HERNANDO BEACH, FLORIDA

Hernando Beach, Florida is on the Gulf of Mexico about 10 miles west of the center of Spring Hill.  This area is in Hernando County about 50 miles north of Tampa Bay.  

Google Satellite Aerial Hernando Beach, Florida

The population of Hernando Beach in 2020 was 2,675.  As far as I know, all homes and most businesses in Hernando Beach are on a canal. 

The main highway serving this area of coastal Florida is US-19.

Hernando Beach is reached from US-19 by taking County Road 595 (Osowaw Boulevard) west to County Road 597 (Shoal Line Boulevard), then north to Hernando Beach.

For untold thousands of years, the area that is now Hernando Beach was all wetlands typical of much of Gulf Coast Florida north of Tarpon Springs.

Most of the land west of US-19 is wetland all along this stretch of Florida coast.

Hernando Beach Area Wetlands

In 1959, Charles Monroe Sasser, Jr. purchased the wetlands that became Hernando Beach. 

Charlie Sasser was a graduate of the University of Florida who became a lawyer and land developer.  He passed away in nearby Brooksville in 2010.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s he began to dredge and fill the wetlands and created what is now known as the North Section of Hernando Beach.

The canals in this section lead directly to the Gulf of Mexico and are the deepest and widest in Hernando Beach.

If Mr. Sasser had started this project just a few years later, environmental regulations and restrictions would probably have made it impossible.

These restrictions did in fact have a large impact on the later development of the Center and South sections of Hernando Beach that Mr. Sasser began in the 1960s and early 1970s.

The main street in the North Section of Hernando Beach is Calienta Street.  It extends from the north to the south where it meets Shoal Line Boulevard.

Shoal Line Boulevard (County Road 597) runs in a north-south direction along the eastern edge of the community all the way  south to Osowaw Boulevard. 

Hernando Beach Welcome Sign at Triangle Park
Interection of Osowaw Blvd and Shoal Line Blvd

When you look east from this road you will see abandoned quarry pits that were once a thriving local lime rock mining operation. 

A developer in the 1990s was on the verge of turning these water bodies into into a residential community.

Hernando Beach View to South, Quarries on Left

There was a lot of opposition to the project, and government agencies ended up buying it. The old quarries are now part of the Weeki Wachee Preserve.

This 11,206 acre nature spot has walking and cycling trails, and many places for launching kayaks or fishing.  

THREE SECTIONS OF HERNANDO BEACH FLORIDA

Hernando Beach has three distinct sections: North, Central, and South

The North Section is all of the community between Eagle Nest Drive on the north and Companero Entra on the south.  It is the first part of the community that was developed.

South of this section is all wetlands for about a quarter mile to the northern edge of the Central Section.

Early Hernando Beach House on Grade

Most of the dredged up fill in Hernando Beach is only 3 feet above sea level.  Some of the earliest houses were built on grade and subject to flooding during high water storm events.

Common sense and new building codes have resulted in most newer homes being built with their first living floor elevated well above grade.

The ground floor is usually used for parking and storage, with walls designed to break away in the event of a storm surge coming in from the Gulf.

Three Story Modern House, Living Quarters on Top Two Floors

The Central Section is all of the streets that branch off north and south from Hermosa Boulevard, the main access from County Road 597.

Typical Hernando Beach Canal in North Section

The South Section is reached from Shoal Line Boulevard by Bluefish Drive or Jewfish Drive.

The Central and South residential sections are separated from the North Section by a natural wetland area about 1200 feet wide.

It remains in much the same condition as all of Hernando Beach was before development.

Aerial View Hernando Beach Homes and Canals

Continuity to the community comes from the narrow strips of land along both sides of Calienta Street and Shoal Line Boulevard. 

This is the area that contains the Hernando Beach business sector.

Both the Central and South sections have indirect access to the Gulf of Mexico through the Community Boat Lift.

COMMUNITY BOAT LIFT ACCESS TO GULF OF MEXICO

Direct canal access to the Gulf of Mexico from the Central and South sections is blocked by an earthen berm that surrounds the entire area. 

This affects about half of the homeowners in Hernando Beach.

The berm was required as the result of a lawsuit against the developer that was won by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Hernando Beach Community Boat Lift

This seems to be one of those cases where the dredge and fill development was first approved, then later overturned by the government.

As a result of the berm, the canals in the Center and South sections are brackish with a much lower salinity level than the ones in the north section that are connected directly to the Gulf.

The purpose of the berm was to prevent salt water intrusion into the canals from the Gulf of Mexico.

Homeowners with boats in the Center and South sections have to use the manually operated boat lift to get past the berm from their canal system into the North section's system and on out to the Gulf.

The beautiful shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, along with the miles of canals, have made Hernando Beach a boater's community.

The clean rippled sand bars are plainly visible through the clear waters.  They make excellent scalloping sites during scalloping season and scuba adventuring any time.

HERNANDO BEACH FLORIDA BUSINESS DISTRICT

Most Hernando Beach businesses are located along Calienta Street and Shoal Line Boulevard.

As you would expect of a community in such a watery location, boats and seafood are important businesses.

There are several places to rent boats and kayaks, and there are four full service marinas in Hernando Beach with wet and dry boat storage facilities.

The long north-south canal on the west side of Calienta Street is lined with boat slips full of both power and sail boats. There are also commerical fishing boats including shrimpers.

Fresh seafood is always available in Hernando Beach.

There are several laid back restaurants in the district, including some you can bring your boat to.  The restaurants have inside and outside dining areas.

Mural at Hernando Beach Volunteer Fire Department

Over the years I've noticed some murals popping up around Hernando Beach.  The one above is on a door of the fire department located on Shoal Line Boulevard.

A popular hangout on Shoal Line Boulevard is the Hernando Beach Yacht Club, a members only club that sponsors a lot of sailing events, fishing trips, and dinners.

There is also a dinner cruise boat in Hernando Beach, the Marina Rose.  It's fully enclosed and is a great way for up to 18 passengers to see the area.

You can also buy fresh seafood at a couple of fish markets at town and in nearby communities.

Hernando Beach Motel
Florida's Adventure Coast

There are many places to stay in motels around the nearby Spring Hill area, and there is at least one that is in the community itself, the Hernando Beach Motel.

You can also check out Airbnb and VRBO because many Hernando Beach owners rent out their places on a short term basis.

Almost everyone I know who lives in Hernando Beach loves the place.  They are united by a love of the water and a common understanding they better leave town if a hurricane approaches.

Aripeka Old Post Office Watercolor

Waterfront real estate in the United States is expensive and Hernando Beach is no exception.  It is one of the few places in this part of Florida where you can have a home on a deep water canal.

Another advantage of this town is that the surrounding salt water marshes limit future growth in the Hernando Beach area.

The small old fishing village of Aripeka is on Osowaw Boulevard only a mile or so south of Hernando Beach.  It was a favorite fishing hangout of baseball Babe Ruth back in the day.

THINGS TO DO IN HERNANDO BEACH

The Captain's Boat Rental: 4291 Shore Line Blvd, Hernando Beach, FL 34607 - Rent a boat and explore the beautiful waters of Hernando Beach, offering a unique experience to enjoy fishing, wildlife spotting, and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Jenkins Creek Park: 6401 Shoal Line Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607 - This serene waterfront park provides a peaceful escape with picnic areas, walking trails, and a fishing pier, perfect for enjoying a relaxing day surrounded by nature.

Hernando Beach Tropical Grille: 4139 Shoal Line Blvd, Hernando Beach, FL 34607 - Indulge in delicious seafood dishes and tropical flavors while enjoying waterfront dining with breathtaking views of the Gulf at this charming local restaurant.

Linda Pedersen Park: 6300 Shoal Line Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607 - Just a short drive from Hernando Beach, this park offers a sandy beach, picnic spots, hiking trails, and a playground, making it a great family-friendly destination.

Hernando Beach Marina: 4139 Shoal Line Blvd, Hernando Beach, FL 34607 - Whether you're a seasoned boater or just looking for a stroll, visit the marina to admire an array of boats and soak up the marina atmosphere.

Alfred A. McKethan Pine Island Park: 10800 Pine Island Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34607 - Located nearby, this scenic beach park boasts soft sand, clear waters, and plenty of amenities, including picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and a playground.

SunWest Park: 17362 Old Dixie Hwy, Hudson, FL 34667 - A short drive away, this recreational park features a sandy beach, swimming areas, paddleboard rentals, and an inflatable obstacle course, ensuring a day of excitement and fun for visitors of all ages.