Rural scenery, I-75 and Brooksville surround Hill ‘n Dale
Hill ‘n Dale briefly interrupts the scenery of pastures and marshes that otherwise spans the area between the city of Brooksville and Interstate 75. For 2 miles along Florida state Road 50, rows of homes and scattered churches and stores take over the landscape. This unincorporated community is essentially a neighborhood of Brooksville, says Fran Cisek, owner and broker of Southern Coast to Country Realty in Hill ‘n Dale. Still, the community is removed enough from Brooksville that the median home price is $50,000 less.
Newer homes north of state Road 50 and larger lots to the south
Hill ‘n Dale is in a less developed area outside the Brooksville city limits. However, Cisek says yards tend to be small. North of state Road 50, stucco ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals built since 2020 are packed into straight rows. There’s also a cluster of mobile homes. South of the highway, houses are more spread out, and they often come with an acre or more of land. Some homes on the east side are in flood zones, so homeowners there may need to buy flood insurance. Mobile homes typically cost between $150,000 and $205,000. Most turnkey single-family houses have recently sold for $200,000 to $480,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Children zoned to Hernando County School District
Eastside Elementary School in Hill ‘n Dale receives a C grade from Niche. Older kids can take classes at C-plus-rated D.S. Parrott Middle School or Hernando High School, which gets a B. Teens who enroll in Hernando High’s College & Career Programs can take courses including Agritechnology, Culinary Arts and Applied Cybersecurity.
A zoo and mini golf to the south, Withlacoochee forest to the north
Kids can join Little League baseball and softball teams 5 miles away at Kennedy Park, while Hillside Church of Brooksville runs basketball, soccer and flag football leagues in Hill ‘n Dale. Down Spring Lake Highway, camels, zebras and ostriches reside at Boyett’s Grove & Citrus Attraction. The roadside oddity features a wildlife park, a dinosaur cave, a mini golf course and an ice cream parlor. North of Hill ‘n Dale, Withlacoochee State Forest stretches over 164,000 acres of woodlands, swamps and waterways. Visitors can hike under the forest canopy, paddle a canoe down a blackwater river and ride their motorcycles along miles of trails.
Hardware store, boot shop and churches along Florida state Road 50
A handful of businesses break up the oaks and slash pines lining state Road 50. They include Dollar General, Lowery’s True Value and Remington Outpost, a stop for boots and Western wear. Next to Remington Outpost, Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant has been a family-run eatery since 1981. The family also operates the neighboring Capricci Gifts, a health and wellness shop with a day spa. State Road 50 is also dotted with churches, including New Hope Assembly of God Church and Grace Brethren Church. There’s a Winn-Dixie 3 miles from Hill ‘n Dale. Blocks of stores and restaurants surround the courthouse in downtown Brooksville. Cisek says people often head there to shop for antiques or dine out at one of the mom-and-pop restaurants.
A bus route to Brooksville, with I-75 leading to Tampa
Residents can drive 6 miles to Brooksville or catch Hernando County’s TheBus to ride from Hill ‘n Dale to the Brooksville Walmart, a 15-minute trip. Tampa General Hospital Brooksville is the closest medical center. It’s about 2 miles to Interstate 75, which stretches across Florida. Drivers can use the interstate to travel to Tampa, about 50 miles away. At Tampa International Airport, passengers can fly directly to more than 100 destinations.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
