🌿Nature Coast Digest
Your weekly guide to Florida's Nature Coast
✅ Local news ✅ Events ✅ Things to Do ✅ History ✅ and more!
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👋 Welcome to Nature Coast Digest
Hi, I'm Mike, and welcome to the first issue of Nature Coast Digest.
I've spent more and more time around the Nature Coast over the last five years, and a couple years ago my wife and I bought a place in Citrus County. The more time I spend here, the more places I find that I didn't know about.
That's really where this newsletter came from.
There's a lot happening around here, but the information seems to be scattered everywhere. So I'm going to try to collect the interesting stuff each week — things to do, local news, places to explore, what's happening on the water, some local history and hopefully a few things you didn't already know.
For now, I'll mostly be covering Citrus and Hernando counties, along with Cedar Key when something interesting is happening up there.
Anyway, enough about me. Here's what's going on this week.
📅 This Week
Events:
🎭 The Return of the Chick Magnets
Friday–Sunday, Aug. 14–16 | Inverness
The Peacock Players present The Return of the Chick Magnets this weekend in Inverness. Tickets are $20 plus fees.
🛍️ Market at the Depot
Saturday, Aug. 15 | Inverness
Looking for something to do Saturday? Market at the Depot returns to the Inverness Depot District. Admission is free.
🏊 2026 Cedar Key Shark Swim
Saturday, Aug. 15 | Cedar Key
If swimming around Cedar Key sounds like your idea of a good Saturday, the 2026 Cedar Key Shark Swim is happening this weekend.
Despite the name, I assume the sharks aren't officially invited.
🌱 Bonsai & Brews
Sunday, Aug. 16 | Brooksville
This is an interesting combination. Bonsai & Brews is happening Sunday at Broad Street Brewing Co. in Brooksville.
Learn a little about bonsai. Have a beer. Hopefully don't kill the tree.
🌊 On the Water
Bayport Park: Three Ways to Get on the Water
If you're looking for a place to launch a kayak, put the boat in or simply fish from shore, Bayport Park gives you all three.
Located at 4140 Cortez Blvd. in Spring Hill, the park has a separate kayak launch, boat ramp, fishing pier, restrooms and plenty of parking, with easy access to the Gulf, Jenkins Creek and Mud River.
Kayakers can also use Bayport as the starting point for the approximately 3.4-mile Redfish Bayou loop and add an extra 1.4 miles toward Linda Pedersen Park. Head toward the area where the Weeki Wachee and Mud rivers meet and watch for the paddling-trail signs along the way.
Parking is $11 per day through ParkMobile (Zone 31501).
Local tip: If you need bait before launching, stop at Dixie Lee Bait nearby. There's easy in-and-out trailer parking across the street.
📰 Local Digest
📚 West Hernando Library Avoids Proposed Closure
The West Hernando Library was originally on the chopping block as Hernando County looked for ways to cut its proposed 2027 budget. Closing the branch was expected to save more than $500,000.
Residents weren't exactly thrilled with that idea.
More than 1,000 emails were sent to the county, and more than 30 people spoke in opposition at a special budget meeting. Commissioners ultimately voted 4-0 for a tentative budget that keeps the library and restores seven positions that had also been slated for cuts.
It's not completely settled yet. More budget discussions are scheduled for Sept. 10, with the final vote expected Sept. 22.
The library itself is currently closed for renovations.
🎣 Cedar Key's Big Dock Needs Some Work
Cedar Key's Big Dock is going to need about $1.5 million in repairs, according to information presented during an Aug. 4 joint workshop between Cedar Key and Levy County officials.
An engineering inspection found that six of the pier's 86 concrete support units need to be replaced and another 30 need repairs.
The big question now is where the money comes from. County officials are still looking for funding.
Once the project gets through funding, design and procurement, the actual repairs are expected to take about three to four months. Most of the pier could remain open while the work is being done.
🦪 Cedar Key Could See a Much Larger Oyster Restoration Project
There's already an oyster restoration project underway near Cedar Key, but Levy County is looking at something considerably bigger.
During the Aug. 4 workshop, officials discussed a proposed $10.5 million project that could restore somewhere around 25 to 35 acres of oyster habitat.
The important part: the money hasn't been awarded yet.
The proposal was submitted for review in June. If it eventually receives funding, officials expect restoration and monitoring to take place over six to eight years.
Definitely one we'll keep an eye on.
❤️ Good Things Happening
100 Women + $100 Each Adds Up Pretty Quickly
100+ Women Who Care Nature Coast is meeting Thursday, Aug. 13, in Spring Hill, and I really like the idea behind this group.
Members meet four times a year and nominate local nonprofits. Three organizations get a chance to make their case, everyone votes, and each member contributes $100 to the organization selected.
Get 100 women together and suddenly a local charity can receive $10,000 in one evening.
Simple idea. Pretty big local impact.
📅 Thursday, Aug. 13 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 USA Benefits Group, 5141 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill
🕰️ A Little Nature Coast History
Ever Wonder About That Old Sugar Mill in Homosassa?
If you've driven down Yulee Drive in Homosassa, you've probably seen the big stone chimney and old iron machinery sitting along the road.
I had driven past it before and knew it was an old sugar mill, but didn't know much beyond that.
The mill was built in 1851 as part of David Levy Yulee's roughly 5,000-acre sugar plantation. Enslaved people worked the plantation and mill, processing sugarcane into syrup, molasses and rum.
During the Civil War, the plantation supplied sugar products to the Confederacy. Union forces burned Yulee's nearby home and supplies in 1864 but never found the mill itself. The mill survived, although it never reopened after the war.
Today, what's left is preserved as Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park, and you can stop and see it for free.
It's one of those places that's easy to drive past without realizing how much history is sitting right there.
📢 Reach Nature Coast Locals
Want to put your business in front of Nature Coast Digest readers?
We're opening a limited number of advertising and sponsorship opportunities for local businesses serving Citrus County, Hernando County and the surrounding Nature Coast.
Interested? Email [email protected]
👋 Until Next Week
Well, that's it for the first issue of Nature Coast Digest.
I'm sure this newsletter will change a little as I figure out what people actually enjoy reading, but I think this is a pretty good place to start.
If you know about something I missed — an upcoming event, local news, a good place to launch a kayak, an interesting piece of history or just something around the Nature Coast you think I should check out — send it my way.
And if you enjoyed the first issue, forward it to someone else who might enjoy it too.
See you next week,
Mike
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