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WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

Photo gallery for WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

Guest photo. Kayaking the beautiful Halls River. (Photo taken 5 min paddle away)
Exterior detail
Exterior
Living area
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61600 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor barbecue

Explore the area

View in a map
Homosassa, FL
  • Place, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Plantation Inn and Golf Resort
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Three Sisters Springs
    ‪7 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Den

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

Come stay in this beautifully decorated, freshly remodeled home featuring a spacious and relaxing open floor plan with all new furniture throughout the house.

Kayaks included! You can enjoy nature, fish and kayak right from the backyard.

Scenic and Relaxing, Halls River Retreat is located in the coveted north end of Homosassa Springs, only minutes from the centers of Crystal River, Homosassa Springs and Old Homosassa.

The Retreat is located on the Halls River, part of the Homosassa River, a pristine spring fed river where manatee come to give birth and relax away from the hustle and bustle of boat traffic on the main part of the river. It is a kayaker’s paradise.

The Halls and Homosassa Rivers offer year round world class fishing opportunities - and are home to an abundance of wildlife in the water, on shore and in the air!

AMENITIES and SPECIAL FEATURES

Kayaks for Guest Use. Single and tandem

Explore the unspoiled shores of the Halls River and the Homosassa River

Incredible Fishing and a Nature Lover’s Paradise

SWIM WITH THE MANATEE - Watch, get up-close, and swim with the Gentle Giants of Homosassa. Did you know that the waters of Citrus County (Homosassa and Crystal River) are the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with the manatee in the wild?

Kayak alongside Emu Island Florida and enjoy the antics of a mob of rare blue-eyed white and blonde emus

Screened room and a large outdoor deck overlook a spring fed canal where you can relax, fish and enjoy nature

BBQ grill in screened porch

Outdoor fire pit (we do not supply firewood)

Wi-Fi to keep you connected during your stay

Large fenced-in back yard

This waterfront home is only minutes from shopping, the world famous Three Sisters Springs, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park and Crystal River. It is only an hour’s drive to some of Florida’s best theme parks, zoo, museums and attractions!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. All of the nature photos on this page were taken either in the backyard or within a very short paddle from the Retreat.

Amazing, breathtaking, and captivating moments and memories await you at Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Springs Florida.

Prior to and throughout your stay, we are just a text or phone call away.

Your host,

Joanne
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Of course we love kids!
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Events

No events allowed
Wedding & Family events! Contact us for details.
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking outdoors only. Must pick up butts.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Wedding & Family events! Contact us for details.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

About the area

Homosassa

Located in Homosassa, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park and Crystal River Archaeological State Park are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Three Sisters Springs and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking.
View more Holiday homes in HomosassaOpens in a new window
Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 3 min drive - 3.5 km
  • A Crystal River Kayak Company - 6 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Plantation Inn and Golf Resort - 7 min drive - 8.9 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 7 min drive - 9.0 km
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 7 min drive - 9.3 km

Getting around

  • Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.) - 70 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Pizza Hut - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?

As of 16 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees on 25 Jun 2026 start from £161, 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 at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 2 mi (3.2 km) from Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and within 6 miles (10 km) of Citrus County Dog Park and Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum. Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park and A Crystal River Kayak Company are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 162 out of 171 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 171 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 171 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 171 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 171 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Camille C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Halls River was amazing. The house was just what we wanted great. Joanne was a lovely host!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martha L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable, clean home with everything we needed. Appreciated the kayak launch.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
From the moment you open the front door and are met by the sunlight steaming through the large windows facing an expansive backyard sloping down to a shimmering canal with an array of colorful kayaks propped on its bank, you know this place is special.
Canal in back of house
Facing back of house with deck and screened in patio.
Kayaks on canal
Steam rises from the canal in the early morning.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

elizabeth o.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved our stay. Close to everything. Nice and clean. Had everything I needed even stuff I forgot like a lunch bag to pack sandwiches. Loved kayaking and fishing from the backyard. They had plenty of kayaks and we brought own fishing gear. Really clean and loved the decor. Beds were comfy too
Kayaking by the neighbors.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The host made our stay incredibly easy, enjoyable, and so much fun! She communicated with us any time we had a question and gave us some amazing suggestions regarding things to do. The home is so cute and was a perfect safe location for us to have fun and fish! This adventure was one that we will not forget! If you are considering a beautiful location for your stay, pick this one!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shaun H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Kitchen and other spaces were great. Kayaks, canal access was super nice too. Nice little neighborhood. Great comm from owner. Pet covers were great idea.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carol C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was beautiful. Clean. And while it was too cold to enjoy the water, it was nice to walk to the backyard to see it. The host, btw was delightfully non-intrusive with a minimum of check-in and check-out instructions. They responded quickly and concisely. We use VRBO ALOT and are learning to appreciate the owners who are trusting and not demanding with side contracts, impractical restrictions… anyway, I digress: nice house, good location, good hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tina P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

We enjoyed our stay. The home was so clean and in a great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Renee S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place to relax

Enjoyed our stay and will be back next year.
Stayed 13 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is the best VRBO stay we have ever had. The host was exceptional. The house is amazing and so incredibly clean. We had excellent communication, they provided great recommendations, and were so thoughtful throughout our stay. We were able to get out and use the kayaks and enjoy the natural surroundings. It was so nice to have so many to choose from. We did see a few manatees swim right by in the morning. We are truly going to miss this home when we leave. And hope to visit again the future. Every inch of the space is comfortable and being right on the water was such a treat. It also appears to have the nicest view in this area. Top notch and a bit more high end with amenities and furnishings than most. You cannot go wrong with this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hilda Kay C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Florida experience

The cottage is adorable - comfortable and clean. Location is very private but convenient to everything. Would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place!

This is one of our favorite places to stay. Plenty of parking, clean and Joanne is a great hostess! This home is roomy and the AC works great. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mel C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was an absolute gem of a find! From the incredibly comfortable beds to the spacious and beautifully designed living area, everything was perfect. The highlight, without a doubt, was the stunning riverfront setting—our family made unforgettable memories here.Manatees visited us each morning as we enjoyed coffee in the backyard, and they even swam alongside us during a kayaking adventure. Our boys had the time of their lives fishing right from the yard and reeling in bass after bass.The host was fantastic—patiently answering all my questions and sharing excellent recommendations for local restaurants and an exciting, educational airboat tour.We’re already counting down the days until we return! Highly recommend this slice of paradise.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

robert p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway

Very relaxing place. The nature around you is so wonderful and relaxing
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matelon D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome!

Great location, super clean, loved kayaking!! Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Halls River

The area is beautiful
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melanie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet and convenient

This home is Tucktaway on a quiet spot of the river. We had easy access to kayaking and multiple state parks. We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

James D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Northern Escape

We stayed
Stayed 18 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steven W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Old Florida experience

Immaculate and clean home. Great Old Florida feel. Easy booking and pet friendly. Highly recommend a stay here. Close to the best Florida springs.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tina W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful woodsy setting

The hostess, Joanne, was amazingly accommodating. The property was in the midst of quiet and wildlife. Nearby are restaurants, shopping, boat adventures, private beach, and small city life. Good place for a getaway!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amelia W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So much fun

Had a great time thank you for letting us enjoy your cute home . It was a blast will be back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorial Day

Quiet neighborhood right on the river. Kayaks available to use, great host and great time.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robin M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay

The property was as listed with a couple nice touches like the welcome board. We enjoyed the access to kayaks. Joanne was a great host helping us navigate finding fun things while kayaking in the river. I highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ethan b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation

Awesome! House was perfect. Great location. River and kayaking was wonderful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful, clean, beautiful retreat

I loved kayaking the river and touring nearby springs. There is so much to do here. The neighborhood was beautiful and everything was perfect. My mom stayed with me and said that it was her favorite rental. The kitchen layout was awesome and we also loved the large yard. We would love to stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Gary and Joanne Bartell

Host profile image
We'd like to introduce ourselves. We are Gary and Joanne Bartell and we are the property managers for Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Springs Florida. We moved to Homosassa in 1988 to raise our family and quickly got involved with local politics to help shape the future of our community. Gary served as a County Commissioner from 1990 to 2010 and was chairman of the Tourist Development Council for 14 years. Joanne was a founding board member of the Nature Coast Envirothon, a high school environmental education and scholarship program. We both enjoyed spending countless hours over the years educating the youth of the community about the rare and precious natural resources found in this area. Our vision has always been to protect and preserve these amazing natural resources for generations to come.
We are delighted with the opportunity to share this home and the beautiful surrounding area with you.

What makes this property unique

The Halls River is a rare piece of Old Florida. Largely undeveloped, the river is a birder's paradise, a fisherman's delight, and a photographer's dream. Blue Crab, Turtles, Bass, Redfish, Snook, Trout, Ladyfish, Mullet, Bream, Sunfish, and various other species of fish can all be seen swimming about in the Halls River. In the sky above you will find Bald Eagles, Green Herons, White Pelicans, Wood Storks, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills and many more species of fabulous waterbirds. Along the river you may find dolphin chasing mullet, experience a manatee nursing a newborn calf, or take delight in watching an ever playful family of river otter. Along the shore you will enjoy the antics of a family of emus and a flock of Welsh Harlequin ducks that free range along the shoreline and swim in the river. Most days the morning sunrises and evening sunsets are aglow with brilliant colors that will take your breath away. For the adventurous, night time kayaking reveals brilliant stars and planets above - and - with a flashlight shone on the water the surface appears as a sheet of glass and you can see fish, turtles, and other creatures underwater as if you are watching them through a window. Amazing, breathtaking, and captivating moments and memories await you at Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Florida.

Languages:

English

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