Withlacoochee Gulf Area Community, home of Yankeetown & Inglis and
the beautiful Withlacoochee River, which has been designated one of
Florida’s Outstanding Waterways. Our small towns are located at the
south end of Levy County and are part of the Nature Coast of Florida.
Our beautiful “Old Florida” towns are a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico,
where you can actually “Follow That Dream” to an abundance of outdoor
activities, including boating, sailing, fishing, camping, hiking, bicycling,
paddling and birding on the river or on the Gulf. When you visit Florida,
be sure to come see our neck of the woods. See Florida as it was meant
to be.
Withlacoochee means "little great water" or "little river runs deep"
(depending on the translator) and was named by the Ocali or "island
people" who inhabited the Ocala area when that highland ridge region
was an island. The Timucuans inhabited the area after 1700 and were
predominantly fishermen and fish eaters.
Today the Withlacoochee River is a Federally Navigable Waterway and
designated as an "OUTSTANDING FLORIDA WATERWAY" by the
State of Florida. It is one of the most picturesque, tranquil and traditional
"Old Florida" locations on the Nature Coast and is an environmentalist’s
and sportsmen's paradise. The river winds between islands studded with
oyster bars and shores covered with dense jungle growth with an
abundance of wildlife and birds.
In the early 1920's, A.F. Knotts discovered the wilderness between Inglis
and the Gulf of Mexico at Port Inglis. He marketed the area to his friends
and business associates in Indiana as a fishing resort.
The new resort community was reportedly called "YANKEETOWN" by a
mail carrier in contrast to a part of the adjacent upriver Town of Inglis
called "Crackertown." Commercial fishermen and boatmen acted as
guides for wealthy sportsmen during the winter months.
During the "Great Depression," residents of the river and coastal
communities survived largely on the commercial fishing industry, which
provided food for their families and gave them a meager living. A new
breed of rugged, hardworking, independent commercial fishermen
emerged. In the 1950's, shrimp trawlers moved into the area and have
added to the fisheries and aquaculture economic base of our towns.
For visitors and residents alike the scenic allure of picturesque shrimp
boats, stacks of crab traps or fishing nets drying in the sun is still part of
our fishing village charm.
As you can see, our villages haven't changed much during the past
century and we hope they stay this way for a long time to come.
As a part of Florida's Nature Coast, the Towns of Inglis and Yankeetown
can still offer our visitors the Real Flavor of Old Florida.
ELVIS WAS HERE!
The King of Rock and Roll was actually here in Yankeetown and Inglis
shooting the movie, FOLLOW THAT DREAM.
Elvis starred in the movie and you can take “Follow That Dream
Parkway” (CR40) to the bridge at Bird Creek and see where the beach
scenes for the movie were shot. While in our area, Elvis rented a house
in Crystal River and enjoyed some of our local down-home hospitality.
Several residents of Inglis and Yankeetown were "extras" in the movie. Well, folks that's our only claim to fame here on the banks of the
Withlacoochee River, but there's lots more to see, lots to paddle, and
lots of fish to catch.