Boaters paradise! Chart your own course with this tranquil Melrose getaway that’s sheltered from weather and noise by the cove and offers a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and avid fishers. Utilize the small boat ramp, 2 boat docks, and fish cleaning room for a full day of voyage and catch along the stunning banks at this 3-bedroom, 2-bath vacation rental. Not only will you be about 3 miles from Historic Downtown Melrose but you’ll also be an easy drive to Gainsville when you venture out.
The Space:
Wraparound Deck | Fish Cleaning Room | Ample Parking
Bedroom 1: 2 Twin Beds | Bedroom 2: Queen Bed | Bedroom 3: Twin Bunk Bed | Living Room: Sleeper Sofa
OUTDOOR LIVING: 2 boat docks, boat ramp for small boats
Fairfax, Jacksonville has quite a few grocery stores including Bernie's Wine Stop, Sentry Food Solutions, and Lake Shore Produce Market.
Getting Around:
Car or Uber.
Other Things to Note:
Health & Safety: We prioritize the health, safety, and comfort of our guests. Each stay is followed by a thorough cleaning to maintain a welcoming environment.
Late Check-Outs & Early Arrivals
1-2 hours: $100
2-3 hours: $200
Note: Early arrivals and late check-outs are not guaranteed due to our tight cleaning schedule. Please request approval in advance.
Refund Policy
A 3.9% processing fee on refunds is non-refundable. Refunds will be the amount paid minus this fee, per Stripe's policy. This applies to direct booking and bookings made through select booking channels.
General Guidelines
●Pets: A pet fee of $100 applies per reservation for up to 2 pets. Bringing a pet without prior notification incurs an additional $100 fee, and we may end your stay early. No cats allowed. If your pet causes any damages, additional charges will incur to cover repair or cleaning costs.
●Garage Access: Not permitted due to liability. If applicable, garage doors must stay closed.
●Age Requirement: Primary guest must be 21+, with an adult over 21 present during the stay.
Food & Drink: No food or drink in bedrooms (closed water bottles allowed); extra cleaning fees for stains.
●No Smoking: Smoking of any kind is prohibited; $200 fine for violations. Additional charges will incur to cover repair or cleaning costs.
●Trash: Dispose of all trash in outside bins before departure.
●Damages: Report any damages within 24 hours of occurrence or immediately upon arrival. Failure to report damages could result in liability for repair or replacement costs.
●Dishes: Wash all dishes and run the dishwasher (if applicable) before leaving.
●Windows: Keep windows closed for security.
●Laundry: Avoid overloading machines; do not wash sandy items, and clean the dryer lint trap.
●Storage Closet: Keep this area closed and locked.
●Consumables: Leftover items are at your discretion; freshness is not guaranteed.
●Furniture: Do not rearrange.
●Parties & Events: Unauthorized parties are not allowed; violations will result in additional charges and immediate eviction.
●Only registered guests are permitted to stay at the property. If you would like to add extra guests beyond the number initially registered, please request approval before finalizing your booking. Any additional guests that exceed the maximum allowed at the property will incur an additional charge of $100 per person. This requires approval from us prior to booking.
●Illegal Activities: Will result in immediate eviction.
●Quiet Hours: 10pm to 7am. Please be respectful of neighbors.
Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your stay!
Interaction with Guests:
We are available when needed.
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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
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, a security system and a first aid kit
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
Melrose
Melrose is home to this holiday home. Ironwood Golf Course and Starke Golf and Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Waldo Motorsports and Thomas Center are also worth visiting.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - 24 min drive - 31.4 km
University of Florida - 30 min drive - 37.7 km
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 33 min drive - 39.1 km
Sante Fe College - 43 min drive - 50.3 km
Getting around
Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 20 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 18 min drive
Stone’s Irish Pub - 18 min drive
Florida Cracker Oyster Bar & Grill - 18 min drive
Subway - 7 min drive
Hardee's - 18 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private?
As of 28 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private on 11 Feb, 2027 start from S$377, 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.
What time is check-in at *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is *Lakefront Retreat*- Lake/Private located?
Situated in Melrose, this holiday home is 0.2 mi (0.2 km) from Santa Fe Lake and within 12 miles (20 km) of Santa Fe River and Waldo Motorsports. Ironwood Golf Course and Clear Lake are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This place was awesome! We booked it for our girls' weekend to see Morgan Wallen in Gainsville. The owners reached out to see if we needed anything, sent friendly reminders of checkout time and protocol. The place was very clean and pictures online were exact of the property. We felt welcomed with extra towels, blankets, cleaning products, toiletries, paper products and even left a little basket with snacks. The property was peaceful and quiet with morning wildlife to enjoy our morning coffee. We will definitely book again!
Had a great stay. This is a great little place for us to stay. It had plenty of parking for our trucks and trailers. The place was clean and comfortable. We will be going back again soon.
We really liked the house. It met all our needs; especially the full kitchen; which was nice to have. The couch in the TV room was comfortable and easily fit our family for evening entertainment.
Property is tucked in this little street. Very quiet and peaceful. Beautiful view of the sunset and sunrise. Check in and out very easy. Kids had fun fishing on the docks. Would recommend for any family.
Relaxing week of fishing. Plenty of room to stretch out both inside and outside. Beautiful view of the water, sunrise and sunset. Would definitely stay again.
Great location on the lake! Lots of outdoor space for yard games and the pup. Nice canal with a large boat dock and a small dock that was perfect for some quiet fishing time. The house was very clean and well kept. Sleeping arrangements were perfect for 2 adults and 6 teenage boys. Not a lot of cookware or serving dishes, but boys don’t care anyway. We all enjoyed our stay.
The scenery is beautiful! The house was clean and inviting! We all had the most relaxing weekend . We went to the micanopy festival and the location of the house was perfect distance! Definitely recommend this for a nice relaxing getaway!!!
My family and I had a great experience at this house. The home is very clean, and spacious with great amenities. The outside living amenities are just as great. The yard is entirely fenced in, which really brings peace of mind when you have your children with you. The two fishing docks also provided hours of fun, and a great variety of fish! We look forward to coming back!
I loved staying at this property. The neighborhood is rural and quiet. The house is cozy and clean. All amenities were just as described. Communicating with the property manager was easy and prompt. I will be traveling back to the area for future business trips and can only hope this property will be available for subsequent stays! Also, the view from the deck is gorgeous over the water! Waking up, sipping a coffee and watching the sun rise over the water was breath taking! Thank you for sharing your property. I had a wonderful time.
Maddy L.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Pam H.
26 Oct, 2024
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
Beware the Blind Mosquitoes
The property is lovely. However, being on the lake, you could be subjected to blind mosquito swarms. This happened on our second day there. The swarm made it inside. We kept the lights off, etc. They literally carpeted the walls. I reached out to the managers and got no response on the first day. By the second day, they were so thick it was like walking on a carpet of dead bug carcasses. They were falling off the ceiling into my tea. It was kinda gross. We spent hours trying to clean them up. We notified the managers, left a day early. I even sent pictures. Unfortunately, they disregarded the seriousness of this and charged us for the full stay. The mosquitoes are seasonal - plan accordingly.
Pam H.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified
6/10 Okay
Michael R.
24 Nov, 2024
Liked: Check-in, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, location
Not great, but served its purpose
We stayed here to attend a UF football game. It’s very close to the university so that was perfect.
We arrived at about 10:30pm so it was very dark out. House is down a small dark street and took us a few minutes to realize it was behind a chain link tall fence. Once we unlocked the padlock on the fence and pull the car in. We went u to the house and were a little worried someone may still be staying there. There was an empty egg carton on top of the fridge, a pizza box with one slice of pizza in the fridge and a gallon of milk with about 1/2 cup of milk left in it.
Bedrooms appeared clean and were made so we got comfortable to get some sleep for an early morning k g rise. Beds are not the greatest, a little uncomfortable but we were only going to be there for two nights and less than 14 hours in the house.
Upon checking out, my wife noticed a blood stain on the mattress cover (under the bed sheet so didn’t see it prior). Had she seen that any other day, we would have been leaving to find a hotel or something.
It served its purpose for our short stay but not something I would get for a vacation.