Entire home

The perfect family lake house made even better: it's floating!

Photo gallery for The perfect family lake house made even better: it's floating!

Taken by Austin Statesman photographer Ralph Barrera. (lake was full)
The FloatHouse as seen from driveway.
Ski-In, Ski-Out
 FloatHouse style.
Note the rope swing and 3 jump platforms. (Bunny, Blue & Black)
The FloatHouse as seen from the lake.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 141400 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
9907 Trails End Rd, Leander, TX, 78641

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

2 Single Beds and 2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds and 2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds and 2 Single Bunk Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Half Bath Downstairs

Toilet

Upstairs Full Batroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

The perfect family lake house made even better: it's floating!

05/06/25 update: Unfortunately, the long, devastating drought continues. Lake Travis is still over 50 feet low and the FloatHouse is not floating. No one can know the future. We are reluctant, at this time, to take any reservations for the upcoming season.

Go here (https://www.golaketravis.com/waterlevel/) for current lake levels. The house floats at 640".

Owners Notes:

1. Don't be misled by the low number of reviews. It's not our style to ask for a review - we’re old school - but our guest book is over-flowing with over-glowing comments. Maybe they want to keep it a secret. We've had many hundreds of rentals with zero complaints. We've been on VRBO since it's infancy - back when it was truly peer-to-peer.

2.. It's a cabin. No granite countertops, no big screen TV with all the channels.

3. Not really "toddler friendly", but our toddlers absolutely love it!

OF COURSE, everyone's going to say their place is the best. But I'm telling you, this is truly the most unique, the coolest, the best-value rental on Lake Travis. It's so unique the Austin Statesman did a three page story on us. Pics and words just don't do justice.

Part House Boat ~ Part Lakefront Cabin, but so much better than both. It’s kinda like a houseboat but a whole lot cheaper (like about 3-4x's cheaper) and a whole lot better. It’s a two-story, three-bedroom, full-size (smallish) house, with all the amenities, that floats on the water.

On the front, there's a large deck with an oversized picnic table that's in the shade for most of the hot afternoons. The breeze is almost always blowing. 100° in August? - no sweat. Very few, if any mosquitoes. The land across our cove is natural preserve, so it feels isolated. Lots of boat parking along side the house. (several guests have said that next time they’re not going to bring their boat, because they never wanted to leave.) There's a balcony above with two hammocks.

The rope swing is king - undoubtedly the best in Texas - it will take your breath away (it still does mine after thousands of times). We have a canoe and two novice kayaks. There's a water slide, and a float pad. Inside, there's a full size shuffleboard table, a pool table and lots of games. The underwater fish light attracts tons of fish to watch (or catch if you must). It sets off a beautiful green glow. The moon rises can be exquisite.

Top to bottom, it's designed for fun. You will absolutely fall in love with this place - everybody does. Awesome is the most commonly used word in our guest book. "The owners have thought of everything" is another.

A great location. We are one of the closest-in waterfront locations on the less developed “North Side” of the lake. 13 minutes to Walmart, HEB, et al, et al, et al. 45 to downtown, 60 to the airport, yet so secluded.We are the first place inside a no-wake zone on the “Big Sandy” arm. You have quick access to the main body without all the annoying traffic & commotion.

If you know Lake Travis, you know it’s a great lake, but you know it’s a bitch to get to the water. It’s a flood control reservoir, and you have to build above the flood plain. The water is either way down a steep cliff, or way out a shallow slope. Not here. Park your car at the shore's edge, and walk down some steps (15 average - more in a drought - less when full) to the house. Out on the water, and need a beer? It's 10' to the "fridge". Sweet. Tie your boat to the side of the house. When you are ready to get-out-on-the-lake, heck, you’re already there.

The FloatHouse is booked solid in the summer, but actually the fringes are the best. Hot enough for swimming by day, and cold enough for a fire at night is as good as it gets. Plus, no one is out - it’s so deserted. Winter is amazing, too. Especially for holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving.

While its the perfect place for families or extended families, it’s also beyond the perfect place for bachelor/ette type groups. We are somewhat unique in the business to allow these types of groups. Most places ban them. We don’t, because the FloatHouse is just so darned perfect for these types. No driving, and lots of fun things to do. We rarely have regrets.

If you are the “trip organizer” - "book it dano" - you will be the hero. Trust me.

Rick & Ann

Property manager

Ann & Rick DuRapau

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
$150 fee for all male groups such as bach parties
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Pets

Pets allowed
$50 cleaning fee for dogs.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outside is OK.
Basic rate is for 8 adults. If you have more than 8 adults, it is an additional $50 per person per night.
Groups of all males such as bachelor parties are subject to an additional $150 "bachelor party fee".

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 are allowed on site
Note from host: $150 fee for all male groups such as bach parties
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Leander

Located in Leander, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Shoppers can check out Arboretum at Great Hills Mall, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Travis and Lake Austin. Austin Steam Train Association Museum and JumpStreet are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Leander, TX

Getting around

  • Austin Station - 40 min drive
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Quetzal TexMex - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Shack 512 - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Lucky Rabbit - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Beachside Billy's Restaurant & Bar - ‬30 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The perfect family lake house made even better by the fact that it is floating! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The perfect family lake house made even better by the fact that it is floating!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The perfect family lake house made even better by the fact that it is floating!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The perfect family lake house made even better by the fact that it is floating! located?

Located on a lake, this Leander holiday home offers ski-in/ski-out access within 9 mi (15 km) of Veteran's Memorial Park, Austin Steam Train Association Museum and Crystal Falls Golf Course. H-E-B Center and Cedar Park Regional Medical Center are also within 9 miles (15 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. 74 out of 79 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 79 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 79 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 79 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 79 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer N., Spring, TX

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

Amazing!

We had the best time. They have thought of everything you could need in any situation. Location is beautiful and house is perfect. Will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carla H.

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

Fun place to stay

The Floathouse is great! Unfortunately the lake is very low right now so the slide and rope swing are not usable and at the time of our visit there were 60 stair steps from car to house. Our stay was still waterfront and we were able to launch shallow water craft right from the little dock there. May flies were an issue for a few days, but we did not have any mosquito problems. The blower provided helped with the bugs. The house is not fancy, but well equipped with everything we needed. We really appreciate the use of fishing poles, canoe, little trolling motor craft, and games. Our family loved this place and we would definitely like to come again and we highly recommend it to others. I booked this through VRBO, but next time would definitely use Ann’s direct line as shared on the Famous Floathouse website to make sure I had all the up to date info.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave E.

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

Very cool spot

Enjoyed the family time.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Float House

Super smooth process and great amenities on site.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Angel D.

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

Would Go Back

Float House gives you everything you need to have an amazing vacation. Well stocked, organized and planned out - perfect for short or long stays. Loved the 70s vibe, comfortable beds, fishing gear and trolling boat. Lots of extra linens, towels and kitchen utensils. Sitting on the deck soaking in the sun, drinking coffee or beer and watching the turtles was perfect morning, noon and night. My only complaint was we should have been more warned about the lake level. While it is out of their control, they didn't let us know about the steep incline/decline to get to the Float House until days before check in, after refund was no longer available. The steps need major work as well as better lighting and a hand rail. My Aunts in their 50s struggled. Anyone with any mobility issues in the slightest would not be able to get up or down. I will say, they did offer to ferry over any heavy items but the pictures need updated to include the current situation (steps specifically). Still loved the Float House! Thank you for everything.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca B.

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

This is a must stay for fun w/friends and family.

Rick and Ann were delightful hosts, meeting needs we didn't even know we had! They went out of their way to make our time at the lake perfect. We hope to come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aubrey R.

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

Bachelor/ Bachelorette

We had an amazing time out on the lake. It's a bit of a drive, but so worth being right on the lake. The stairs are precarious but the host did everything possible to make lugging our bags up and down easier.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

BA B.

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

Second stay

Anne and Rick are terrific! Float house is fun, even with low lake levels. Relaxing and what was needed to recharge.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

LeAnn W.

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

Birthday weekend for my brother and family

We had an amazing stay even though the water level was down 35’. Plenty of water to swim and float about. We even caught two five lb bass! You only need to bring your clothes and food….everything you can imagine is there for you. Wonderful memories!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Casual good family fun.

Well equipped, Fabulous retro decor. Perfect for our family, loved that we could tie up our boat for lots of good fishing. Great cove to fish paddle board, kayak etc. The only complaint is that the stairs down to the property, when the lake is low, should be mentioned as not being ideal and potentially dangerous. Or, new stairs, at least a handrail, added.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

John M.

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

Great weekend at an awesome house

Our group had an incredible time at the float house. There was never a dull moment and the house had everything we needed for an epic weekend. The owners were very helpful giving us a walkthrough of the house when we arrived and being very easy to get ahold of with questions before our stay. The first day we got there I texted my wife and to tell her we need to go there with some of our friends (this was just a guys trip). The only negative I can possibly find on the house is that there’s not much around, the closest bar is 15 minutes (lucky rabbit, I would highly recommend) and the gas station is about the same if you run out of beer/ice, but if your plan is to stay on the lake, this is perfect. I know we will book another trip in the future to this house, and as you should have no reservations about booking this property!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

ted s.

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

Great experience

We had a great time bonding as a family. It is set up to be outside and enjoy each other. Would recommend for families. The rope swing is unbelievable
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Zoe F.

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

Spring break getaway

I took my kids and all their friends to the floathouse for spring break. Even though it was a little chilly for a lake vacation, the float house was packed with enough fun activities and vintage charm to keep us thoroughly entertained the whole stay. The owners were so attentive and nice. It’s such a cute place- tons of character!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

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

Great stay

The home was exactly what was listed. Home has a 50's diner feel down stairs with pool table and shuffle board. And on the water not "on the water" I'm talking on the freaking water floating house. Loved the place and will definitely be booking this home again.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gus D.

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

Great location with tons of great amenities!

The float house is a sweet spot for any occasion. Has a rope swing, pool table, and plenty of places to sleep. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jana A.

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

Unique getaway!

Ann was such a great hostess and our group of 6 enjoyed our stay immensely! The house has every thing you could need to cook, relax, and keep you occupied for days! If ever in Austin again, I would definitely stay here again! The lake was beautiful and we were able to enjoy hanging on the lily pad and use the rope swing! We spent most our time lounging on the great deck enjoying the sunshine and blue water. Thanks so much for opening your home for others to enjoy!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Richard U.

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

Great stay!

Thank you so much for the great experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ranae A., Portland, OR

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

Floathouse Fun

A hidden gem on the lake. Very private with lots of amenities. Rope swing, paddle boarding, floaties, fishing and more. Very close to shopping and restaurants. A great vacation experience in the sun!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

BA B.

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

Throwback to Past; Fantastic Present

Ann and Rick have a fantastic Floathouse with everything you need to relax, unwind, party, kickback or whatever you want to do. Everyone from 14-60+ had a wonderful time. Despite the rain, no one was at a loss for things to do. Thank you for creating a place for great memories.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jay H.

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

Amazing Spot

This place is amazing!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Billie W.

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

Awesome place !!!

This was our 3rd stay at the float house and it’s always a great time ! There is so much to do and the house has just about everything you could possibly need/want for your stay .The owners are very friendly and helpful . Just a great place to stay for all ages
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S.

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

Our Trip Experience

We had a great time at the float house, the views and the water were great ! Will definitely recommend and hope to return soon !
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Katie J.

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

GREAT!

We had such a wonderful time at the Float House. Ann was very helpful. We can’t wait to return!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Randi L.

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

Loved it!

Such a great place! We had a blast playing pool, fishing, and just hanging out on the water. Definitely will come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

About the host

Hosted by Ann & Rick DuRapau

Host profile image
Ann & Rick DuRapau. Early 70's, married 45+ years, two kids, 6 grand kids (best thing ever). Rick's an inventor type, and new product designer (i.e. he invented the original, black & yellow, plastic folding sawhorse). Inventors tend to see things different than most. The house reflects that. The amazing Ann stays busy, mostly just having fun.

Why they chose this property

We had a place just around the bend in the late 90's. We wanted something closer to the water that didn't face west. Rick went into his realtor friend's office, and pointed to a spot on the big map on the wall. "If I could have any place on the lake it would be right ...here." Realtor said "funny you should mention that, we just got the listing today". Beautiful cove, first property towards the lake, natural area across cove, great breezes, it's perfect.

What makes this property unique

It's a floating house, and that would be enough. But, the rope swing, the pool table, the shuffleboard table, the layout, the overhang for shade, etc, all make it even better.

Languages:

English
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