“Chaz” is short for Chassahowitzka meaning “hanging pumpkins.” Along the banks of the river, hanging pumpkins once grew prolifically. The pumpkins are also called Seminole Pumpkins. They are a vine and are able to grow up trees so the pumpkins themselves appear to hang from tree branches. The pumpkins are quite delicious and easy to grow. Gardeners beware that they will quickly overtake the area in which they are planted.
The Chassahowitzka River flows out to the Gulf of Mexico. It is a slow meandering river that features many different spring locations. The “Seven Sisters” are the easiest to find. The sisters are a series of interconnected springs. Some brave and adventure seeking visitors swim through the sisters’ connected holes.
The last time we visited, we met the resident Mama Manatee with her baby.
The Chassahowitzka River Campground will rent you canoes or kayaks at a reasonable price and direct you to all the must-see spots.
A great follow-up to your explorations on the Chaz would be to visit the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum housing artifacts discovered on the river spanning 10,000 years.