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SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!

Photo gallery for SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!

Sportsman Harbor Neighborhood- We are located Channel Marker #45
Terrace/patio
Living area
Dining
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top rated for families.
  • Gather by the fire
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

View map
Welaka, FL
  • Place, Welaka Town Hall
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Silver Glen Springs Recreation
    ‪53 min drive‬
  • Place, De Leon Springs State Park
    ‪58 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Awesome Owners Suite

1 King Bed

Family Room

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Single Bed

Second Bedroom

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Third Bedroom

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Guest Bath with Walk In Shower

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

Owners Bathroom with Soaking tub for 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

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

About this property

SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!

RELAX on the St.Johns River. Bass Capital or take a boat ride to Salt Springs, Silver Glen or Turkey Island. Fishing, Shrimping, Kayaking, or swimming. 4 bdrm 2 bath w/1670 sq ft. Amenities: grill, fire pit, porch swing, boat Dock, deck w/2 picnic tables. KAYAK’S offered: single glider & two person. Full kitchen & cooking, Bathrooms w/ walk in shower & second has 96 gallon Spa Soaking tub for 2. We also have a pergola with 3-4person swing overlooking the river with a firepit to roast smores.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Additional pet fee is $75 per pet per stay.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
If had pets staying make sure potty is picked up and disposed of properly as discussed before check in.
If any wood was burned during your stay in the fire pit please make sure all the coals are cooled and all fire is out before leaving.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
PET RULES: Always walk on a leash, Pick up their potty, PETS left unattended in the home must be in a kennel when you leave

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2480622vb
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 are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances 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

About the area

Welaka

Located in Welaka, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Ocala National Forest and Dunns Creek State Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Welaka National Fish Hatchery Aquarium and Willard Hazen Ball Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Lake Broward Park and Larimer Arts Center. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and hiking.
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Map
Welaka, FL

What's nearby

  • Welaka Town Hall - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Dunns Creek State Park - 15 min drive - 11.7 km
  • Palatka Municipal Golf Course - 35 min drive - 36.7 km
  • Silver Glen Springs Recreation - 53 min drive - 49.5 km
  • De Leon Springs State Park - 58 min drive - 75.9 km

Getting around

  • Palatka Station - 29 min drive
  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 83 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Mema's Family Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Long’s Log Cabin Bar & Package Store - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Shrimps R Us - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is SNOWBIRDS(Long term visitors) or Quick getaway this is the home for you! located?

This family-friendly Welaka holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Welaka Spring, Welaka National Fish Hatchery Aquarium and Welaka Town Hall. 40 Acre Park and Ocala National Forest are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 21 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ross H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property is great! Great boat dock, nice fire pit and outdoor porch. Nice clean house as well! Owner is super nice to work with!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great host. House was as described. Very clean and met our needs.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 10 February 2026
Thank you for your kind words we do work very hard to make sure the house appears as in the pictures and families have a wonderful visit. So it is great to hear that we are able to be successful in that area. Thank you again Dori & John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tommy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The kitchen was fully equipped which was great for cooking all the fish and blue crab we caught. The place was very clean. The master bed was great as well I slept like a baby. The people in the area were very nice. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 16 December 2025
Thank you for your kind words. Comfortable beds and a clean property is something we always strive for as well as good fishing but that’s up to nature lol. You guys were wonderful guest and we hope you’ll come back again here after here. Thanks again Dori and John.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

jennifer q.

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

Very clean; nice stay.

Very clean property. I enjoyed my stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 6 March 2024
Thank you Jennifer we hope you will come back again real soon. Don't forget Shrimping Season this year is Mid August to mid October. It our favorite time of year to be there. Dori & John
Verified

8/10 Good

Barbara T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Kitchen well equipped. Beautiful sunsets. Owner very nice and helpful. Master bath set up needs more privacy. Had a nice stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

carli c.

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

Bachelorette trip

We had an absolutely amazing stay! The property was beautiful and the host were very helpful. We had an amazing girls trip!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 29 June 2023
Thank you Carli we hope this becomes an annual trip. We love the confetti and hope that your wedding is absolutely amazing. Please send us some pictures. We would love to see them. Take care and congratulations again Dori and John.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

NANCY W.

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

Nice place

We enjoyed it very much. Local restaurants were great!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

VELITA F.

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

Perfect 4th of July Getaway

We stayed for 6 nights. Everything was exactly as pictured on the listing. Property owners were very friendly and kind. We had everything we needed right there and even participated in the golf cart parade!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 August 2025
My apologies it took me so long to reply. But this family was wonderful guests, we hope to have them again next year. I would certainly recommend to any other hosts.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steven W.

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

Perfect

Lovely property. All we needed was a place to sleep and we got much more. Would recommend it!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 28 January 2024
Thank you for your kindness Steven we hope you guys come back again real soon it was a pleasure hosting you Dori
Verified

10/10 Excellent

wiliam k.

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

The Kennedys

Nice community..very quiet and clean . Thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 April 2025
We enjoyed having them as guests in our home. They left the property in very good condition and were able to adhere to all the request upon checkout. We would most definitely recommend them to host in the future and hope they will come back and stay with us again real soon Sincerely Dori and John.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

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

WI getaway

Very nice property in quiet neighborhood.Enjoyed the area by the water.BBQ grill worked great.Overall great week.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne S.

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

Beautiful Sunsets

We stayed a week down at The River Retreat. We ate every meal out on the picnic table overlooking the water. The house was nicely decorated and clean. We enjoyed our stay and would love to go back one day.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 July 2022
We enjoyed having the family stay with us and hope they will come back again real soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David B.

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

Awesome sunsets

We enjoyed the warmth and sunshine😀 The dock was nice for watching river traffic, birdlife and manatees. Side deck perfect for morning coffee. Loved the firepit for roasting hot dogs and making S’mores.
Stayed 30 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 March 2023
Thank you David we absolutely love wildlife there and are so happy you and Sandy were also able to enjoy it during your visit with us. Thank you for the opportunity to host your family vacation Sincerely Dori and John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Edward P.

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

Great Place to rest and relax

Had a great time. Views and dock were amazing. Everything was Awesome! The Internet ran slow tho. But other than that the place was awesome
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ross H.

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

Welaka/St. Johns/Rodman Fishing Tournament

House is great location for fishing everywhere. Not far from Rodman Reservoir, not far from Lake George, etc. Rooms are nice, great dock and owners are very responsive and helpful. We will be back for sure!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas R.

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

Nice

Nice
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 April 2023
It looks like you enjoyed your visit. Thank you for the review
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jessie B.

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

Fourth of July Holiday

Stayed here for the 4th of July, very easy check in, plenty of space for us (4 adults, 1 teen). Outdoor amenities were what led us to this property (nice dock, outdoor seating, fire pit). Included many kitchen necessities which was great. One thing to note that we did not expect was there is no door for the main room en suite bathroom (only curtain/drapes) and only has a soaking tub. There is a standing shower in the other bathroom. Communication with the manager was easy and she was prompt to respond. Overall a great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W.

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

Perfect!

My family and I (husband, teen daughter, small senior pet - my baby, Aunt & Uncle), enjoyed a staycation! We live just about 10 minutes away and wanted a comfortable, clean place to enjoy the river and boating for my husband’s 50th. The hosts and the rental were simply perfect. The cleanliness was excellent and that’s very rare. Waking up and taking the boat out or just sitting on it or the dock or swing or listening to the water roll and hearing nature and the fire pit…all Fantastic! Manatee visit was priceless, sunrise & sunset views! Even the cooking supplies were amazing. Coffee station so beautiful. Location is perfect! Home is perfect! Host are perfect! Great memories were made. We hope to visit again. Michelle Winkler
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather G.

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

Great place to visit

Very clean, had everything we needed for our stay….
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jamie G.

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

Bridal party

Myself and all my bridesmaids stayed here prior to the wedding and it was perfect! The place was beautiful! Such a cute house with a beautiful view in the backyard. Dori, the owner, was so sweet and made sure we had all the information we needed to have a great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 May 2022
We hope you will come back visit for years to come and congratulations on your wedding
Verified

10/10 Excellent

SHERRY R.

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

Vacation

We were very happy on how neat and clean things were. They had extra things to enjoy like a campfire set up with smores to make. The boat dock was amazing and had a beautiful view. The inside and outside of the house was very clean and organized. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 13 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May 2022
Thank you Sherry apologies it took so long for my reply I am still learning to be a good host on this website. Pease forgive me the long time it took me but we are so happy you guys enjoyed your visit and hope you return many times over.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A.

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

Thanksgiving Week Reboot

Staying at the River Retreat was exactly what our family needed to unwind and reboot for the upcoming mid-term/Christmas rush. Sitting on the dock, catching bass, crabs and a large gar, were a highlight of the week. The addition of the kayaks so that we could be on the water was also a huge plus. It's a quant cottage with an incredible view. Excellent communication with the hosts. ONE CAUTION: The huge amount of hidden VRBO fees will double the cost of the cottage per night.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 29 May 2022
Hi Jennifer I am so glad we have kept in touch and hope you will stay with agin for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. I have spoken to VRBO regarding the fee concerns and removed the required insurance it should save going forward but if still a concern give me a call. I love all the pictures of your great visit and will post on here as soon as I figure out how…lol not very tech savvy but trying Dori
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Corey L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026

About the host

Hosted by Dori Dekle

Host profile image
I have been in real estate since July 1999 and a broker since Valentine’s Day 2005. I love people and helping them find their dream homes. So opening our home up for vacation rentals was a natural transition for us.

Why they chose this property

It is truly my little slice of heaven that i like to share with people that need to get away and relax for a bit. We have had family comes for a couple nights and others stay for a month or two. We enjoy getting to know our guests if that is their desire but also offer a lot of privacy if that is your preference.

What makes this property unique

The River is literally right out the door of the bedroom, living room. We have parking for Trailors if you want to bring a boat or two. Have many visitors for the Bass Tournaments each year. We love to host the repeat visitors as well.There are Kyaks, Large stainless steel grill provided for your use. Sleeps up to 9-10 people comfortably. Many guest have booked us while getting married at Ever After Farm. We have been able to help guest celebrate Anniversaries and Birthdays. Just let us know your special event and how we can help. We Also Allow Pets to visit. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.

Languages:

English

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