In 1924, Mr. Bruce Hoover from Chicago made a trip on the Homosassa River and stated, "The most beautiful river and springs in the world.".

After he had a bridge built over the Fish Bowl, he called the carpenters onto the bridge and looked down into the springs and said, “I hope mankind will never see fit to destroy this spring, nor enclose it behind iron gates from the eyes of the world. For only God could create such a majestic sight. For truly it is a wonder of the world and a natural bowl of fish.”

The train would often stop at the springs to allow the passengers a close look at the crystal clear, 55 foot deep springs which form the headwaters of the Homosassa River. It was rumored that the real reason for the stop at the springs was to give the train crew an opportunity to catch fish that were so abundant in these waters. A bathing suit rental nearby was enticing the brave at heart to swim in the lagoon next to the springs.

Visitors taking the boat ride on Pepper Creek can still see large concrete footings which were constructed in the 1920’s, intended for a water tower to serve the city of Homosassa, (what is now Homosassa Springs) the new city the Homosassa Development Co. had planned.

The ownership of the springs area changed many times since 1940. At that time only a single building occupied the area now known as the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. In later years this building became the entrance to a zoo-like park of exotic animals and is now used as the park's Education Center.

In 1963 the Chicago Cattle Feed Holding Company purchased virtually all of the land surrounding the springs. The land holdings included what is now the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Sugarmill Woods, Riverhaven Village, the Crows Nest 8 miles down river, hotels and many commercial properties along Hwy 19. Mr. Bruce A. Norris, owner of this Holding Company, planned to build a large city in this area. He spent a lot of money dredging the waterway that is now used to transport visitors from the Visitor Center on Hwy 19 to the West Entrance of the Park. Visitors can still see large concrete footings once intended for a water tower for Mr. Norris's planned development.

Mr. Norris was impressed by a pontoon boat that he saw at the World's Fair. He purchased it and had 5 more boats built. Each boat was equipped with lawn chairs and would take hotel guests on this new waterway past citrus trees and non-native vegetation and small islands occupied by Black Spider Monkeys to the zoo-like park which was filled with exotic animals such as lions, bears, hippo, monkeys, deer, goats etc. These same boats are still in service today to transport visitors between the Welcome Center and the West entrance of the park.

The 180 ton floating underwater observatory, also known as the "Fish Bowl", was built in Ocala and assembled on-site on a ramp. Once assembled, the structure was slid down on hundreds of bananas to reduce friction and to prevent polluting the spring with grease or oil. This idea was borrowed from a Max Sennett movie. Once in place over the springs, concrete ballast had to be attached to sink the platform enough so that all windows would be below the waterline.

Before Mr. Norris could realize his dream of a large city, the country entered into a period of recession and the Holding company had to be dissolved. Canadian Pacific purchased the area of the park. They held on to the park for about 4 years, after which they decided that the investment did not meet their requirements. Canadian Pacific put the park up for sale and the citizens of Citrus County persuaded the County government to purchase the park. County Commissioners reluctantly took ownership of this still exotic, zoo-like park and on January 1, 1989, the Florida State Park Service purchased the park from the county.

All exotic animals and non-native plants have been removed to restore and return the park to the Real Florida. Now 46 years old, Lucifer the Hippo is the last exotic animal who remains in the wildlife park from the attraction days. Was it not for the hundreds of school children protesting the removal of "Luc", he received an honorary citizenship by declaration of the late Florida Governor Lawton Chiles.