The Guest House Ocala is conveniently located in the town of Silver Springs in northern central Florida, about halfway between Gainesville to the north and Orlando to the southeast. Silver Springs is an ecotourism destination famous for it’s crystal-clear artesian springs, one of the largest in the world, situated inside the Silver Springs State Park. Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1971, the Silver Springs State Park and surrounding areas offer a wealth of cultural and historical significance. Silver Springs is often called the gateway to the Ocala National Park, the largest most southern national forest east of the Mississippi. The spring feeds into the Silver River, a 4.5-mile stream that flows east from the springs to the Ocklawaha River.
From Silver Springs it is approximately a 15-minute drive to Ocala, known for horse breeding and ranching and considered to be the heart of Florida’s thoroughbred horse industry. With its attractive tree-lined streets and Old South–style homes, the city of Ocala more resembles a typical Southern city than a Florida city or beach town.