Entire home

Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam

Photo gallery for Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam

A rustic wooden building with a stone wall and a small waterfall.
A small, single-story cabin surrounded by trees.
A nighttime view of a garden with trees and a pathway.
A kitchen with a wooden island, two wicker bar stools, a refrigerator, and a door with a circular window.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a refrigerator, a window with a view, and a wooden countertop.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Wildlife at your doorstep
    Guests love spotting wildlife right on the property grounds.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Fort McCoy, FL
  • Place, Rodman Reservoir
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Lake Kerr
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Place, Silver Glen Springs Recreation
    ‪39 min drive‬
  • Airport, Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)
    ‪81 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam

Calling all nature lovers! Hiking, four-wheeling, fishing and more... create your base camp for a long weekend, a week or more. Looking for a few month’s stay? Ask about our multi-month discounts! House offers three bedrooms plus one and a half baths. First bedroom has the half bath and queen bed, second bedroom has queen bed, plus a third bedroom is equipped with twin over twin bunks with walk through to full bath.

Back patio overlooks grassy pond which brings in a variety of wildlife a special treat for birdwatching. A true forest escape, many activities are nearby. Enjoy the local springs, fishing, hunting, hiking or ATVs.

Pet friendly with a $75 non refundable pet fee. Please keep pets on a leash when outside in. Neighbors’ dogs and wildlife roam through the yard.

THINGS TO DO: simply enjoy getting away from life's hustle & bustle and enjoy a fire (in the fire ring please). Smart TV and wifi are available. Wild animals are around, please do not feed or harass.

Rodman Dam is 2 miles away and offers great fishing. Bring your fishing gear as the ponds at Penner Pond are known to have great fishing too! Various four-wheeling trails surround the area (please trailer your ATVs to appropriate parking for trailheads). For hikers, several trails will take you through the Penner Ponds area or other Florida trails nearby. A popular spot is Hopkins Prairie for trails and observing wildlife.

LOCAL INTERESTS: Other nearby activities include the Hog Waller Mud Bog, events at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, Palatka Bass fishing Tournaments and a variety of festivals in nearby Ocala, Gainesville or Palatka. If going to the springs (Salt Springs or Juniper) arrive early as they reach capacity quickly on weekends!

ACCESS INFORMATION: Discover what is beyond forest roads. Penner Pond Drive is a narrow dirt road that leads to a small community and your home for a few days. Once there, a partially fenced yard with a grassy pond and forest space as your boundaries on one side. A quiet neighborhood with farm animals as well as wildlife welcome you. The property offers over an acre of outdoor space. We have charcoal grills for outdoor cooking too!

Owners are licensed Florida real estate agents. We invite you to like and follow our Facebook page for events and weather updates: @NatureLoversCottageONF Feel free to tag yourself, share your photos and rate your stay. Thank you for your interest!!! We hope you enjoy!

*All-Wheel Drive and 4WD suggested if planning to explore the forest roads away from the cottage.

**Monthly option is available. Inquire for details including actual month/ months needed.

***Please take note you may not have WiFi-GPS services as you approach the area. Google Map is best but not accurate for our turn. Directions will be sent to you in advance. Please print them for your trip in case you loose your signal. ***

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
Previous huntcamp, keep eye on small ones please
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside. $150 penalty held from deposit.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors
Turn off bedroom A/Cs and set dining room A/C to 78 prior to leaving.
Wednesday or Thursday check outs, please take garbage can to outside of gate for Friday pickup.
Thank you for staying. Be sure to book future dates with us soon!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Bag all trash before putting it in garbage can. A $30 fine otherwise. Keep our forest clean. Also for bear prevention.
Trailer ATVs to appropriate parking areas. Install Avenza and get the WMA maps for Ocala. They are for licensed vehicles to help stay on legal trail.
Absolutely no rearranging inside furniture. A $50 extra charge will be added if furniture has to be moved after your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2157310vb
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
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Interlachen

Located in Interlachen, this cottage is in a rural area. Welaka National Fish Hatchery Aquarium is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Ocala National Forest and Rodman Reservoir. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and horse riding.
Map
Fort McCoy, FL

What's nearby

  • Rodman Reservoir - 6 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Lake Kerr - 26 min drive - 27.2 km
  • Ravine Gardens State Park - 32 min drive - 37.6 km
  • Silver Glen Springs Recreation - 39 min drive - 49.1 km
  • Silver Springs State Park - 53 min drive - 70.3 km

Getting around

  • Palatka Station - 33 min drive
  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 76 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hog Valley Civic Center - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Hog Wild Country Cafe - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Backwoods Smokehouse - ‬27 min drive
  • Starbucks Kissimmee
  • ‪Hog Valley saloon - ‬20 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam?

As of 30 Aug, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam on 30 Dec, 2026 start from S$518, 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 Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Nature Lover’s Cottage at Penner Pond, Ocala Forest/ Rodman Dam located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is steps from Ocala National Forest and 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Rodman Reservoir. Lake Kerr is 9.5 mi (15.2 km) away.

About the host

Hosted by Tina Arant

Host profile image
We are both licensed Florida real estate agents. More importantly, we love to explore new areas. When COVID locked us down to Florida only, we decided to share our love of our forest property with others.

Why they chose this property

A piece of old Florida that remains in the peaceful area of the Ocala Forest. It is a nice little escape not too far from convinces but allows you to enjoy serene evenings star gazing or exploring many of central Florida’s activities.
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