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About Dunnellon Florida
Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida. Situated between Ocala and Crystal River, Florida, it is located less than two hours away from the International airports in Orlando and Tampa.
Dunnellon was founded in 1887. In 1889, phosphate was discovered in the area, leading to an expansion of the area until the early 1910s. The original mining took place in and around the Rainbow River (formerly called 'Blue Run'), using the river's natural flow to transport phosphates. What is now the 'Blue Cove' subdivision, was one of the original mining pits.
The City of Dunnellon and surrounding area (the "Treasure of the Nature Coast") welcomes visitors with small town charm. The Rainbow Springs State Park; crystal clear Rainbow River to canoe, kayak, or tube; a fisherman's paradise on the Withlacoochee River and Lake Rouseau; treasures to be found in local shops; trails for equine, bike, or hiking enthusiasts; and great food at local restaurants; make Dunnellon the TRUE Florida and an easy secret to discover West on FL Hwy 40 from either I-75 or I-95 to US Hwy 41 and then South five miles.
The Dunnellon area offers a variety of eco-tourism opportunities for visitors of any age to explore. Both water sports, and numerous trails, and local history abound in Dunnellon for you to enjoy.
The small town atmosphere in Dunnellon makes for a restful break from the stress and strain of everyday pressures. You can feel comfortable and safe strolling around our nationally registered Historic District, through shops that sell a wide variety of gifts and antiques, as well as our other business districts.
For the more adventurous types there are numerous opportunities to enjoy our two local rivers: The Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River.
The crystal clear Rainbow River starts at the Rainbow Springs State Park on US 41 where the head waters are located. The park is open daily and offers areas in which you can canoe, swim, snorkel, picnic, observe nature at its finest, or just plain relax. Rainbow Springs State Park hosts a wide variety of special events throughout the year.
About one mile down river there is the Rainbow Springs State Park Campground on the east side, with 105 campsites available. All sites are available with water and electric, some sites have septic hook- ups. The campground is located 2.5 miles north of county road 484 off of SW 180th Avenue Rd. During peak season (April through September) reservations are recommended. At the campground there are ample opportunities to go canoeing, snorkeling, or just sit around the campfire. A boat ramp for hand launched vessels only is available as well as canoe and tube rentals.
A little further down stream and on the West side of the river is the location of the KP Hole County Park. The park is located on SW 190th Avenue Road and has been in service for over 50 years. The Park offers canoe and tube rentals as well as other amenities, and is the only boat ramp on the Rainbow River for motorized vessels.
Behind the Dunnellon Area Chamber of Commerce office is the confluence of the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee Rivers and the site of the city beach. This park offers a sandy beach as well as a playground area and picnic tables. For the fisherman the Withlacoochee River and Lake Rousseau offer exceptional large mouth bass fishing, which is why we are the "Bass Capital of Florida". The Gulf of Mexico is only minutes away heading west on CR 40, where you can enjoy fishing for grouper and redfish or scalloping in the mid summer months. In the heart of Dunnellon on US 41 is the Historical Railroad Depot. The Depot is owned and operated by the Greater Dunnellon Historical Society. The Depot houses a museum and country store. It is open on Saturdays during special events.
Dunnellon has a lot to offer for everyone. Every Autumn the chamber of commence hosts Jazz Up Dunnellon, where the streets are closed down for our annual music festival. In the Spring, Boomtown Days is a fun festival for families to enjoy a carnival like atmosphere in the historic district and watch the "Queen of the Rainbow" get crowned. Check out the local links section of this site for more information and to see what events are coming up around town.
