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    Downtown Ocala

    4.6 (8 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Downtown Ocala Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Downtown Ocala

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    Renee N.

    Doesn't get much friendlier or charming than here in Ocala, Florida. So much history to discover and many historical homes and buildings still stand. I enjoy coming to the square just to see the beautiful painted horses. They are all over and each one is unique in design and painting. The square also features a large paved octagon gazebo which serves as a stage for special events. Lots of big trees for shade and plenty of grass to walk in. Ocala earned a nickname back in the 1800's. By 1883, the town square was almost destroyed from The Civil War along with most of the towns commerce. When they decided to rebuild the square they used fire resistant materials such as brick which gave Ocala the nickname of Brick City. One of the main streets in the downtown area - Magnolia Avenue is an all brick street. Lots of eclectic and unique dining here along with quaint and cute shops. Spending a day here is a lot of fun and filled with exploration. Cool murals, artistic horse sculptures, a theater. One can't help but to enjoy this "small town feel" atmosphere. My only hope is that they will add a few more coffee/tea shops. There are only two in the area and I am looking for privately owned shops to support not a Starbucks or Dunkin. When in Ocala be sure to take a stroll through this old Floridian town.

    Beautiful, unique tree.
    Janis H.

    Ocala's Downtown Square is beautifully decorated for Christmas. The focal point is the beautiful and unique tree that is elegant and a sight to behold. Go see the tree with its color changing lights and The Square. Tis the season. Ahhh, yes...free parking in that area too (during the holiday season)

    Wall art-2015

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    6 months ago

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    Ask the Community - Downtown Ocala

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    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 100 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

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    Silver Springs State Park - Glass Bottom Boat Tour Pick-Up

    Silver Springs State Park

    (321 reviews)

    My parents were reminiscing about when they were middle school aged and came here for field trips…read more I was surprised to find out that Silver Springs State Park and the glass bottom boat tours have been around for that long! It was about a 1.5 hour ride from Orlando. Woke up real early on a Saturday (on honestly one of the coldest days of the year) to arrive at the park around 8am. I highly suggest purchasing glass bottom boat tour tickets online about a week in advance atleast since time slots fill up! We purchased the 1.5 hour tour on the boats. Our tour guide was incredible and shared so much knowledge and facts about the wildlife and park. I got to see tons of manatees! Plus getting to see gators, turtles, birds, and even monkeys! The glass bottom gives such a cool perspective on viewing the wildlife and plants underwater. Aside from the tour, we walked several trails to enjoy the great outdoors. Also, we had coffee in the morning when we first got here and lunch after the tour. The food was pretty good and filling. At the gift shop I made sure to leave with a magnet and Christmas ornament to remember such a great day here.

    What a breathtaking location! From the parking lot, it doesn't look like much. They are redoing the…read moreentrance sign, and from the outside, it seems like the place might be pretty rundown. However, once you walk through, you are quickly transported. The entrance to the park is only two dollars per person, and honestly, in my opinion, they could charge just a little bit more. The glass-bottom boat tours run faster than you might expect, so if you have the time (which we didn't during our visit), opt for the longer boat ride; it doesn't cost much more. They also have little shops to explore and plenty of outdoor seating so you can take in the beautiful surroundings. If you're a water lover, make sure to plan ahead and reserve a crystal-clear kayak or paddleboard to enjoy the water--it'll be worth every penny. The only hiccup in our plan was that we booked everything on the day of our visit, so we ended up with a shorter tour on the glass-bottom boats and got locked into the last kayaking time slot. The woman at the reservation desk for the kayaks was not very pleasant. She told us that despite showing a 5 o'clock slot, they were no longer taking reservations. I showed her the option on my phone, but she still refused to let us sign waivers. Luckily, we found the manager in charge of the rental hut, who advised that we could still make our reservation online. I showed him on my phone, and although we'd have to pay full price and probably have less than an hour, that was perfectly fine with us since we were in the last slot. The lake was practically empty, so we had the entire waterway to ourselves--so beautiful and peaceful. Honestly, it felt like we were in another country, surrounded by nature. If you don't have the chance to kayak, there's also a walking path where you can see monkeys left behind from one of the movies that was filmed on location. We walked part of the path, and it was just as beautiful. Any chance my kids and I get to be outside in nature, we gravitate towards it, putting away our phones to enjoy everything around us. What a great way to spend your day and your vacation!

    American National Thrift Association Hospital - American National Thrift Association Hospital Marker, Ocala

    American National Thrift Association Hospital

    (1 review)

    Located on the north side of the road near Pine Avenue (US 27 / 441) and Silver Springs Blvd (SR…read more40), this marker points out a building that is no longer here and a man who did great things for the community. The marker reads, "In 1905, Dr. Richard Samuel Hughes II graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, the second oldest African American medical school in the country. After moving to Ocala in 1908, Dr. Hughes helped form the American National Thrift Association (ANTA), a benevolent organization that offered prepaid health care plans, pensions, and other services to African Americans unable to get conventional health insurance. By 1925, ANTA converted the Savoy Hotel into a 50-bed hospital operated by Dr. Hughes and his nursing staff. White physicians from Munroe Memorial Hospital, including E.G. Peeks Sr., Thomas Wallis, and H.F. Watt, assisted Dr. Hughes by volunteering time. The ANTA hospital served the medical needs of African American communities in Marion County and surrounding areas, from Chiefland to Fort Myers. Dr. Hughes, along with other prominent physicians and surgeons from Meharry Medical College, conducted annual, week-long surgical clinics that provided African American patients with medical treatment and surgical procedures. Dr. Hughes died in 1943 and the hospital closed soon after, but his contributions are regarded as a significant advancement in healthcare access for Ocala's black community." This is marker numbeer F-1003 and it was erected in 2018 by the Dr. R.S. Hughes Family and the Florida Department of State. There is a lot across the street where you can stop to see the marker. [Review 1035 of 2024 - 1910 in Florida - 22063 overall]

    Downtown Ocala - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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