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Crystal River Preserve State Park remains a slice of the Florida coastline that has stayed nearly unchanged since the arrival of Europeans 500 years ago.

Encompassing over 27,500 acres of scrub, pinewoods, hardwood forests, salt marshes, and mangrove islands, the preserve offers a diverse and sprawling natural landscape.

In July of 2004, the management of this land was entrusted to the Florida Park Service. Expansion of the park throughout the years included the acquisition of several significant parcels from pioneering families in the region, with one tract tied to the turpentine industry of the early 1900s.

A substantial portion of the property remains pristine and unspoiled, giving visitors a rare glimpse into the historical appearance of this Florida region from centuries past.

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