Entire home

Updated with modern comfort, Old Florida Charm

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Interior
Exterior
Property grounds
Exterior detail
Bathroom

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Altoona, FL
  • Place, Juniper Springs Recreation Area
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • Place, Silver Glen Springs Recreation
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • Place, Wekiwa Springs State Park
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Airport, Leesburg, FL (LEE-Leesburg Intl.)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Queen Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Number of living rooms
Garden

About this property

Updated with modern comfort, Old Florida Charm

Historic charm + modern comfort in a renovated 100-year-old Florida cracker house!
Located in Altoona near Ocala National Forest and the natural springs, this home features:

✔ Fully updated interior
✔ Stylish kitchen + full bath
✔ Cozy, bright rooms
✔ Private yard + peaceful setting
✔ Minutes to Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs & endless outdoor adventures
✔ Less than to Orlando theme parks

Perfect for couples, small families, or anyone who loves old Florida vibes with new-home comfort.
The space
Step back in time without giving up modern comfort. This beautifully restored 100-year-old Florida cracker home offers a one-of-a-kind stay filled with charm, history, and cozy simplicity. With authentic low ceilings, original character, and thoughtful upgrades, this intimate retreat blends rustic heritage with today’s comforts.

Inside, you’ll find a one-bedroom, one-bath layout designed for relaxation. The bedroom provides a peaceful place to unwind with a queen bed and Roku TV, while the living room features a queen sleeper sofa and Roku TV, perfect for additional guests or families traveling together. The home is bright, inviting, and filled with touches that honor its past while offering everything you need for a modern getaway.

Our property is just minutes from the Ocala National Forest, offering endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Whether you’re here to hunt, ride, or paddle, this is your ideal base camp.

Why You’ll Love It:

Hunters Welcome – Enjoy easy access to prime hunting areas.
Plenty of Parking – Spacious turnaround for large boats, RVs, and horse trailers (parking only, no hookups).
Horse-Friendly – Trails are right across the street, so saddle up and explore.
Kayaker’s Paradise – Close to natural springs and Lake Dorr for serene paddling.

Unwind after a day of adventure in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature. Cook inside or out. Relax Fireside, rocking on the front porch, watching your favorite streaming movie, or just read a book.

Book your stay and experience the best of Florida’s outdoors! Whether you’re exploring Florida’s springs, forests, wildlife areas, or the excitement of nearby Orlando theme parks and attractions, this cracker house is a warm and authentic home base—quiet, charming, and truly unique.
Guest access
The entire home and the outside area is available to guest. The storage garage is owner access only.
Other things to note
Our home is a restored 100-year-old Florida cracker cottage, and maintaining its original character is important to us. Because of this, some areas of the house have lower ceiling heights than modern homes.

What to expect:
• Main living area: Standard 8-foot ceilings
• Lower-ceiling areas: Bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room
• Guests 6 feet tall or above may need to mind their head when moving through the far end of the house and these specific rooms.

We welcome guests of all heights and want you to be comfortable—we simply want to ensure you’re aware of the unique layout before arrival.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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About the area

Altoona

Located in Altoona, this holiday home is in a rural area. Eustis Square and Eustis Mini Mall are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area and Fern Prairie Preserve. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
Map
Altoona, FL

What's nearby

  • Eagle Dunes Golf Club - 19 min drive - 28.5 km
  • Juniper Springs Recreation Area - 24 min drive - 38.2 km
  • Silver Glen Springs Recreation - 24 min drive - 39.4 km
  • Renninger's Antique Center - 24 min drive - 33.4 km
  • Wekiwa Springs State Park - 26 min drive - 38.2 km

Getting around

  • DeLand Station - 34 min drive
  • Leesburg, FL (LEE-Leesburg Intl.) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shell - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪The Mason Jar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fish N' Chix - ‬6 min drive

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. 12 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent gateway to the national forest
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was excellent. Great location, clean, and cozy. Terri our host was top notch as well. Highly recommended.
Stayed 16 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great. We will be back again.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

jessica m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Helpful and accurate description. Enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

jessica c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute place to stay. Went riding at Centennial park, 20 min drive. House was clean and owner was friendly, communicated well, and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ebeck341

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was way better than advertised. Very clean and comfortable. The property manager went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable. We have been recommending this place to everyone we meet. And will definitely be booking it for friends and family that want to come visiting in the area. Ed and Sandi Beckley Michigan
Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ross M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This home was a wonderful experience. Absolutely beautiful location close to so many activities. The home was furnished with everything you could want for a stay and the little extras made it even better. Would definitely stay here again and already recommended it to others. Clean and comfortable. Owner was very responsive and accommodating.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Jan 2026
Thank you so much for the kind review, I truly appreciate that. I’m really glad you enjoyed the location, the comfort of the home, and the little extras we try to provide. It means a lot that you’d recommend the place to others and would stay again. You were a great guest and you’re always welcome back. — Terri
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
During an extreme cold snap host kept us informed and offered assist if needed. Nice little cottage!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Feb 2026
Thank you so much for staying with us—especially during a Florida freeze we honestly haven’t seen in years. We welcome you back anytime. Stay warm and safe!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was extremely clean and comfortable. The area was safe and quiet. The owner made sure we were comfortable and informed us of an event going on in the community in case we were interested. Highly recommend this house.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donna N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were visiting family in the area, and this was the perfect place for my husband and me. The house was comfortable and full of little extra comforts. We were close enough to Silver Springs for kayaking and Mount Dora for walking their boardwalk. The house was clean and even had Christmas decorations. The host was quick at communicating and very helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leandro

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
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