INGLIS, FLORIDA
A Quiet Town on Florida's Nature Coast

---

Inglis is a small town in Levy County in North Central Florida on U.S. Highway 19 about 38 miles west-southwest of Ocala.

It is located at the end of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and about 5 miles inland from the Gulf.

This peaceful community on the Withlacoochee River sits between Yankeetown to its west and Crystal River to its south. The population is about 1,600.

Long before Inglis was settled as a town, Levy County was part of the ancestral homelands of Florida’s first people.

By the time the Spanish began exploring Florida in the 1500s, tribes such as the Timucua and others lived throughout the central and northern parts of the peninsula.

These native cultures hunted, fished, and gathered shellfish and plants in vast wetland systems that included today’s Nature Coast.

The settlement that became Inglis began in 1875.  It was originally called Blind Horse. 

The story of the name is thought to refer to either a blind horse that once pulled ferryboats across the Withlacoochee River, or an unfortunate one that fell from a ferry.

The name did not catch on and the community was renamed Port Inglis after Captain John L. Inglis, who was associated with phosphate mining interests in nearby Dunnellon.

For decades it remained a small river and railroad community. Phosphate was shipped on barges from the Dunnellon area down the Withlacoochee River for transfer to rail cars or ocean going ships.

Despite early settlement in the 19th century, the town didn’t formally incorporate until 1956.

The community even earned a bit of Hollywood fame when Elvis Presley spent part of the summer of 1961 here, filming the movie Follow That Dream in Inglis and Yankeetown.

A historical marker in town commemorates the event.

Today’s Inglis is a quiet residential town with a low-key, rural charm.  It's a place where neighbors know each other and life moves at a slower pace compared to Florida’s big cities.

Many residents are retirees attracted by the mild climate, natural surroundings, and affordable living.

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway reaches the Withlacoochee River in this area. The Greenway was created along the route of the ill-fated Cross Florida Barge Canal.

The canal project was started in the 1930s to save three days of travel for ships crossing the state who would no  longer have to sail around the entire Florida peninsula.

It was known as the Gulf Atlantic Ship Canal and would be a 30 foot deep waterway that could accommodate large ships.

Environmental concerns stalled the project for years but not until a lot of damage was done to the environment.  A large high rise bridge was built at Inglis to carry US-19 across the canal. 

Marjorie Harris Carr was an environmentalist who led many of the protestors attempting to stop the project to save the environment.  President Richard Nixon finally killed the project in 1971.

Inglis doesn’t have a bustling downtown district filled with galleries or high-end shopping like you’d find in larger cities, but it does offer local flavor and small-town businesses.

Antique lovers can explore spots like Firefly Vintage, a large vintage and thrift store stocked with collectibles, décor, and furniture.

The dining scene is modest but welcoming, featuring local eateries such as Mama Sally’s and Shrimp Landing Restaurant, along with classic roadside stops and cafés like LolliPops Cafe & Bakery at Nature Coast Inn.

Here are some interesting spots and activities in and around Inglis:

Inglis Bypass Recreation Area. A scenic outdoor area perfect for picnics, hiking, and water views; great place to enjoy nature.

Inglis Lock Recreation Area:  A beautiful park with river access and trails along the Withlacoochee River.

Buddy Risher Park: Community park with space for family gatherings, sports, and events.

Lake Rousseau Dam & Recreational Area: Large park near Inglis Dam with fishing spots and scenic river views.

Firefly Vintage: Antique shopping destination in Inglis (555 Hwy 40 W; 352-257-5544).

Florida Manatee Festival: Annual festival in nearby Crystal River celebrating Florida’s gentle giants (Intersection Citrus Ave & US-19, Crystal River; +1 352-795-3149).

Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve: Explore pristine coastal habitats just north of Inglis, ideal for hiking, birding, and kayaking.

---

---