Best small town? Look no further

Happy Thursday!

An Inverness story: My first home was a few miles east of town off State Road 44, directly across from the Gospel Island fire station.

My dad visited occasionally in those early years. Dad lodged at the Crown Hotel and would stroll about Inverness while I worked.

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There was a laundromat on Main Street. I walked in one day, and introduced myself.

“Are you the Mike Wright who works at the Chronicle?” the owner asked.

I gave her a sheepish smile. “Yes, I am.”

She exclaimed, “Your dad is so nice!”

Um…what? “My dad? How do you know my dad?”

Turns out, Dad was getting a better name than me. He’d stopped by all the local places to let folks know his kid was the new hotshot reporter in town.

Inverness was right for me from the start, living on the outskirts. I’ve been an actual city resident for the last 20 years, and of course, I have a city business license.

You may have heard that Inverness is in the running for “Best Small Town in the South.” This comes from a USA Today online publication called Ten Best, where readers vote for nominees in varied categories.

Inverness was among 20 towns nominated by travel writers. It’s simple — the most votes wins. Here’s the link. Anyone can vote each day right up to the survey’s close on March 30.

As of now, Inverness sits at No. 2 in the voting. (The Withlacoochee State Trail is on a different list, currently at No. 8.)

So, let’s brag about our traditional county seat for a bit.

First off, both our cities are wonderful! As far as I’m concerned, they share top billing. Crystal River gets its heap of national accolades, thanks to those critters that jam Three Sisters Springs in winter. The manatees are cool, too.

I became a true Inverness guy when moving into what I called Just Wright Citrus World Headquarters on the shores of Big Lake Henderson. I had a 10-minute walk to downtown and, in later years, the Depot and renovated Liberty Park.

Since last October, I’m still in Inverness but no longer within walking distance of all the fun. I haven’t attended a Small Town Saturday Night in quite a while, partly because it’s become so popular. I mean…take a look at that photo from the city’s Facebook page. Thousands jam the Courthouse Square for these concerts, and attendees have a great time. That's on a city government making fun a priority.

It didn’t happen overnight. The city has always featured its parks, but the Depot and Courthouse Square are assets with significant community value. I’m constantly talking up the Depot. Coming out of Covid, the first community gatherings occurred at the open-air Depot pavilion. It’s a great venue.

That’s big in a town where our other pastime, driving, is just horrible. While Inverness earns an A+ for community connection, it gets an F- for moving vehicle traffic through town. Not just from events. Every day. Weekdays, weekends, doesn’t matter. Long backups are the norm.

Frustrating as that is, the city takes a proactive approach to improving the quality of life. Simply, it places attention and resources into the things it CAN control and that citizens appreciate. Example: The city recently resurfaced a bunch of neighborhood streets and many of the busier city roads. That's a proactive City Hall. Folks notice, and they tell their friends.  

See, this is what makes a small town successful. If we can’t fix one challenge, let’s at least create a caring and energetic community.

This month alone in Inverness, we've seen:

• Nature Coast Bike Fest at Whispering Pines Park.
• Big Bass, Bluegrass, and BBQ at Liberty Park and Depot.
• St. Patrick’s parade.
• St. Patrick’s Day live music.
• Ribbon cutting to mark significant improvements at the Historic Old Citrus County Courthouse.
• Oh, and there’s “Small Town Slam” wrestling this Friday night at the Depot.

Plus: Inverness Senior Games, Market at the Depot, Teens Night Out, Valerie Theater, Christmas in Liberty Park, Inverness Festival of the Arts, and an active and responsive Facebook page…I could go on and on.

And the friendliest people. I smile hello to perplexed strangers on the sidewalks of big cities because it’s so common in Inverness.

Inverness is the bomb, man. Proud to call it my hometown.

Have a great Thursday, friends. (And don’t forget to vote. Let’s push Inverness to the top.)

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