Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days
Directly on the Rainbow River - 11 minute drive to Rainbow Springs State Park. Guests enjoy river access and exit privileges at our two (2) Rainbow River vacation rental houses, so they can launch at one and exit the river at the other. The second property is upriver Pet Friendly Meraki, vrbo.com/1482265, about an hour and a half tube drift from there back to Chimera. This avoids the KP Hole (the county park) $30/person fee to enter the water. It is a 1.8 mile drive from Chimera to Meraki, and parking is plentiful there. (Bring your tubes - our insurance company won't allow us to provide them.)
The Rainbow River - 4.5 miles of crystal clear water, perfect for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. Anhingas, ducks, turtles, owls, eagles, wood storks, and otters are regular visitors. Bring your rods, live bait, and your Florida fishing license for some of the best bass fishing in Florida! Children with poles, small hooks, and bread can catch Bream all day long.
Special sanitizing protocols are employed at both our river houses; masks, gloves, antibacterial hand soap and dishwashing soap, and extra sanitizing agent are provided for your use and safety during your stay.
With a fully stocked kitchen, 4 bedrooms (2 are masters), 3 full bathrooms, a living room, large Florida room, bar, and game room, Chimera is perfect for family vacations, friend gatherings, girls' trips, guys' trips, or small group company retreats. The game room: Arcade basketball net, table shuffleboard, Juke Box w/ genre hits from the 60s, 70s, & 80s, and 60-Game Arcade Game Machine w/ Pac Man. Both our properties have horse shoes and a corn hole game! At night, or if it rains, there's still lots to do. A beautiful custom bar facilitates drinks, cards, board games, or extra seats for dining. The kitchen comes with lots of cookware and utensils, or... step into the back yard and use the large, 4 cooking surface, Titan Park Grill,
Definitely not one of those "bare", essentials only vacation rental properties, Chimera makes you feel like you are at your place on the river. Spices, condiments, coffee, sugar, flour, rice, cereal - they're all there. Canoe, kayaks, fins, goggles, high chair, playpen, quality toilet tissue and paper towels, laundry and dishwashing detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets - all supplied. Your drinks will be on the bar waiting for you, whatever the kids like to drink will be in the fridge, and miniature chocolates are on the bar. We do everything we know to do to make your visit to Chimera exceptional!
Chimera sleeps 11 in beds, 14 including couches; an Additional Guest Charge applies when you exceed 10 total guests - See Rates below... Chimera has four bedrooms w/ high quality comfortable mattresses and pillows. 1 of the 4 bedrooms has 4 child-strength bunk beds. The smaller of two master bedrooms is downstairs so your parents don't have to climb stairs.
Amenities include free WiFi, a washing machine and dryer, and a smart TV with satellite/cable channels.
Venture outside to enjoy the deck, dock, and the crystal clear water Rainbow River. Kayaks, a large 2-adult canoe, cushions, paddles, life vests, all provided. In addition to the game room, you'll find horseshoes, cornhole game, books, and toys for the kids.
Chimera is Pet Free (pets are not permitted) - To bring your pet(s) on your Rainbow River vacation trip, see Pet Friendly Meraki: www.vrbo.com/1482265. Chimera is clean, comfortable, and completely outfitted and supplied for worry-free family vacationing. None of that "essentials only" stuff here; Sandy has decorated and stocked Chimera to be like your home on the river!
Chimera and Meraki have more than three hundred fifty (350+) 5-Star Reviews on the two major listing sites.
Many of our Summer guests book a year or more in advance. Preferred holiday dates go pretty quickly also, so booking early is probably a good idea. More than 80% of our Summer reservations are returning guests. Inquire with owner for Inquire for Multiple-Night Discounts for stays of more than three (3) nights.
Current Off Season Offer: Other than stays that include a Holiday, stays that begin Nov 1st or after & end before Mar 1st: • “Book three (3) or more days and get two (2) days our compliments.” • “Book seven (7) or more days and get four (4) days our compliments.” The Vrbo system doesn't account for Comp Days. Book your Rental Days and we'll edit the Reservation after you make it. Multiple Night Discounts do not apply to Reservations with Comp Days anytime. Stays that include a Holiday do not include Comp Days.
Small Events are welcome at Chimera. Event Fee - Contact Owner for acceptability and rate for your event.
Rental Rates: Multi-Nite Discounted Rates* May-Sep Oct-April Nights Rate/Night Nights Rate/Night 2-3 438.00 2-3 408.00 4-6 423.00 4-6 398.00 7** 408.00 7** 388.00 1 Mo. n/a 1 Mo.*** 7,500.00 ***Jan-Apr Only Extra Guest Charge of $25/night/number of guests more than 10; includes Overnight Guests and Daytime Visitors. Children ages 6 and under are wecome but not counted. Daytime Visits end at 7:00 pm. 4-6 Night Rate will apply to Reservations for 8 to 10 days which include more than 2 Weekend Days. Weekend Days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Weekly Discount doesn't apply to a stay beginning and ending on a Saturday. Meraki has an RV Water Connection and Electric Connection – no sewer. No RV Fee, but all RV guests count as house guests. $200 Cleaning Fee Taxes: Rent, Cleaning Fee, Pet Fee, and Event Fee, if applicable, are subject to 11.5% Tax (7% State of Florida Sales Tax & 4.5% Marion County Bed Tax) Monthly Rate: Subject to availability; Only for stays beginning 1st of the month, Jan– Apr, and cannot extend into May. Extra Guest Rate does not apply. Contact Owner... Holiday Rates: We don't increase rates for Holidays, but... Holidays have a Minimum Four (4) Night Stay. Multi-Night Discounts Apply. Holidays are Rental Dates that include any of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any day immediately before or after one of these days.
There are several very nice golf courses in the area.
Horseback Riding: If you want to have a little diversion from river fun and do something else really enjoyable while in Dunnellon, go online and type in "Orange Blossom Trail Rides". Just thirty (30) minutes away, an eighty (80) acre property plus 53,000 acres in Florida's Goethe State Forest. Sandi, the owner, is most hospitable and provides a wonderful horseback riding experience.
The outside of Chimera is under 24-hour video surveillance.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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On Rainbow River / Pets OK / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days
Dunnellon
On Rainbow River / Pets OK / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Small Event Fee Applies: Discuss w/ Owner...
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 730878
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Small Event Fee Applies: Discuss w/ Owner...
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
About the neighborhood
Dunnellon
Located in Dunnellon, this vacation home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Rainbow Springs State Park and Rainbow River. Traveling with kids? Consider Petting Zoo Ocala and Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training. Kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby.
World Equestrian Center – Ocala - 29 min drive - 35.8 km
Ocala Downtown Square - 48 min drive - 59.0 km
Restaurants
McDonald's - 8 min drive
Sonic Drive-In
Front Porch Restaurant & Pie - 11 min drive
Taco Bell - 9 min drive
Riviera Maya - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days?
As of Jun 7, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days on Oct 4, 2026 start from $623, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Directly on the Rainbow River / Multi-Night Discounts / Off Season Comp Days located?
This family-friendly Dunnellon vacation home is located on the waterfront, just steps from Rainbow Springs State Park and Rainbow River. K.P. Hole County Park is 1.9 mi (3.1 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
The Chimera house was in the perfect location and was spotless when we checked in at 4:00. It was nice to wake up in the morning and enjoy our coffee on the dock watching all the wildlife. The arcade room was a treat for all of us and enjoyed listening to the jukebox. Hal was great communicating with us from start to finish. We will visiting this gem again.
Our host Hal was amazing. He checked on us via phone through out the trip. He was friendly and accommodating. I would highly eat a stay at either of his properties.
Beautiful house and location on the river. Hal is easy to reach and communicates expectations thoroughly. The house was clean and has plenty of amenities.
Everyone in our group loved our stay at rainbow river. This house had a little bit of everything for everyone. Kids loved the game room and swimming in the river. The host had great communication and we appreciated the welcome gifts.
This is a beautiful home very comfortable with room for everyone to spread out. The location was just perfect. The host owns another home in the area which allowed us to drop in at one house and float down to the one we were staying in so much fun. The grandchild and have already asked if we can come back next summer.
Great property to enjoy the water, the kids loved being able to play in the clear water right off the backyard. Hal was available to us for questions throughout our stay. Would stay again.
Hal is the ultimate host and Ellen is amazing! We stayed at Chimera for the weekend with our college children and their friends and had a great time. Every comfort was thought of from the fun kayaks to the chilled wine at check in. We will definitely be back!
Our family group of 9 was very comfortable in this spacious home. We used the wonderful variety of small boats and snorkeled in the river. The otters were a delight. The kitchen was well equipped so we cooked some meals and had dinner in a great Mexican restaurant in town. Hope we can return.
The owner Hal and Caretaker were very communicative and MORE pleasant to work with.
The house was beautiful and the River was Amazing!
Our group has stayed in a few VRBO's on Rainbow river and this has been the best one yet!!
I would 100% stay here again and recommend anyone else stay here as well!!
Thank you Hal and Ellen!
4 adult couples enjoyed the property immensely! Everyone had plenty of space and enjoyed all the character the property offered. Every couple had their own room. Had a blast in the game room and playing the jukebox, sitting around the bar sharing stories, floating off the dock and sharing meals around the table. We can't wait to go back, very easy to drive to the other property and drop in our floats on the last day. We can't wait to go back. Hal and Ellen were a pleasure to work with and made a little vacation extra memorable. Thank you!
We had a group of 10 and the house easily accommodated us. The house was fantastic. The host was outstanding. The location is perfect about 2 mikes from winn Dixie. The location on the river is great as well. About a 2 hour float to swampy’s restaurant. We loved everything about the house, the deck. We have stayed in crystal river snd rainbow river s lot of times and this place is our favorite.
Chimera was the perfect
Vacation spot for our family of 9. Plenty of
Beds and baths and the kitchen was stocked with all the things we needed for our early Thanksgiving meal! It even has a game room for the little (and big) kids!!
Hal, the owner was the perfect Host, answering any of the questions we had during our weekend!
The river was high due to the hurricane but we managed to get kayaks out to enjoy the beautiful clear water…even saw otters swimming around!
I think we have found the vacation spot where we can watch our grandkids grow up!
This house found us. We booked last minute and it couldn’t have worked out any better. The location of being right on Rainbow Springs and taking a morning plunge and then an afternoon tubing expedition is what our family needed. The host was more than accommodating and informative. They even welcomed us with some refreshments for us and the kids. They have step by step instructions for what ever activity you would like to do which comes in handy if you’re not familiar with the springs. We will definitely be coming back next year or in the summer if booking permits.
jennifer s.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Vicky R.
Oct 22, 2015
Beauty & the Peace
My husband & I spent 3 days on Rainbow Springs in this vacation house & had the best 3 days we could ever imagine. We canoed, kayaked, fish, swam, & spent the evenings in the game room competing in shuffleboard & billiards. I even danced, (HaHa) to the Juke Box. I loved the Juke Box & all the oldies.
We saw otters, many species of birds & very large fish while sitting on the dock. We caught several Bream & Bass. The house is very nice, clean and provides everything you could possibly need for your stay. We plan to return & bring our family & grandchildren.
Vicky R.
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 29, 2020
Just for the record, she meant "table shuffleboard and pinball machine"...
This place was amazing. Dream house on the river. Free tubing and kayaking. Great views. Lots to do - outside and inside; they had corn hole and horseshoes for outside along with tons of deck space. Inside was a cute game room complete with jute box. Four good size bedrooms. When it states sleeps 11, they mean 11 real beds (no pull out couches here). Plenty of cups, plates and silverware which I appreciate. Bar area to hang out in. Really can't say enough good things. I have stayed at many vacation rental properties but this in one I will definitely go back to. The river was beautiful. Hal was super great - very friendly, responsive and just over all great guy. Little touches to make the trip special. Definitely recommend to everyone.
We travel a lot and stay in VRBOs quite a bit. This is by far the most amazing host ever. He was so generous. We absolutely loved the place. One of the best stocked homes we stayed in. It had everything. We, our grandchildren, and their parents, all enjoyed the game room, but we are outdoors people and had the best time on the dock. We saw deer, hawks, ducks, and best of all, a family of 5 otters from the dock. Our grandchildren loved fishing from the dock where they caught and released bream. We took the kayaks out and paddled up stream. It is truly an amazingly beautiful peaceful river. Winn-Dixie and other stores are less than a 5 minute drive away. There is nothing left undone here! The House, the river, the wildlife, but mostly the host made this a great time for us and our family.
Everything is nice. The location, the river, the house. The best: Hal and Sandy are the best hosts we have ever had. They do care about the property, and the guests' experience. Thank you so much for a joyful stay. Highly recommended.
Everyone thought this property was special with the location, game room, bar, deck, shed of supplies, boats and more. Not to mention the crystal clear cool water and seeing the otters everyday! Great time.
Jason R.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
About the host
Hosted by Hal Rogers
In 2015 Sandy and I sold our uniquely specialized comprehensive financial, tax, & estate planning practice, Gold Tree Financial, Inc. At Gold Tree we focused on our clients' needs. Instead of just concentrating on the financial products that generated revenue, we assured that our clients avoided probate and prevented unintended heirs, like your surviving spouse's next spouse, and their children from a previous marriage, or your daughter's divorcing husband years after your death. For our clients, we took the legal industry out of the loop at the time of death, preventing between six and eighteen months of unnecessary legal costs at $350 - $700 an hour. When we decided to share Chimera, it was quite natural to carry that "client focus" over to "guest focus". Nothing has ever been more satisfying for us, and our Reviews show how our guests feel! I play competitive billiards; Sandy sings in the church choir and plays in the bell choir. We are both members of the East Arlington Rotary Club in Jacksonville. We have eight children and five grandchildren.
Why they chose this property
Chimera (Ky-mer'-a) - "something that exists only in the imagination and is not possible in reality; something unattainable". Sandy says we should have named the house "Chimera No More". Buying Chimera fulfilled a 20+ year dream of owning a house on the Rainbow River that began at a time when owning a property on the river was not just unattainable, it was unimaginable! Chimera is warm and luxurious, but comfortable and casual for vacationing. The first time we walked into the house it just felt right and we knew it was the house we wanted as our vacation home. We didn't purchase it to rent, but once we experienced it, we couldn't image not sharing it, and what a joy sharing it has been! Chimera will be our legacy to our eight children and (so far) five grandchildren, and we hope it will be yours as well. That's just the history - It takes a stay at Chimera to really understand "why this property".
What makes this property unique
There are several nice places to stay on the Rainbow River, but there is nothing else like Chimera. It has four (4) Kayaks and a large canoe, snorkels & fins, and fishing gear for the kids, but there the similarities disappear. Your favorite beverage will be on the bar and something in the fridge for the kids; a selection of miniature chocolates awaits you. Nothing keeps the kids occupied at night (or when it's raining) like the game room. A 60-game multicade game machine (including PacMan), Wurlitzer Juke Box with genre hits from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, arcade basketball net, table shuffleboard, and Super Nintendo with lots of games, leave the adults playing poker and having drinks at the custom bar, with the kids seen but not heard! A large modern master bedroom upstairs, plus another more traditional master bedroom (downstairs for your parents), provide exceptional accommodations for you, your family members, and/or other guests. You won't need to bring extra kitchen utensils, or laundry detergent, or dish washing soap; they're all provided. Coffee, spices, flour, sugar, and cereal, are all provided as well. Sandy and I remember the places we have rented - two pots, four plates, and six miss-matched forks; not at your new river house! We have furnished and equipped Chimera like we would want it when we arrived on vacation; then we shared that with you. If there is anything we overlooked, let us know after your visit and the next time you come, if we can add it, we will.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests