Ocklawaha is a primarily residential area known for its stunning natural amenities and green spaces. “We’ve got Lake Weir which is lovely and quite large, and Carney Island and places to swim,” says Sara Lambert, the community engagement coordinator with Marion County Parks & Rec. “Our parks are very indicative of old Florida, with big oak trees dripping in moss and old orange groves converted to protected land.”
Carney Island Park is a spacious park that hugs Lake Weir, the fifth largest lake in the state, and has boat ramps that give residents the chance to get out on the water and do some fishing. “Carney Island has trail systems and a swim beach and people can rent out picnic shelters for events,” Lambert says. “We purchased the land from Coca-Cola in the 1990s as part of the Pennies for Parks program and now it’s over 750 acres of protected islands and causeways and beaches and it’s just gorgeous.” The park is also home to the Ma Barker House which was built in 1935 and now offers private tours. For a time, the house was rented by notorious gangsters Ma Barker and her son, who would later engage in the longest FBI shootout in history when police found them hiding out in Ocklawaha.
Most of the housing stock in Ocklawaha is ranch-style homes, with luxury lakefront options available as well. Home prices can be anywhere from $81,000 mobile homes to $2,600,000 waterfront estates. Home sizes range from 860 to 9,300 square feet and some date back to the early 1950s with new construction as recent as 2023. Large lots with long driveways populate winding streets through lush green land dotted with lakes. There are about 5,200 total homes in the neighborhood and the average number of days on the market in Ocklawaha is over twice the national average.
A local dining staple is Gator Joe’s Beach Bar & Grill, a waterfront hangout built over Lake Weir with a sand volleyball court and a menu that focuses on seafood and American bar food classics. Established in 1926, the restaurant’s island cuisine includes dishes like gator tails and baby back ribs. Big Bob’s Restaurant and Pizza is a classic Italian joint with everything from pizzas and subs to pasta and soups. Good Time Bar & Grill has bar grub and locals love stopping by to catch the latest game or challenge their friends to a game of pool. Live music isn’t hard to find either and their dance floor is always busy. For groceries and additional shopping and dining, residents head to Spanish Springs Town Square. Popular locations include the movie theater, quaint boutiques and restaurants like Kilwins, known for its fudge and ice cream.
Students in Ocklawaha can attend East Marion Elementary School which received a C rating from Niche and serves about 600 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. Lake Weir Middle School is another option that received a C-plus rating from Niche and serves about 1,170 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21-to-1. Lake Weir High School received a B-minus rating from Niche and serves about 1,400 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23-to-1. The school offers a Cambridge AICE Program that gives students access to college credits and alternate pathways.
Residents have easy access to Highway 25 which can take them into Ocala just 17 miles northwest.
On average, homes in Ocklawaha, FL sell after 84 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Ocklawaha, FL over the last 12 months is $239,900, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Yari Burgos-Colon
MARCILLO REAL ESTATE LLC
(254) 312-5664
17 Total Sales
2 in Ocklawaha
$20K - $300K Price Range
David Zalutko
REALTY PROS ASSURED
(386) 999-4275
38 Total Sales
1 in Ocklawaha
$11,600 Price
John Bonneau
CHARLES RUTENBERG REALTY ORLANDO
(855) 305-3797
6 Total Sales
1 in Ocklawaha
$258,000 Price
Paul Fletcher
WORLDCORP REALTY
(352) 502-4967
1,144 Total Sales
158 in Ocklawaha
$4K - $335K Price Range
Harlee Campbell
SYNERGY REALTY SERVICES LLC
(877) 619-7284
9 Total Sales
1 in Ocklawaha
$219,900 Price
CF
Christia Faver
ROBERT SLACK LLC
(352) 607-4813
12 Total Sales
1 in Ocklawaha
$13,000 Price