Local
4 weeks ago
Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Ocala buyers

Ocala homebuyers just got a break. Mortgage rates dropped to 6.57%—the lowest in 10 months—saving buyers up to $81 a month compared to rates earlier this year. With more homes for sale than buyers, now may be the perfect time to negotiate a deal before the market shifts again.

Aerial view of a scenic waterfront park featuring a curved boardwalk over a pond, sandy beach area, palm trees, walking paths, and several boats floating on a calm, sunlit river surrounded by residential homes and greenery.
Features
1 month ago
Debunked Ocala: The curious legacy of Hunter Springs’ “leech” rumor

Hunter Springs Park in Crystal River remains a beloved spot for swimming and kayaking, despite a lingering local myth about leeches that was never scientifically confirmed.

A rhesus macaque monkey with its teeth bared reaches toward a small food container being held by a man in a captain’s hat and uniform. The interaction appears playful yet tense, set against leafy trees and dappled sunlight.
Features
1 month ago
Defunct Ocala: Monkey Island – Silver Springs’ accidental tourist attraction

Monkey Island in Silver Springs, Florida, is home to wild rhesus macaques introduced in the 1930s as a tourism stunt gone wrong. Though intended to stay on an island, the monkeys swam away and now roam the area. Today, they’re a curious local fixture—both a tourist draws and a public health concern.

Golf clubs, shoes, balls, and tees on green grass at a golf course.
Features
1 month ago
Understanding your golf clubs: A beginner’s guide to improving your game

Learn how each type of golf club, from drivers to putters, can improve your game at Eagle Ridge Golf Club and other Summerfield courses.

Scarlett Phillips sits in a vehicle wearing a green dress and pearl necklace, smiling at the camera.
Features
1 month ago
Ocala teen inspired to pursue law and sign language after life-changing encounter

Florida Cyber Charter Academy student Scarlett Phillips plans to advocate for the deaf community through a legal career sparked by a meaningful moment of connection.

Local
1 month ago
How much house $1 million buys you in Ocala

With home prices continuing to soar, $1 million doesn’t stretch as far as it once did—especially in booming markets. Redfin’s latest data shows what that price point can buy in Ocala, where listings between $500,000 and $1 million reveal how the definition of “luxury” is changing in today’s real estate landscape.

Group photo of Douglas Law Firm attorneys and staff standing in front of the Ocala office building.
Features
1 month ago
Douglas Law Firm honored for excellence in Ocala: Trusted legal support for life’s biggest moments

Recognized across multiple categories, Douglas Law Firm offers compassionate, full-service legal guidance in family law, estate planning, criminal defense and more.

Illustrated evening scene of a mid-century modern building with floor-to-ceiling windows glowing warmly from interior lights. The structure sits beside a calm body of water, with reflections visible on the surface. Silhouetted figures can be seen seated indoors and on the outdoor patio. The setting is surrounded by large trees and palm trees, under a twilight sky with soft clouds.
Features
1 month ago
Defunct Ocala: The rise and eerie fall of Panorama Inn, Silver Lake Lodge’s ghostly past

Once a tranquil lakeside resort in Silver Springs Shores, this forgotten inn lives on through postcards, paranormal tales, and whispers of what once was.

A colored image of three individuals, one adult woman and two children, hand feeding a group of fallow deer.
Features
1 month ago
Defunct Ocala: Tommy Bartlett’s Deer Ranch offered roadside charm before Florida’s theme park boom

Long before mega-parks took over, this petting zoo near Silver Springs gave travelers a gentle wildlife experience, now only remembered in photos and postcards.

Ocala Fire Rescue ladder truck parked near Weide Automotive Repair sign during training
Features
1 month ago
Ocala business donates building for fire training, giving first responders rare real-world experience

Weide Automotive partners with Ocala Fire Department to transform old property into hands-on training ground before demolition.