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Camp Manatee - Luxury Riverfront Cabin + Kayaks and Hot Tub!

Photo gallery for Camp Manatee - Luxury Riverfront Cabin + Kayaks and Hot Tub!

Exterior
Property grounds
Property grounds
Private kitchen
Private kitchen
Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Fort White, FL
  • Popular LocationIchetucknee River19 min walk
  • Popular LocationIchetucknee Springs State Park4 min drive
  • Popular LocationGinnie Spring29 min drive
  • AirportGainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)56 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Camp Manatee - Luxury Riverfront Cabin + Kayaks and Hot Tub!

Welcome to Camp Manatee! This gorgeous estate sits on approximately 3 acres along the scenic Santa Fe River. With over 600 feet of river access on the property, you will enjoy the beautiful river views on the private dock or the wraparound porch.

We offer kayaks and paddles for guests to use on the river during their stay.
Guests visiting in the winter months may catch a glimpse of our favorite manatee visitors!

Camp Manatee is a stilt home with all the major living areas upstairs (please note that you will need to climb up a flight of stairs to enter the home.) There are three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen and dining table. The living area has comfortable leather couches and faces the river. You are sure to catch some lovely river views along the wraparound porch off the back of the home. Downstairs, there is an open-air recreation area with seating. There are four TVs, all equipped with streaming services for you to stream your favorite shows during your stay.

Our property also features an additional 25 acres of vacant land adjacent to the property, just across the Santa Fe River. If you are looking to relax and get back in touch with nature, this is a must-visit spot for you!

There is wildlife all around you at Camp Manatee – on land and in the river. You may see deer, wild hogs, turkeys, squirrels, snakes, and rabbits during your visit. Some of the wildlife may be dangerous, and we advise all guests to be aware of their surroundings while on the property. Please note that our home is in a camp-like setting and guests may encounter bugs including ticks or fleas. We do have a pest control company that regularly services the property.

The Santa Fe River is fed by 36 named major springs. Countless other unnamed minor and micro springs dot the river just waiting to be found and explored!

Ichetucknee Springs: 10 minutes away via car, also accessible via kayak
Poe Springs: 20 minutes away
O'Leno State Park and River Rise: 20 minutes away
High Springs: 20 minutes away
Ginnie Springs and Devil Springs: 25 minutes away
Bob's River Place: 25 minutes away
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park: 30 minutes away
Gainesville/University of Florida: 45 minutes away

PLEASE NOTE: Access to the Three Rivers Community (TREPO) amenities are not provided with your reservation. These amenities including a private boat ramp (very close to Camp Manatee), parks and private access to the Ichetucknee River by land (Hodor Park) may be something we would be amendable to provide you access to under specific conditions. If you have interest in these access to these additional amenities that are not currently provided with your reservation, please reach out to us. We also have a boat available for rent. If you have any questions on pricing and availability, ask us.

Property manager

Camp Manatee Team
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
ICHETUCKNEE RIVER - Riverfront on the Crystal Clear Ichetucknee River
Kitchen
Washer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
9.8 out of 10, (55 reviews)
ICHETUCKNEE RIVER - Riverfront on the Crystal Clear Ichetucknee River

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Stilt House with stairs; direct access to water!

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Approval required + non-refundable $250 event fee.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 50 lbs per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Pet-friendly with $50 per pet fee; 2 pet maximum.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Liability Waiver - Acceptance of this reservation is an agreement of the liability waiver which is included in the rental agreement section.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

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: 15
Note from host: Approval required + non-refundable $250 event fee.
Long-term renters welcome
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

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

About the area

Fort White

Located in Fort White, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ichetucknee Springs State Park and Ginnie Spring. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Fort White, FL

What's nearby

  • Ichetucknee River - 19 min walk
  • Ichetucknee Springs State Park - 4 min drive
  • Suwannee River - 22 min drive
  • Ginnie Spring - 29 min drive
  • Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • Subway - 11 min drive
  • Nanny's Diner and Deli - 11 min drive
  • Reds Tavern Ft White - 10 min drive
  • Amy's Country Buffet and Grill - 9 min drive
  • Colleen's Restaurant At Sandy Point - 15 min drive

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Eric E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic stay
We stayed here for a little anniversary getaway. Fist let me say that the property is beautiful, and very well maintained. We stay in VRBO properties fairly regularly and unlike some other places that we have stayed, it feels like you are staying in a home that is loved and taken care of. The location is very quiet and peaceful, and is at the end of a road, so there is no traffic. The home is also well-stocked with everything that you might need. There is a lovely seating area downstairs with fire pit, hot tub and grill. There is also a selection of kayaks and a canoe. I would be remiss if I didn’t compliment the host. By far the best that we have dealt with. They were very helpful and quick to respond. We arrived during a flood, so our plans were a bit compromised, but they bent over backwards to make sure that we still had an enjoyable time. I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate them.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing on the river
Beautiful property. Loved the fire pit and dock. The house was clean and well maintained. No issues at all. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alex K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
very quiet and peaceful
great spot
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Corey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Camp Manatee, what an experience!
We LOVED our stay here. It sits back on a dead end road and you truly feel separate from the rest of the world. The home was spotless when we arrived. Walking in you notice right away the view of the river that can be seen from the dining/living area, and master bedroom. They offered plenty of amenities in the bathroom which was an added bonus. The outside provides seating around a gas fireplace, and a dock where we did see a few otters floating by. We used the canoe and paddled to the nearby springs which are incredible. Overall we could not be more pleased with the communication and everything this home had to offer. Thank you for letting us bring our dogs! We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tonya S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Breath Taking Views
This property was very clean and We felt right at home. The views from every direction were wonderful . Really enjoyed sitting by the fire pit on the Island. So many different areas to relax and enjoy nature at its best. I will definitely come back !
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

About the host

Hosted by Camp Manatee Team

Host profile image
Our family visited the Fort White area several years ago and immediately fell in love with the springs the natural areas and all it has to offer! We came back every summer and missed it as soon as we left. So we decided to purchase a property here. Camp Manatee was established as a short-term vacation rental in 2022 so that others can share in our love for this magical place and make special memories of their very own!

Why they chose this property

Did you know that the Santa Fe River is fed by 36 named major springs? Countless other unnamed minor and micro springs dot the river, just waiting to be discovered and explored. Within walking or kayaking distance is the majestic Ichetucknee River. Tube or kayak down the crystal blue rivers and enjoy the towering hundreds of years old cypress trees that shoulder the shorelines. The Ichetucknee State Park is a five-minute drive away. Here there are multiple springs and amenities to enjoy.

Numerous other springs are located within minutes of Camp Manatee. Downtown High Springs with its quaint shops and restaurants is approximately 20 minutes away and the University of Florida and Gainesville are approximately 40 minutes from Camp Manatee.

Of course, if you visit us in the late fall, winter, and even in the early spring months you may catch a glimpse of our favorite manatee visitors!

Whether you want to adventure the abundant beautiful springs in the area kayaking, swimming, tubing, snorkeling, or scuba diving, or if you just want to kick back and relax and get back in tune with nature, Camp Manatee has everything you are looking for.

Want to hit the sights by boat? We have you covered! Ask us about our brand new Pontoon Boat Rental to learn more about taking it out to visit the springs from the river!

There is truly something for everyone!

What makes this property unique

Camp Manatee is a magical estate situated on approximately 3 acres with over 650 feet of Santa Fe River frontage. Camp Manatee is a stilt home elevated over the ground by 30+ feet. This gives you an incredible vantage point of the expansive property from the home and wrap-around porches.

Adjacent to Camp Manatee is a vacant, developed 25-acre parcel that is accessible to guests of Camp Manatee. Directly across the river is the Fort White Wildlife Environmental Area (FWWEA) which will always be untouched and never built upon. That means tons of privacy and completely surrounded by nature.

This natural area is perfect for exploring, hunting, and fishing and comprises over 1,600 acres of natural land. All of this area plays host to a wide array of wildlife and birds that enhance the experience of stays at Camp Manatee.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
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