Efforts underway to save Chassahowitzka River Campground from potential sale

HOMOSASSA, Fla. — A popular campground in Citrus County will be closing this fall.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) will assess hurricane damage at the Chassahowitzka River Campground and could recommend selling the property.

Efforts are underway to help save the campground from being sold.

Standing under the greenery of the Chassahowitzka River Campground, Ryan McGovern breathes in the fresh air.

“It’s pristine land, it’s beautiful, I wouldn’t want to see it go any other way,” he said. “I’ve been bringing my kids here since they were 5 years old, so probably about the last decade-and-a-half or so, they have learned to love nature coming out here. It gets them off of their electronic devices, and it shows them real old school Florida.”

McGovern is taking in the view with little extra time. That’s because the campground will be closing Oct. 1, as SWFWMD estimates hurricane damage.

“It made me very emotional,” McGovern said. “I was upset, I was mad. That morning, as soon as I saw that, I created the first petition. I got together with some other folks through social media. We’ve grown a group, and we’re moving forward with it.”

According to SWFWMD, the campground saw a lot of damage from last year’s storms. The cost to restore the campground, the district says, is not an effective way to use taxpayer dollars with a potential sale on the horizon.

“We would like to see it kept open,” said Elaine Moore, administrator for the campground. “We don’t mind whether we lease it through SWFWMD or the county, we’ve done both before, and we have worked it out. We would just like to see it stay open and be able to fulfill all the reservations that we have on the books.”

But McGovern disagrees with any sale. It’s why he’s started an online petition, fighting against the sale of the campground. Plus, he has another petition.

“We need to make sure this land is saved going forward,” he said.

Already, his petitions have garnered more than 4,000 signatures from people who want to see the campground remain open, he says.

“It just shows that people do not want development,” said McGovern. “They don’t want this land sold to the highest bidder. They don’t want corporate interests coming in here and ruining our Florida, and we need to keep it that way for our kids and their kids to enjoy for future generations.”

So they too can enjoy these serene views.

McGovern said they will be holding a protest on Sept. 6 in the Publix parking lot at 9525 S. Suncoast Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. He says they will also be in attendance at next Tuesday’s Water Management meeting.

Meanwhile, the parking area and boat ramp will remain open and under the control of Citrus County.