Monkey Island of Homosassa

The current inhabitants of Monkey Island are five spider monkeys. This tiny bit of land on the Homosassa River where monkeys climb on platforms, swing from ropes, and clamber around the base of a small replica lighthouse, has customers dining at the Homosassa Riverside Resort or hanging out at the Monkey Bar while enjoying ringside seats to sometimes wild offshore antics of the monkeys. In the 1960s, Monkey Island was just a mess of rocks that was more of a hazard to small boats than anything. When dirt was dredged onto the rocks, the lump of land became more picturesque with some plant life, trees, and the lighthouse. Then, monkeys were added from a nearby wildlife attraction. They immediately became a popular draw to the area which had been focused more on manatee tours.