I escaped the spring break crowds that overshadow many of Florida’s better-known destinations by visiting Ocala.
Once a sleepy backwater far from the coast, the area around this part of the Sunshine State—about an hour and a half drive from Orlando and Tampa—is today the self-proclaimed horse capital of the world.
At the center of all things horse is the nearly 4-year-old World Equestrian Center.
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Although the approximately 380-acre property was built as a venue for equestrian sports, it is actually a resort. There are two hotels, an RV park, several restaurants in all price ranges, and several indoor and outdoor multi-use spaces, including what must be the largest floor outside of Orlando and Tampa for trade shows and other exhibits.
Readers of this column will certainly be interested in the beautiful stone chapel, which bears a resemblance to the centuries-old Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Victory in old Quebec City. Quite impressively, it hosts three non-denominational services every Sunday. The chapel is among several subtle public professions of faith by the Roberts family, downtown owners and developers.
Not only is downtown a destination in its own right, but Marion County is on the map for visitors who wouldn’t otherwise come to Central Florida. To give you an idea, Ocala was the second stage of the 2024 Longines League of Nations tournament, which began in Abu Dhabi and ends in Barcelona, after additional stages in Switzerland and the Netherlands.
I don’t practice and I don’t pretend to know anything about dressage, horse riding or any other discipline of equestrian sport. But you don’t have to be an enthusiast to be a spectator.
Perhaps what is most impressive about these sports is the interdependence between the rider, also known as the human, and the horse. Horses are not actually analogous to running shoes, hockey sticks, or other pieces of sports equipment. In fact, this is a team sport – a partnership between horse and rider, both of whom must be trained, conditioned and prepared to compete.
In addition to in-season events, which I was surprised to learn are not limited to the winter months when snowbirds migrate to Florida, there are numerous non-equestrian events to attract visitors and guests to both hotels.
During my visit, the terrace overlooking the 128,000-square-foot Grand Outdoor Arena hosted a sunset event featuring some of the best wines from California’s Sonoma County. I’m told that the regular food and wine events are especially popular with retirees who live in the surrounding villages – the booming community that is among the fastest growing areas in the country.
If you go
The main hotel at the World Equestrian Center is the Equestrian Hotel, with 248 rooms. The AAA four-diamond-rated luxury hotel has eccentric decor, courtesy of designer Ric Owens. Think opulent Louis XVI mixed with Ralph Lauren’s High WASP style.
I stayed at the newer of the two hotels, The Riding Academy Hotel. While a little more affordable than the Equestre, it has the same attention to detail and overall quality. In fact, the lobby could be a Ralph Lauren store. Be sure to spend some time at the resort-style pool.
The closest airport with commercial service is about 40 miles away in Gainesville, although getting there may require double connections depending on where you’re coming from. The best alternative is the airports in the large cities of Orlando and Tampa. For those who drive, Ocala is about five hours from Atlanta and about eight hours from New Orleans, as well as Charlotte and Wilmington, North Carolina.
Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post.
Dennis Lennox writes about travel, politics and religious topics. He has been published in the Financial Times, Independent, The Detroit News, Toronto Sun and other publications. follow @dennislennox on twitter.
