Entire home

The House on the River

Photo gallery for The House on the River

View from deck of house down to the river.
Property grounds
Pool
Property grounds
Children’s area

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 122760 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
San Marcos, TX
  • Rio Vista Park
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • San Marcos River
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Texas State University
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

3 Double Beds and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

The House on the River

The river house retreat is the perfect place to get away from it all. The two and a half acre lot is located on the beautiful San Marcos River, nestled under a canopy of pecan and cypress trees. It's your ideal home base for Texas State events, river fun and outlet shopping. We are a short drive from Austin so keep our property in mind for F-1 Circuit of the Americas, SXSW, ACL Fest & more!

AMENITIES
Amenities include a full kitchen (stove, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and cookware), a washer, dryer and three bathrooms. The main attraction of this property is the river and beautiful yard.

The house features one large master bedroom with a king bed and en suite bathroom. Upstairs has one small bedroom with a queen size bed, and one large room with three full size beds and one twin bed that allow for dormitory style sleeping. There is also a bathroom upstairs with a newly installed tub/bath combo. The main living area has a large sectional which seats 4 people, along with 2 other chairs. The second entertaining area which is located off of the kitchen has 2 couches with reclining seats. . Both rooms have smart TV's. and DVD players. The house offers a deck off the back of the house for relaxing as well as a large covered pavilion down closer to the river with a BBQ pit and large smoker. We have several long folding tables to place food, as well as a picnic table for seating. The cement bank allows for easy access to the river via a triangle metal swing or ladder. You will enjoy sunbathing or reading your book on the floating dock.

FOR THOSE WITH CAT ALLERGIES: Though there are no cats living in the house, the property is home to five felines friendly felines, who are known to show up in the backyard for some impromptu petting.


HOUSE RULES:
--> Please read before booking with us!
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT
Check in after 2 pm. Check out 11am. We'll happily accommodate special requests whenever possible.
NO PARTIES OR EVENTS
Non-negotiable. Please don't even bother asking.
QUIET HOURS
Since this is a residential neighborhood, we ask that you please keep noise levels at a minimum throughout your stay, and that you especially observe quiet hours after 10 p.m. and before 8 a.m.
NO UNREGISTERED GUESTS
If more than the number of registered guests arrive, you will be asked to leave. Per VRBO policy, YOUR RESERVATION WILL BE CANCELLED WITHOUT A REFUND.
Booking with us means you agree to All Things. Do us both a favor and book only if you find our rules acceptable.

The short term rental city ordinance requires that no more than 12 people be allowed to stay on the property during the rental. We have limited driveway space so all cars must fit in the driveway and cannot be parked out on the street. WE WILL NOT RENT OUT TO COLLEGE STUDENTS looking to have a party and violate noise ordinances or damage property.

Property manager

Jennifer Richards
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking outside is permitted.

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
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 first aid kit

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

San Marcos

Located on the waterfront, this holiday home is in Rio Vista, a neighbourhood in San Marcos. Quail Creek Golf Club and Three Dudes Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit San Marcos Premium Outlets and Plaza East. San Marcos Discovery Center and Meadows Center for Water and the Environment are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking.
Map
San Marcos, TX

What's nearby

  • Rio Vista Park - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • San Marcos River - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Strahan Coliseum - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Texas State University - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Bobcat Stadium - 3 min drive - 2.0 km

Getting around

  • San Marcos Station - 18 min walk
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ivar's River Pub - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Industry - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪The Coffee Bar - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Fuego Tortilla Grill-San Marcos - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Herbert's Taco Hut - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The House on the River pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The House on the River?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The House on the River?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The House on the River located?

Located in Rio Vista, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Ramon Lucio Park and San Marcos River. Ramon Lucio Memorial Park and San Marcos Discovery Center are also within 10 minutes. San Marcos Station is 18 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.6

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. 52 out of 65 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 65 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 65 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 65 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 65 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C.

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

Great Time, Great Place

Awesome spot, a little antiquated but overall had all we needed! Would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Casey C.

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

Paradise away from home!

What an amazing property! I wish we could have extended our stay! We could not have asked for more, the house was amazing and the grounds and river access were icing on the cake. Our host Jennifer was so helpful and available for any questions.If you want to stay in a home that has a rich history and more character than a cookie cutter hotel, this is the place for you! We hope to return the next time we are in San Marcos!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great weekend retreat

It would be hard to ask for a better gathering spot for friends and family! Great place for a cookout by the river
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dwain A.

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

The location is perfect, the weather cooperated!

Just perfect for family / friends quiet get together. LOTS of space inside and by the San Marcos River.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

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

True Spirit of San Marcos

This property is an example of the spirit and soul of San Marcos. In mid town, close to everything, 2 acres of pecan tress and cypress, deer and of course frontage to the River between Sewell Park and Rio Vista. If you want the real deal in San Marcos this is it!! Property Manager and Owner is just fantastic!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

4/10 Poor

Paul F.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness

River house

Great property with river access. Old house with the need for a deep clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samuel H.

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

Great spot

Perfect spot for anyone looking to spend time on the river. Really helpful host and a great experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mykel-Anne B.

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

Best place in San Marcos, Tx

This place is AMAZING! The location is so close to downtown, but feels like a little piece of paradise on the river! All the feels of home. We will definitely be back on all our visits to San Marcos, Tx! We are so thankful we found it and it was available! Couldn’t have been more happy with it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Neil F.

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

Great River House

This house was perfect for our group of guys. Not fancy but the location and big yard along the river were perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

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

2024 Weekend on the Riviera

Communication with home owner was easy and pleasant. She was pleasant and kind and she wanted to make sure we had everything we needed. We all loved this house. It was comfortable and well stocked with all that's need for a fun reunion of 11 , 1976 high School girlfriends. There was plenty of room for all of us. I can't wait until we return for our 2025 "Weekend on the Riviera "
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sharon K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Our Visit

We had an amazing time!! The house is a little dated, but the yard and river access made up for that!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

6/10 Okay

Amy T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Lovely river house

Our stay was fantastic, proximity to campus is great, the river, the beds are fantastic, tons of towels-we loved its old school river house vibe. We had some folks in our party who were a little concerned about the cleanliness, I can only imagine how hard a deep clean would be but may be appreciated by guests. We loved it, thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Christina V.

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

Great river house

Lots of space in the home, and access to river is ideal! It’s what your looking for
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brooke T.

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

Great Lake stay

This house is great for family and friend reunions. We rented in the winter for a fishing tournament on the river and all said we are going to try and come back in the summer when you could really experience the property more. Great for kids too
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew W.

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

BOYz trip

After spending days of our lives floating past this home, it was a dream come true to stay here. The house and property were beautiful and it was the perfect place to stay for a large group. The host was very accommodating and friendly. I can’t wait to come back here again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debra S.

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

Fabulous stay!

We loved the house and property! Jennifer was an excellent communicator and provided lots of details when I asked questions before our stay. It was great to be right on the river - the house and yard were the perfect place for our family to gather. The house has a lot of character and the property is gorgeous - we would lover to go back - thank you Jennifer!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nichol S., College Station, Tx

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

River Paradise!

My friends and I had a wonderful weekend get-a-way staying at Rio Vista! This house provided plenty of sleeping space for the 12 of us along with the ability to jump right into the River from the backyard. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

tammy w., Livingston

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

Wonderfull get-away

We love this property and house. Location in on the water, great to hang out, grill, and watch people float by. This is the 2nd time I have rented this property and will definitely be booking again next summer. Our group, loved it. Owner is very nice and will walk you through the entire house to show you everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nichol S., College Station, Tx

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

We’ll be back for a third year!!!

We love this place! This was our second summer here and you just can’t beat the location. It’s right on the river, the backyard is beautiful, and so spacious. The house provides lots of room for our group of 10-12 friends that come together for a weekend getaway every summer. It’s our little paradise and we love it!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Magical

This old house had a magical feel to it. It felt like home. It felt like the lake house we once owned. It brought out the child and wonder in us as we played in the river and attempted to swing from the rope swing. It was beautiful and comfortable. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

tammy w., Livingston

Highly recommend

A group of about 12 of us friends/family went for the weekend and had a blast. The house is very convenient, right by the water. We parked our truck up river and floated back to the house, the only downfall was the time to float back to the house was very quick, but we all tied our tubes together and tied off at one of the trees across from the house and watched everyone float by. We will definitely be renting from Jennifer again. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Family Time !

Texas State graduation was cancelled, but Jennifer and her Rio Vista property to the rescue! We had a rope swing jump in cap & gown into the river while the crowd cheered on. Played volleyball and cornhole and fished and relaxed. This property and its location near on the river is amazing. We spent almost the whole time outdoors. The pavilion space is huge and had a smoker and a grill. This turned into a beautiful memorable graduation -- thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne J.

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

Great Location

The River House Retreat is a fabulous house in a great location. It is one of the only houses on the San Marcos Lion's Club loop which allowed for each access and and stopping/starting throughout the day. The only thing that we were not aware of was the size of the bathroom shower. There is no shower (only a toilet and tub) for the loft room with all of the beds. So everyone in that room and the upstairs private room used the one bathroom downstairs which was tiny (as in short). We had several people over 6'5 in our group so that was quite funny. The downstairs bedroom and bathroom are awesome and spacious.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

6/10 Okay

Al R.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great potential right in the river.

Location was wonderful. River access was convenient. Back yard was amazing! We saw little deer every day, along with squirrels, and lots of birds. House was quirky and cool as heck, however….. Very old house, with central AC and window units. It was warm while we were there, so they all had to run the entire time. The master bedroom unit had a strange clicking sound that was very annoying while trying to sleep. The house DESPERATELY needs a deep cleaning. Everything had layers of dust on it. The window units were full of dust. Every window was dirty. Back patio was cluttered, with many places that had standing water for mosquitos. Coy pond was just sad. The house is very old, and I get that. It just needs a lot of work and cleaning to make it the perfect little spot. We met the owner and she was very nice. I hope they take this review with the spirit it was written, not to be mean, but as constructive criticism. We are fairly regular vacation renters, and this was not worth what we paid. All this being said, we would love to stay here again IF we knew it was cleaned and repaired.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeremiah H.

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

Great Location

Enjoyed our stay for a friend reunion. Will probably rent again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer Richards

Host profile image
The River House was purchased by my grandparents in 1965 as a weekend vacation home. They retired from Southwestern Bell in Dallas a few years later and it then became their retirement home. They spent the next 30 years there entertaining family and friends. This property is near and dear to our hearts and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we have.

Why they chose this property

We inherited this property from our grandparents and plan on keeping in in the family for future generations to enjoy.

What makes this property unique

We are one of only eight houses located on the San Marcos River with the largest lot. Our property is located one mile from the beautiful Texas State campus.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests