Wild Florida Turkey - Unique Florida

Fall in the Villages of Citrus Hills just wouldn’t be complete without our festive companions that roam the side streets in Citrus County, the Wild Florida Turkey.

Many residents get the pleasure of seeing these beautiful wild turkeys alongside the streets, as protected area has its advantages!

It’s particularly special in the fall months, as Thanksgiving grows closer.

Nemesis or Neighbor?

There are two types of wild turkey that you will see in the great state of Florida, and in the Citrus county area … The Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) and (2) The Osceola or Florida Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo Osceola).

Turkeys are thought to be a pleasant neighbor that keeps to themselves, and stays away from humans most of the time.

There may be times you see them in your backyard just passing by, but usually they are peaceful creatures, unprovoked, and outside of their breeding season.

As they are not seen as an official nuisance, they are protected in the state of Florida, outside of the brief hunting season, which runs in the March and April month, on specific dates and locations every year.

Breeding

Wild Turkeys in Florida usually nest in the late March – early April months.

The new offspring (also known as “Poults”) will usually hatch nearing the end of April, to early May months.

The first few weeks of their lives, they are constantly growing and learning from their mother.

They stay with their mothers for nearly half a year in most cases, before going off on their own.

Diet

Turkeys in Florida eat off of the ground, which means they will forage anything they can fit into their mouths.

Most wild Florida turkeys eat leaves, grass, seeds, acorns. berries, insects, worms, snails and frogs).

If you see a turkey on the side of the road, or in a local park, and you’d like to throw it some food, acorns are the most nutritious item for them (especially in the wintertime)!

All in all, we love the nature in Citrus county, and all of the surrounding areas, which is why we choose to live here!

Turkeys are welcome in our yards and parks, as a warm reminder that we are in store for a wonderful holiday season.

Stone Crab Season 2020 in Citrus County

The 2020 Stone Crab Season Runs 10/15/20 - 05/01/21

Florida stone crabs are known around the world for their delicious claw meat. But did you know that many of the stone crabs on menus around the country come from right here near the Villages of Citrus Hills?

Whether you prefer them served cold with mustard sauce or warm with drawn butter, the experience of cracking and eating these crab claws is something you will never forget!

About Stone Crabs

One of the most interesting aspects of Florida stone crabs is that they are actually a renewable resource. When the crabs are caught in the traps of professional stone crabbers, the crabbers only take one claw from each crab and the crabs are then returned to the water. As a defense mechanism, stone crabs are able to survive losing a claw and then regenerate that claw in about a year.

The average stone crab has a lifespan of 8-9 years, and they are generally found in sandy ocean bottoms and seagrass beds along Citrus County’s coastline out to a depth of about 20 feet. Large stone crabs can weigh as much as one pound. They feed on oysters, snails, and various other small marine life. Female stone crabs can spawn as many as six times each year, producing up to one million fertilized eggs each time. In addition to humans, stone crabs can also find themselves being hunted by octopuses and grouper.

Catching Stone Crabs

The Florida stone crab harvesting season lasts about six months, from October 15th through May 1st. In June of 2020, the FWC voted to shorten the normal stone crab season by 14 days, in order to preserve the species, and give the female stone crabs more time to lay their eggs. The stone crab is not in “crisis” yet, but has been on the decline since the 1990’s, due to overfishing. The FWC’s hopes are that this extra 14-days of protection will allow the stone crab numbers to rise.

During the fishing-season for stone crab, many amateur fishermen also hunt for stone crabs. Amateur crabbers are required to hold a salt water fishing license from the state of Florida, and they must adhere to certain regulations. They are limited to a total of five traps, and they cannot catch more than one gallon of claws per day. The claws must all be a minimum of 2-3/4 inches.

Eating Stone Crab

While some find enjoyment in catching their own stone crab, many others prefer to let the professionals do the catching and simply focus on the eating. Probably the most popular place for stone crab near the Villages of Citrus Hills is Charlie’s Fish House & Seafood Market in Crystal River. The restaurant was originally started as an oyster bar by Charlie Kofmehl all the way back in 1960. The oyster bar was an immediate success, serving the best fresh fish and seafood in Citrus County. In the early seventies, Charlie turned the oyster bar over to his two sons, Jimmy and Phil.

After years of continuing to grow the business, Jimmy and Phil decided to build a brand-new restaurant in 1990. The new waterfront restaurant had seating for 160 guests compared to seating for 30 in the old oyster bar. In honor of their father, Jimmy and Phil changed the name to Charlie’s Fish House. Since then, the family business has continued to grow and guests can now find a third generation of Kofmehls working there.

One of the unique and natural treasures of the Citrus County area are the cherished fishing seasons. There really is nothing like fresh stone crab!

Our History

Entrepreneurs, Visionaries and a Baseball Legend – A brief history of the Villages of Citrus Hills

How the Villages of Citrus Hills came to be is an interesting story and one we’re proud to tell because it displays the vision and foresight of two entrepreneurs who shared a dream to develop a very unique master-planned community. That story began in the late 1960s.

Always on the lookout for new opportunities and challenges Citrus Hills co-founders Sam Tamposi, Sr. and Jerry Nash would traverse Florida in their twin DC-3 looking for the perfect location to create the community they had always envisioned. On one such excursion they discovered acres of open land just miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Sam and Jerry were captivated by the gently rolling hills, the mature live oaks covered in Spanish moss, and surprised because one just doesn’t expect to find land like this in Florida! 

They had discovered their new opportunity. Their community was to be thoughtfully planned, designed, and developed so that residents could enjoy a lifestyle unlike any other.

Fast forward to the early 1980s and the Villages of Citrus Hills was becoming a reality. Sam and Jerry enlisted Boston Red Sox legend, and avid fisherman, Ted Williams to assist in the marketing of the property to residents in the northeast, home of the Tamposi-Nash Company. Their fly down program became exceptionally popular and generated thousands of buyers from New England, and beyond, throughout the 80s and early 90s.

Today the Villages of Citrus Hills is testament to that vision. In our masterfully-planned community you’ll find incredible amenities, charming neighborhoods, and there are always a wealth of activities, events and recreational opportunities in which to participate. Our resort-style living is unlike any other in central Florida. 

This privately held development is free of debt and financially sound. As a resident, you can be confident that membership and any home association fees are supporting the maintenance of the property. Since its inception, the developers have invested well over $100 million in infrastructure and amenities and new investment in those areas will continue.

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The Best Kept Secret in Florida

Whoever thought to build a master-planned community within 10 minutes of the Florida Nature-Coast, and in the middle of an area that is made up of unspoiled protected land, was a genius.

Why? Just ask our residents!

“Terra Vista is drop-dead gorgeous. We feel like we’ve found a secret place in Florida. We don’t really want to spread the word too much!”

— Lynn M.

What Sets Citrus County Apart?

Living in Citrus County has its own perks and privileges, that many other areas in Florida don’t get to experience, and WILL NEVER get to experience. Just picture it, taking a relaxing walk down one of the many walking/biking trails, listening to the happy birds singing in the trees, and feeling the cool breeze on your face…you just can’t beat Citrus County.

Living in Florida, naturally, you are also going to run into a water-lover’s paradise! It’s different here, as we get the unspoiled, natural Florida. Florida the way it used to be. It’s different from other areas. We get every saltwater and freshwater sport and activity there is. Things like boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, etc. You’ll find yourself lost in our spectacular outdoor wonderland!

Why Citrus Hills?

Citrus Hills offers all of your favorite country club amenities in one place! There’s no need in trying to decide between different communities, when ours offers it all-in-one!

Citrus Hills’ World-Class Amenities

• 3 Championship Golf Courses, 1 Executive Golf Course

• 8 Har-Tru Tennis Courts

• 4 Hard Surface Courts

• 8 Pickleball Courts

• 50,000 BellaVita Wellness Complex

• 4 Fitness Centers

• Full-Service Private Spa

• 3 Heated Community Pools (Indoor & Outdoor)

• Skyview Fine-Dining Restaurant & Bar

• 4,500 Sq Ft Tiki Bar

• Grille Restaurant & Bar

• Central Activity Clubhouse

• 300-Seat Auditorium for Entertainment

• Billiards Room

• Bocce Ball, Pool Volleyball, & Basketball Courts

• Community Park & Dog Park

• Miles of Walking/Biking Trails Within Our Gates

• Hundreds of Activities & Special-Interest Clubs

Within the gates of Citrus Hills, we do have limited home-sites available for purchase. Design your dream-home to fit exactly what you want and need. Make this your best house yet!

There has truly never been a better time to visit Citrus Hills. Escape to a location where you can have peace of mind, and feel SAFE! We are taking many safety precautions to ensure you have a comfortable visit to our beautiful community.

Safety Precautions We Are Taking

• Private Tours By Appointment Only

• Social Distancing

• Facial Masks

• Gloves

• Extra Hand Washing

• Hand Sanitizer Available

• Extra Sanitizing/Cleaning Efforts

• Ultraviolet Lights

• Temperatures Monitored

Ask A Question About Our Community…

What Makes Citrus Hills the Best Community and Location in Florida?

Here at the Villages of Citrus Hills, we believe your Florida Retirement experience is about enjoying pastimes and pleasures like never before. That's the vision at our very foundation.

But what makes Citrus Hills the best community and location in Florida?

Why Central Florida?

Florida is a big state, and is generally cut into 3 separate “Weather Climate Zones.”

If you go North of Ocala, we get into what is called “The Winter Freeze Zone.” This area is much colder in the winter, to the point where you might as well just stay up north, if that’s where you currently reside.

If you go South of Tampa, you get the “Hot and Humid Zone.” Many people in our area refer to this as “The Hot and Sticky Zone.” There’s really no other way to describe it, it’s just HOT!

But if you look in the center of the state, you’ll see where we are located. This is called “The Peak Comfort Zone.” About 265 days per year, our temperatures stay between 65 and 78 degrees. What does that mean? Savings on electricity, because you don’t need your heat, or your air conditioner. It also means many wonderful days relaxing by the pool with a good book.

When Disney was looking for an ideal location, he picked central Florida. The only thing Disney didn’t realize, was if he would’ve just went about 50 minutes West, he would’ve ran into “The Central Ridge” of Florida. The Central Ridge is where Citrus Hills is located. Just about 260 feet above sea level, with rolling hills, some people refer to us as “The Alps of Florida!”

Why Citrus County?

Citrus County is located in West-Central Florida along ”The Nature Coast.” Between the breeze that comes off the Gulf of Mexico, and our 260 feet elevation, the humidity in our location is 12-15% less than the rest of Central Florida!

In our county, nearly 50% of the county is protected natural habitat. That means no development in the state parks, federal preserves, federal wet-lands, and all of the areas that our state has designated as preserves for hiking, biking, bird-watching, and other outdoor recreational activities like this.

So what does this mean? It means we are basically in the center of everything! Our community is about an hour to Orlando, an hour to Tampa, and approximately 25-35 minutes to Ocala. There are 2 International Airports to choose from in Orlando or Tampa, because of our central location. Also, if you like to shop, Ocala is just 25-35 minutes up the road, where you will find big names like Ulta, Barnes and Noble, Dillards, and Kirklands!

With our central location in the county as well, we have a grocery store right across the street, and one of our hospitals has also decided to build a 24/7 emergency room right across the street from our community.

If you go just 10 minutes to the West of our community, you’ve got Seven-Rivers, and the Seven-Rivers lead to the Gulf of Mexico. This basically means you live right next to an outdoor-wonderland. Our location offers freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving, wildlife parks, wildlife trails for hiking trails, biking trails, horse-back riding trails, birding tours, manatee tours, and so much more!

If you go 10 minutes to the East of our community, you’ll find 29,000 acres of freshwater lakes. These lakes are known for great bass fishing, any other freshwater fishing, as well as many other water-activities such as kayaking and canoeing!

From the South-East part of our county, all the way up to the North-East part of our county, we have an uninterrupted “rails to trails” 46-mile bike trail. This trail is known throughout Florida to be perfect for anyone interested in biking or hiking outdoors in our unspoiled outdoors!

Why Citrus Hills?

Homes

Our beautiful homes are professionally-designed and tailored to fit your ideal Florida lifestyle. We also have many home sites and floor plans for you to choose from when making the decision to choose Citrus Hills as your new home. Our homes start in the Upper $200’s and can go over $1.5 million.

Dining

You can dress is up or dress it down, if you feel like a night out for dinner. We have 3 restaurants within Citrus Hills, including a 4,500 Sq Ft Tiki Bar & Grille, and our Skyview fine-dining restaurant.

Fitness, Wellness & Spa

We have 4 Fitness Centers within our gates. This includes our 50,000 Sq Ft Award-Winning Wellness complex, which houses our Full-Service Private Spa, State-of-the-Art Fitness Center, as well as our Mediterranean-Style Courtyard for complete relaxation on a beautiful day.

Championship Golf Courses & Pro Shops

We have a total of 4 Golf Courses within Citrus Hills and 3 Golf Pro Shops. These consist of 18-Hole Skyview, 18-Hole “The Meadows,” 18-Hole “The Oaks,” and 9-Hole “Brentwood” Golf Courses. Take in the spectacular scenery at the highest-point in Citrus County on the Skyview Golf Course. Each course offers its own set of unique challenges.

Tennis Centers, Pickleball & Pro Shop

In Citrus Hills we have 2 Tennis Centers and a Tennis Pro Shop with top-quality gear for your tennis experience! Between the 8 Har-Tru Tennis Courts, 4 Hard-Surface Courts, and 8 Pickleball Courts, Citrus Hills is truly any tennis-player’s dream!

Special-Interest Clubs, Social Clubs & Activities

There are hundreds of planned activities and special-interest clubs within our community. There seems to be a social club for just about everything too, ranging from the singles club, to the French and German-speaking club, and even traveling clubs! Our community is a great place to make some new friends and spend your time with people who enjoy the same things you do.

Central Activity Clubhouse

Our Central Activity Clubhouse is a great place to spend a nice afternoon or evening. This clubhouse offers a beautiful heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, pickleball courts, pop tennis, billiard room, computer room, card room, and our 300-Seat Auditorium.

300-Seat Auditorium

Our 300-Seat Auditorium located in our Central Activity Clubhouse is home to many memorable nights with friends and family. The outstanding Live Entertainment hosted in our community ranges from live bands hosting concerts, stand-up comedians, and karaoke nights!

Community park, bocce ball courts & Dog Park

Citrus Hills has a lot to offer its residents in the community, as well as their furry friends! The community park, Rockwood Park, has an extremely accommodating dog park that your pup will love! Right around 2-acres of land, there are areas for you to take a nice walk on a beautifully-landscaped trail, or let your pup socialize in the “Dog Play Area.” Also, there are multiple Bocce Ball courts for you and your friends to enjoy!

To Sum It All Up..

Where we’re located is the ideal place for anyone who wants to be “away from it all,” but still close enough to grab it in an hour if you want/need to.

To summarize, our community is about an hour to the big city, but just 10 minutes to the smaller cities, the beautiful water activities, and outdoor recreation. We truly believe that there is no better community or location in the state of Florida!

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