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WTR_MA20_cover_FINAL.indd 1 1/14/20 3:25 PM PROFILE by Alan Macher CITRUS COUNTY, FL Florida still has some pastoral land as well as acres of preserved properties, and plenty of both are in Citrus County, north of Tampa. e county now is seeing growth, partly due to master-planned communities for retirees. URSULA CASETT VON BATEMBERG-CVB PHOTOGRAPHY/DISCOVER CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA HE “SWEET SPOT” of Florida living is how Cynthia Oswald describes ru- AL GA ral Citrus County on the state’s Gulf Coast. “I call it that because we enjoy Jacksonville the wide-open spaces, but we’re also the northern gateway to the Tampa Tallahassee Bay region, with all of its attractions at our doorstep,” she says. “Here, you Gainesville Atlantic Ocean can do everything from swim with the manatees in Crystal River to kayak along inland waterways.” CITRUS Orlando Citrus County, 75 miles north of Tampa, is a wonderland of natural COUNTY beauty featuring miles of waterways, wildlife refuges, state forests and nature Tampa preserves. Residents like to call this region the Nature Coast, since large swaths of FL county land is in the public domain and therefore protected. Gulf of Mexico The county, so named for its onetime dominance in citrus groves, is a mix of the old and new Florida as well as the developed and undeveloped. Homosassa, at Miami the mouth of the Homosassa River, is one of Florida’s oldest fi shing villages. Just a few miles upstream are the river’s headwaters and the community of Homosassa Springs. Visitors to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park can observe manatees as well as Florida panthers, black bears, bobcats, alligators, river otters and many others from an elevated, winding boardwalk. One of the things Farther inland, the county seat of Inverness, which celebrated its 100th anniversary we love about last year, features a chain of lakes along the eastern edge of the county and a charm- ing and walkable down- living here is that the town with quaint shops days are almost always and cafes. The majestic 1912 county courthouse bright and sunny.” features a copper cupola — Cynthia Oswald with a clock on all four sides. After a new court- house was built in the 1970s, the Citrus County Historical Society sprang into action to save the building. Today it houses the Old Courthouse Her- itage Museum, which has exhibits tracing Citrus County history. Also inland, south of Inverness, is Floral City, Bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Citrus County tempts which dates back more boaters and fi shermen with plenty of lakes and than a century to the era rivers, many in protected preserves or parks. of phosphate mining. Wealthy owners created architecturally unusual homes, many of which remain. The Historic Duval House, built in 1860 by John Paul Formy-Duval, is considered the oldest surviving structure in Citrus County.

070-079 Citrus County FL.indd 70 1/14/20 7:34 AM FROM TOP: URSULA CASETT VON BATEMBERG-CVB PHOTOGRAPHY/DISCOVER CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA, CAROL GRANT/DISCOVER CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA 1/14/20 7:34 AM Renovated cottages in downtown Crystal general store, stained glass studio and more. River house a nostalgic Cynthia, 61, and husband Robert, 64, 64, Robert, and husband 61, Cynthia, Cynthia came trueThe dream in 2016. photogra- is nature hobby “Robert’s in home lake-view a built Thecouple about of “One love the things we The lifestyle Dann Campbell, also suits with living in places high “Avoiding did buy a golf Sodid buy if cart. see some- you neighborhood, the around toddling one me.” likely it’s in the 1990s Crystal River discovered the years. times over and visited many with and always the area fell in love “We ofdreamed livingretiring and here,” she says. a position as Citrus County’s accepted Robert had cer. information offi public at Eastman lm tech in 2005 as a fi retired NY. in Rochester, Co. Kodak to moved we “Since says. Cynthia phy,” store a kid in a candy like he’s Florida, withall of wildlifeand other to the birds withcapture his camera.” ofthe small community Hills, Beverly of12 miles northwest Inverness. almost are is that the days living here says. Cynthia bright and sunny,” always fall through from York, New upstate “In were that the days it seems winter, would … People gray and cloudy. always see them wouldn’t and you be indoors out always people are Here, all winter. and about.” who retired 67, Patti, and his wife, 69, Before in 2018. VA, Roanoke, from here “congested the they had lived Roanoke, for DC, Washington, in life” beltway years. seven has been a longtime congestion auto of director former the Dann, says goal,” with the gentle giants. Gulf to Crystal River, the Gulf to Crystal River, people legally can swim manatees migrate from the In winter, hundreds of wild In winter, only place in the U.S. where They moved into their new 3-bed- new their into They moved with socially, active are The couple a son children, two have The Smiths “but I says, Sue golf,” play don’t “We room home in 2018. “It’s designed for “It’s in 2018. home room lev- all one on “It’s says. Sue retirement,” our three-story in home to compared el, miss the stairs.” I don’t Alexandria. Earle daytrips bridge and cruises. games, a spin- takes and Sue walks 6 miles a day tness the fi in out Bothwork ning class. daily. center and a daughter in the SC, in Charleston, pleased “Both are area. FL, Jacksonville, a and have State, in the Sunshine are we Earle says. Sue visit,” to place wonderful a DC- for manager as business retired latest Sue’s and rm, based engineering fi a for coordinator was a marketing job technology company. The newer, developed parts developed of the The newer, all and the community t for A benefi who two are and Earle Smith Sue Terra chose and Earle eventually Sue county include Terra Vista at the Vista Terra include county a massive ofVillages Citrus Hills, Citrus in community master-planned of drawing droves consistently County, was named one It retirees. relocating 50 bestmaster- Retire’s to ofWhere in the July-August planned communities is the development And 2019 issue. new three “This year, too. growing, approximately totaling neighborhoods, will be at Terra opened sites, 405 home vice president Wornick, Doug says Vista,” of marketing. “Travel ofCitrus Countythe works. is in will Citrus Hills be from Tampa time to when the Suncoast reduced cantly signifi in is completed extension Parkway will “The extension says. Wornick 2022,” less than 5 miles an interchange have gate.” front Vista’s Terra from When Vista. Terra to way their made to a place they for began searching they they knew a location wanted retire, Floridain west-central that was less where VA, Alexandria, than congested and a friend visited Sue 10 they lived. two staying in Florida, communities nights and two each. in days with impressed the were “We Vista. natural the design beauty of the area, of wealth its and the homes layout and she says. of amenities,” 070-079 Citrus County FL.indd 72 MILES SAUNDERS/DISCOVER CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing money here than in a more urban envi- Chassahowitzka River, nicknamed “the Authority. Patti was a manager for ma- ronment,” Doug says. Chaz” by locals. It fl ows through the terials management at Norfolk Southern Activities are bountiful, they say. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Ref- Corp. railroad. Vonnie is a member of Women of uge. Other public lands in the region are Pine Ridge Estates, their subdivision Sugarmill Woods, which raises money the Withlacoochee State Forest, the third- in north-central Citrus County, was de- for scholarships, and Doug plays golf. largest forest in the state; Crystal River veloped as an equestrian community, The country club often charters buses Preserve State Park, with 27,500 acres of with home lots ranging from 1 to 5 acres. to Tampa Bay Rays MLB games at Tropi- trees, salt marshes and mangrove islands; The Campbells have a 1-acre fenced cana Field in St. Petersburg; the Rosts and Flying Eagle Preserve, with 16 miles dog training ring on their property for enjoy leaving the drive to others. of trails and bird-watching spots. their two Kerry blue terriers: Topper, 14, Their favorite beach is Fort Island Gulf Kathy, former manager of a Fort Lau- retired from competition, and Ginghi, 5, Beach in nearby Crystal River, and a go- derdale environmental waste company, who is still racking up agility competi- to dining spot there is Seafood Seller and sought to escape to a more rural area tion medals. Cafe, a New Orleans-style eatery. when she retired in 2017. She shares a “We started vacationing along the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, and The 1912 Citrus County then several winters in Daytona Beach Courthouse in Inverness on the east coast,” Dann says. “Over the now serves as a museum years, we moved our visits westward with displays on early toward the Gulf, since we loved kayaking pioneers and the citrus with friends along the Crystal River.” industry. Another couple, Vonnie and Doug Rost, discovered Citrus County after fi rst retiring to Colorado Springs, CO, where they were raised. Vonnie, 71, who always enjoyed vacations to Florida, had other ideas after two years of Colorado win- ters. “I convinced Doug that we should rethink where we wanted to live and consider a move to Florida,” she says. Doug, 72, agreed, but in addition to warm weather, he wanted a community that had a golf course and was close to major league games. The couple had Locals fi ll up the tables for breakfast 3-bedroom brick home with Joe, who vacationed everywhere from Destin on and lunch at Grannie’s Country Cookin’ worked in a union position in Sandy the Florida Panhandle to Key West. “We in Crystal River. For excellent seafood Hook, NJ. The launching point for their really liked the Tampa area, which has so and a great view of the waterfront, kayaks is nearby. much to see and do,” Vonnie says. Margarita Breeze Restaurant in Crystal “In Fort Lauderdale, I had a home Tampa has professional football, River has patio seating. In Inverness, with a pool. ... Here, I’m practically sur- baseball, hockey and soccer teams as well Cedar River Seafood and Little Italy are rounded by water with the river and bays, as a lot of culture, including The Florida popular spots. and only minutes by boat to the Gulf of Orchestra, Tampa Repertory Theatre Fun and festivities continue through- Mexico,” she says. Fishing for redfi sh and and Opera Tampa. out the year, including the Florida Mana- trout is popular, she adds, and another The couple found what they were tee Festival in Crystal River, the Cooter highlight is the annual scallop harvest- looking for in the Sugarmill Woods com- Festival in Inverness and the Homosassa ing season along the Gulf waters. munity in Homosassa at the southern Arts, Crafts and Seafood Festival. She and other retirees have found the end of Citrus County. The area has gen- Citrus County is no different from place where they want to stay the rest tly rolling hills, curving tree-lined streets, other regions in Florida in that resi- of their lives. In fact, the word “vaca- homes of varied architectural styles and dents need to prepare for fl ooding, tion” has come to mean “staycation” for a greenbelt of wide-open spaces. The storm surge and wind during hurricane Cynthia. 5,300-acre community, of which 1,700 warnings. In 2018, Hurricane Michael “When I go on vacation, I tell my boss: acres will remain untouched, has 4,700 sideswiped Citrus County, causing only ‘If you need anything, just call me. I’m homes and a population of slightly more minor fl ooding, as it pummeled other always right here in the neighborhood,’” than 8,000. regions of the Florida Panhandle. she says with a laugh. The couple have a 4-bedroom, 3-bath Kathy Dalton, 60, and her husband, home. “We certainly got more for our Joe Steele, 63, often kayak along the Alan Macher is a writer in Venice, FL.

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