Beverly Hills, FL Area Guide

Around 1960, New York businessman Sam Kellner purchased more than 3,500 acres of former cattle land in interior Citrus County and began building a community. He sold single-story homes to buyers relocating from cities like New York and Detroit, naming his development Beverly Hills.

That founding blueprint is still legible in the streets today: modest ranch-style homes on generous lots shaded by mature trees. Over the decades the community has broadened its residential profile with apartment communities while preserving the quiet, unhurried character Kellner originally designed into it.

The North Lecanto Highway corridor is where a mix of local spots and chain eateries anchord the restaurant scene in Beverly Hills. The Breakfast Station has served morning meals and lunch to the community since 1995, making it a true neighborhood institution. New England Pastry and Cafe on Lecanto Highway goes well beyond baked goods, rounding out its menu with steaks and seafood. For more variety, Crystal River is about 20 minutes away and adds considerably more options to the local dining landscape.

Beverly Hills requires a car to make travel easy. North Lecanto Highway (County Road 491) is the main artery, connecting north to U.S. Route 41 and south to State Road 44, with the Suncoast Parkway providing highway access to Tampa International Airport about an hour to the south.

For those who prefer not to drive, Citrus County Transit operates bus service with a green route that makes stops throughout Beverly Hills and links to the county's orange line. The transit network is limited relative to urban systems, but it does provide a baseline of connectivity for those who need it.

Beverly Hills Community Park packs a lot into a small footprint, with one of only two skateparks in Citrus County alongside bocce courts, basketball courts, and a jogging trail. Central Ridge Community Park is home to a large horseshoe compound that regularly hosts sanctioned tournaments, including the state championship. Twisted Oaks Golf Club brings a full golf experience right within the community, while Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto and Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club in Hernando are both just a short drive away.

The surrounding Nature Coast deepens the outdoor picture considerably. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge is about 23 minutes away, and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is reachable in roughly 29 minutes. Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, about 20 minutes out, draws kayakers, hikers, and visitors hoping to snorkel alongside manatees, and Fort Cooper State Park rounds out the recreational choices nearby.

Retail lines North Lecanto Highway, where Golden Gate Center, Beverly Plaza, and a cluster of small plazas at Beverly Hills Boulevard put everyday errands within minutes of most addresses. A Winn-Dixie grocery store handles weekly staples along the corridor, and newer big-box options including Walmart and Target have opened nearby, meaningfully expanding what residents can handle without a long drive. The selection skews toward practical, everyday retail rather than boutique shopping, which fits the community's overall character well.

From its 1960s origins to its current standing as a Nature Coast base, Beverly Hills delivers access to manatee snorkeling at Three Sisters Springs, two national wildlife refuges within 30 minutes, and a close-knit community.