

From the park's entrance, on U.S. Highway 19 in Homosassa Springs, visitors board pontoon boats for an introduction to the park. The enclosed waterway is a spring-run stream that runs through a hydric hammock. Nesting ospreys, great blue herons, colorful wood ducks, and turtles sunning themselves on fallen tree branches are all familiar sights. Sabal palms, live oaks, loblolly pines, Southern magnolia, way myrtle and muscadine grapes are a few examples of the wide variety of native trees and plants that grow along the banks of Pepper Creek.

As visitors explore the nature trails winding through the wildlife park, they can hear the chatter of squirrels and songbirds, the call of waterfowl and even the roar of a bull alligator. The trail is 1.10 miles with places to stop and see programs and to rest along the way.

A variety of water birds reside in the park or migrate through during different seasons of the year. These include wood ducks, egrets, herons, ibis, brown pelicans and flamingos. Many nest here and hatch their young in the tree tops and along the edges of the paths. River otters swim and dive in their spring-fed habitat and white-tailed deer graze in the deer park.

Park rangers present three alligator and crocodile programs daily at the bridge alongside Gator Lagoon. Animal encounter programs, also given three times daily, offer information on Florida's snakes or birds of prey.

Since the State of Florida purchased Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, there has been a greater emphasis placed on native Florida species with the addition of the Florida black bear, bobcats, white-tailed deer and river otters. Two Western cougars have also been brought in as ambassadors for the endangered Florida panther.

A Children's Education Center was opened in August 1992 in the museum building in the park. The center features hands-on educational exhibits for children to learn more about Florida's wildlife and the importance of protecting our natural resources.