Fun in Inverness Florida

You probably haven’t heard of Inverness if you aren't from Florida. You might not have heard of it if you are from Florida. I had the best visit there recently, staying with family who connected me to fun things to do. I also enjoyed the relaxed pace and beautiful weather.

According to census records, Inverness is a small town of around 7,500 people. During the winter, the population dramatically increases with a rush of “snowbirds” visiting from the country’s northern states to enjoy fishing, RV camping, and bicycling during the fall and winter. It is a short 30-minute drive from Inverness to the Gulf of Mexico, but the town is far enough away to avoid most hurricane danger. The city is located West of I-75 and East of Crystal River on the Gulf. It is South of Ocala, known for its horse racing, Northeast of Orlando and Northwest of the Tampa Bay area.

We visited the downtown area, which has been beautifully preserved and restored. The Old Citrus County Courthouse was built in 1912, replacing a wooden structure from 1892. Today it houses the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. Elvis stayed in Inverness one summer while filming “Follow That Dream.” Memorabilia from this movie is displayed in the Courthouse museum, where much of the movie was filmed. Today the downtown area is full of bars and restaurants, an ice cream shop or two, small boutiques, and upcycled flea market goods. Also downtown is the Valerie Theater which once showed silent films in the late 1920s. It has been restored with a dramatic neon marquee.

Inverness has a large area of lakes along its eastern side. This makes it a paradise for outdoor people and nature lovers. We spent one morning in my brother’s boat, exploring around the lake. A boat ride was a great way to see the birds, blooming waterlilies, and Spanish moss-draped cypress trees with their cypress knees. We visited my favorite bird in that area, the Sandhill Crane, with a red plume on top of its head. We also spent some time looking in vain for alligators. We know they are there. They were hiding out that morning.

On more than one visit, I have stopped at an orange grove near my family’s home in Inverness, getting out to walk around and see the beginnings of fruit that won’t ripen until winter. Though I grew up in an area with many fruit trees, especially apple trees, I find citrus trees a bit exotic, indicative of a more tropical climate than my childhood home. At least in this area, the prominence of orange groves is diminished due to a disease called citrus greening spread by a tiny insect. Reports are that 20 years ago, Florida had 900,000 acres of orange trees. Now more than half have been wiped out.[i]

Getting to and from Inverness is a scenic drive that extends the enjoyment of the destination. There are several options for your route. On a previous trip, I noted with interest the “Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park” while traveling along County Road 325. Rawlings won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, The Yearling. The book is about the time she lived on this farm. The 1930s Florida cracker farmhouse is also a National Historic Landmark in the rural community of Cross Creek. I promised myself to stop for a short visit on one of my future trips to Inverness.

On this trip, I crossed through the Ocala National Forest. It reminded me of Arkansas with one exception. I don’t believe I have ever seen a bear-crossing road sign in the past. Over 1,000 bears live in this forest. Black Bears are pretty common in Florida. There is a Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway. There were three bear signs on this route. If Arkansas has such signs, I haven’t seen them.

I had a great time in Inverness, Florida, in part because I was with fun people who happened to be family. You would enjoy it too.

[i] Smith, Summer. “Citrus greening devastates Florida’s orange crops.” ABC7 News-Sarasota, FL. July 21, 2022. https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/21/citrus-greening-devastates-floridas-orange-crops/