Aware that county growth is gravitating to the intersection of County Roads 491 and 486, HCA Citrus Memorial Hospital has purchased two parcels totaling over 8 acres near there, according to county clerk records.

Although HCA has not officially announced building plans, records show the use as an ER facility with adjacent medical offices.

HCA spent $1.34 million for the properties, located on the south side of C.R. 486 and Betty Point, just west of Walmart, clerk records show.

At an April pre-application meeting with the county, the Kimley-Horn and Associates engineering firm submitted the proposed use for the property as medical office and emergency room, County Project Manager Walt Eastmond said.

There are two buildings on the property, one with 10,860 square feet closest to C.R. 486 and another with 7,600 square feet. There is space allotted for parking.

“It’s some type of freestanding ER facility,” Eastmond said. “That’s what it looks like, with associated medical offices.”

Citrus Memorial spokeswoman Katie Myers confirmed the sale but declined to elaborate as to what the hospital has planned for that hot area. She issued this statement:

“HCA Florida Citrus Hospital is excited to acquire this property as we focus on the future health care needs of the community,” Myers said. “The expansion of the Suncoast Parkway is projected to create significant growth in the area, which in turn will create the need for convenient healthcare services.”

The intersection of County Road 491 and 486 is becoming the hub of retail and residential development in Citrus County.

The Target-anchored Shoppes at Black Diamond is under construction on the northwest corner. On the Walmart side, more stores are planned.

A large housing complex, called Amber Ridge, is planned for the southern boundary of Black Diamond. A two-story townhome community is also in the works.

The CMH property is just five miles to the south of Bravera Health Seven Rivers’ $12.3 million freestanding emergency department in Citrus Hills, which opened in 2020.

The Bravera ER functions as a department of the hospital, which is located on U.S. 19 north of Crystal River. With an estimated 70 percent of total patients admitted to the hospital after ER visits, these standalone facilities are moneymakers, and the Citrus Hills branch has been busy from the outset.

Don’t look now, but there are more car wash chains interested in coming to Citrus County.

But does the county need more? When is enough, enough?

Those questions are starting to be asked due to the rapid rise of these modern facilities.

The following have requested site development permits:

Take 5 Car Wash at 2709 State Road 44, near the McDonald’s at Croft Avenue in Inverness.

Tidal Wave Car Wash at 1652 County Road 491 in Lecanto, next to the Culver’s.

Add those to this ever-expanding list:

Caliber Car Wash will soon open its second county location at 2927 County Road 491 in Lecanto, next to the Shell-Circle K gas station and across from Wawa and Wendy’s. It will join the Caliber along State Road 44 in Inverness.

Big Dan’s Car Wash is eyeing a site at the corner of State Road 44 and County Road 491. Last year it opened its first county location at the State Road 44 and U.S. 19 intersection in Crystal River.

A new player in the game, Beth’s Car Wash on U.S. 19 near West Cardinal Street, opened last month.

Of course they all have the standard amenities a self-respecting modern-day car wash must have these days: free high-power vacuums, a tiered monthly membership package allowing for unlimited washes and (maybe the biggest perk) quick in-and-out service.

“The people who invest in these see a return on investment or they wouldn’t be doing it,” said Josh Wooten, president/CEO of the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.

But the question, he said, is how much is too much?

“Are they the highest and best use for our commercial corridors and do they bring the best value to our county?” he asked.

County Commissioner Ruthie Schlabach is asking the same question.

“We only have so much land and we have to be purposeful of what we want our vision to be for Citrus County,” she said. “But the private sector owns the land and they can sell it to whoever they want as long as it’s zoned for that specific business,” she said.

Schlabach said it’s a conversation that needs to be had at a future commission meeting.

“On the other hand, do we want the government controlling what you can do with your land?” she asked. “It’s a slippery slope.”

The U.S. car wash service market size was valued at $14.21 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand 4.8 percent from 2021 to 2028, according to a Grand View Research market analysis report.

There is little overhead for car wash owners. Customers’ cars are washed by improved technology and the drivers vacuum their own vehicles. Except for the ticket-taker at the window, there are few employees.

International Carwash Association (ICA) in its latest study showed folks are willing to pay to get their vehicles washed even with rising gas prices and inflation.

AutoLaundry, the trade association for the industry, said car washing has always been big business. But in recent years, massive amounts of acquisitions and consolidations powered by an influx of private equity have transitioned the once mom-and-pop dominated industry into a major investment sector.

County Commissioner Holly Davis envisions opening a homeless processing center in Lecanto to not only provide food and showers but also to create pathways to prosperity.

It ties in with Davis’ involvement with Prosperity Citrus, an initiative designed to reduce generational poverty in the county.

Davis supplied some of the nuts and bolts of the project at Wednesday’s Chronicle editorial board meeting.

Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

The homeless center, she said, would be somewhere between the three-mile stretch from the Citrus County Transit Center and the College of Central Florida on County Road 491.

It’s close enough to county government services and the education complex so clients could receive counseling.

Rather than tap taxpayer money, Davis said, the county-led project would fund construction through private donations, fundraisers, state and federal grants and partnerships.

It would be a place where folks can get hot food, a shower, launder their clothes and be directed to community services to help them on the right path. It would have a few beds available for emergencies.

“The time is right to float this,” Davis said.

This project is an offshoot of Prosperity Citrus, a local version of the Florida Chamber’s initiative to cut childhood poverty in half by 2030 and create pathways to prosperity for all.

Davis described the facility as an “open-door processing center.”

“We have lots of nonprofits who do a great job along the perimeters of the county,” she said. “This would be a central hub.”

On other issues:

Davis said she has no problem exploring the feasibility of purchasing the almost-completed Adams Building in downtown Inverness as a place to relocate staff and create more space for the judiciary.

But she would rather see about creating space for commissioners and administrative staff at the centrally located Lecanto Government Building.

Davis wants to ramp up the county’s website to make it more engaging and keep citizens in the loop. Some ideas include easily read info-graphics, tutorials about how county government works and where tax money goes.

Michael D. Bates is a staff writer with the Citrus County Chronicle and can be reached at mbates@chronicleonline.com.

A few years ago, Starbucks coming to Citrus County wasn’t even on the radar.

Today, no less than three of the chain’s coffee houses are headed this way – all in various stages of development. And they’re scattered enough so residents will be close to one no matter where they live in the county.

So if you’re a fan of the Seattle-based chain, check this out:

Crystal River: This one is going up along State Road 44, across from Dunkin Donuts and just west of the Coney Island.

Status: Currently in the planning stages

Lecanto: It’s headed to the Target-anchored Shoppes at Black Diamond, along with scores of other stores and restaurants.

Status: Under construction

Inverness: A standalone is coming to State Road 44, at the former Insight Credit Union site, near RaceTrac.

Status: Under construction

More coffee

Scooters Coffee is familiar with Midwesterners and will soon be with Citrus Countians.

This drive-thru-only place will be built on the north side of State Road 44, adjacent to the Suncoast Credit Union.

Scooter’s mission is exactly what the name implies: to get a customer’s order and have them scoot on their way in no more than three minutes. Scooters has been around for more than 20 years and has 300 locations in the country.

The project is still in the early stages.

Shoppes at Black Diamond

Now that the plethora of retailers and restaurants have been announced, it’s become a waiting game.

Construction has begun on the northwest corner of County Roads 491 and 486, future home of Target, Aldi, Panera, Texas Roadhouse, 7-Eleven and Tropical Cafe.

Several reasons have been cited for the retail growth spurt at that corner. It’s in the center of the county, so it’s within easy driving distance from Inverness, Crystal River, Beverly Hills, Homosassa and Dunnellon.

Also, the Suncoast Parkway will have an interchange on County Road 486, near the retailers.

“This again just reinforces that area as being the up-and-coming area for commercial development,” Joe Cappuccilli, broker with Gulf to Lakes Real Estate Inc., said recently.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

This eatery is close to completion, and it will be the chain’s first restaurant in Citrus County.

Located at 911 Main St. in Inverness, Chipotle specializes in tacos, burritos, quesadillas and burrito bowls that are made-to-order in front of customers.

The franchise is at the same spot that used to be home to Joe’s Family Restaurant.

Chipotle has 211 restaurants in Florida and over 3,000 globally

Michael D. Bates is a staff writer with the Citrus County Chronicle and can be reached at mbates@chronicleonline.com.

CITRUS CO., Fla. — A one-of-a-kind experience is getting a new level of attention.

Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Experience in Lecanto is featured in a brand-new, four-part documentary series on Netflix called ‘Merpeople.'

What You Need To Know

The road-side attraction is known worldwide for its mermaid tales and spectacular mermaid shows.

“This is basically where, what we say, the world transforms.”

Inside the encounter, visitors are transported to another world. For owner Eric Ducharme, it’s more than a business- it’s a way of life.

“It’s just very passionate for me," he says. "As much as I love mermaid tales, I love all the marine life and I love allowing our guests to learn about them.”

Eric grew up in Citrus County and remembers watching the mermaids perform at Weeki Wachee Springs as a child that sparked his interest in making mermaid costumes. What started as a passion quickly became a life project of his.

“I just got a little bit obsessed with the aquarium thing and then I started bringing in more," said Ducharme. "Then I thought let’s open up an educational aquarium and let’s open up a small facility in Citrus County.”

That obsession turned into what you see today. A full-scale aquarium featuring not only marine wildlife but rescued macaws and other species of parrots.

And behind-the-scenes a mermaid tail warehouse.

“We do everything in house so we also print off all of our fabric and things like that. It starts off as a white base and then we actually sublimate it onto various fabrics that all of our tails are made from.”

Tails of all sorts of shapes and sizes are carefully crafted. Ducharme says they sell thousands each year.

“Whether it’s a grandparent buying something for a child or whether it’s a mom or dad who want to be mermaids. There is no age restriction on being a mermaid or a merperson.”

Just as popular as their tales are the mermaids wearing them. Shows take place where families can sit and watch as magic comes to life.

“When they put their little hands up to the glass or you can see them kind of jumping, getting excited, maybe doing a twirl- it gets you just as excited and it helps you believe there’s magic still in the world,” said Ann Marczynski, a mermaid performer.

The show takes place in the aquarium’s largest tank featuring some of its most exotic fish. From the small frys to the larger scale.

“To see a ray in your face, that close, is really cool," says Serena Stremplewski, another mermaid performer. "They’re super friendly. Even when we don’t have our mask on, you can still make out which kind of fish swimming by you and it’s really cool.”

With the aquarium being featured in a new Netflix documentary series, Eric is busy focusing on the future.

“We’ll have larger exhibits, we’ll have more room for things to grow and call mertailor its permanent home, work on more conservation projects and environmental projects as well.”

Until then, for Eric, it’s all about the simple joys.

“It’s really fun to watch families come in here and see what they’re drawn to and how they interact with various things. It’s a very fulfilling experience.”

Fulflilling for visitors and for the man behind it all.