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River Rat's Rest

Photo gallery for River Rat's Rest

Exterior
Exterior
Property grounds
Aerial view
Living area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 13

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Homosassa, FL
  • Place, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Three Sisters Springs
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Weeki Wachee Springs
    ‪29 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Magnolia Room

+4
3 Single Beds, 1 King Bed and 4 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Hall Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

River Rat's Rest

This is where you can experience wild Florida while enjoying all your favorite comforts. Our completely remodeled home is on a canal just 200 feet away from the Halls River. Located in a friendly residential neighborhood, this immaculate 3 bedroom 2 bath (plus loft upstairs) home is perfect for your year-round getaway. The open concept living, dining and kitchen areas overlook the canal, with ample opportunities to watch otters, manatees, and birds as you drink your coffee.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 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)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Booking this home indicates your consent to be bound by our Rental Agreement. Please read this document *in full.*
This is a waterfront home with no fencing. Various animals including alligators and snakes may be present. Boat and swim at your own risk.
There will be a $250 damage deposit hold placed on your credit card at the time of booking. After checkout, this money will be promptly returned.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2658810vb
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 no carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
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

Homosassa Springs

Homosassa is home to this holiday home. Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park and Crystal River Archaeological State Park are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Crystal River Perserve State Park Eco-Walk.
View more Holiday homes in Homosassa SpringsOpens in a new window
Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 8 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Weeki Wachee Springs - 29 min drive - 42.0 km
  • Rainbow River - 33 min drive - 41.8 km
  • Rainbow Springs State Park - 35 min drive - 45.2 km

Getting around

  • Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪El Mezcal Mexican Restaurant - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Hardee's / Red Burrito - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is River Rat's Rest pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at River Rat's Rest?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at River Rat's Rest?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at River Rat's Rest?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is River Rat's Rest located?

Situated in Homosassa, this holiday home is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and within 3 miles (5 km) of Citrus County Dog Park and Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

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. 37 out of 38 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 38 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Beverly L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What we loved the most was watching all the wildlife in the canal … manatees, several kinds of fish, pelicans and Herons… very fun!
Stayed 93 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
We had a great stay! The house was a perfect fit for our family and a great location for all the manatee fun! Thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bobby B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and nice great atmosphere will be back
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

This house was very nice and comfortable for our group of 12

Definitely would recommend this property
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 8 July 2022
Thank you, Heather for your recommendation. We hope you will come back and stay with us again. Our cleaning crew raved about the care you took to leave the house so clean and tidy. Thank you so much. Enjoy the rest of the summer! David and Jennifer Rogers
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kay C.

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

Beautiful spot!

Great location and lovely rental! Had everything you would need - to cook in, or good places to eat out!! Home was really comfortable!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 16 January 2023
Thank you for the great review, Kay. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will come back. We'd love to host you, anytime. David and Jennifer Rogers
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane J.

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

Great place to relax

We all totally enjoyed our stay. We got to see manatees, bald eagles, hawks, we caught fish! Great place for relaxation!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wendi S.

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

Spring Break 2025

As advertised! We enjoyed everything about our stay. Manatee visited us daily on the floating dock. The house was on a quiet road with 4 houses. The nature that surrounded us was amazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Randolph H.

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

Great floor plan and location

We loved the openness of this property. It let us enjoy visiting and talking while giving privacy to those who needed it. The covered parking was very helpful especially during summer storms. We enjoyed our stay very much!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janet W.

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

Amazing host~!

Host was so accommodating, answered fast and timely, really made our stay! It was a nice place, so thankful it had the amenities, it was close to everything as well! House was very nice and cozy!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robin H.

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

Excellent, short stay!

This home was perfect for our family of 5! Very clean, nicely decorated, and very comfortable. We LOVED using the kayaks and the canoe in the calm waters around their home. You will ot be disappointed staying here!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 July 2022
Robin, Thank you so much for your great review! We are so glad you had a good time and enjoyed our little corner of "Wild Florida." Please come back soon. Enjoy the rest of your summer. David and Jennifer Rogers
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lea W.

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

Amazing

What a place!! So comfortable. Beautiful location. The town is just lovely. We loved every moment there!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 July 2022
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay, Lea. Thank you for your kind words and please come back soon! David and Jennifer
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia P.

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

Homosassa retreat

Beautiful house on the river. Very spacious and clean. Nice dock with a canoe and kayaks. Quiet neighborhood yet close to everything.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

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

Magical Wildlife Location

Saw lots of manatees…and one juvenile hung out by the house dock for a day. Lots of great bird watching as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl S.

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

This lively place had everything!

From age 5 to age 68, we all had fun! Kayaking, manatees, fishing, and a large open homey place offered the perfect grt-together place. Convenient to stores and restaurants, it was a lovely place and area.
Stayed 12 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

April K.

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

At peace with nature

Our stay was wonderful. Perfect space for 9 adults and 2 children. The outside was so peaceful and our two grandchildren looked forward to a kayak ride every evening.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hollie A.

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

Great stay!

Such a beautiful home and property! A great coastal vibe to the home. Clean and well laid out. My family and I come to this area every year and this has been one of our favorite houses. We also loved kayaking the beautiful river on property!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Edward C.

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

great property

we had a magmificent time.The master suite and other bedrooms on the main floor worked great for the adults and the kids loved the loft.The place was very clean an well equiped.What a nice surprise seeing a mother and baby Manatee come right up to the dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

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

Great spot to see manatees

Our family enjoyed our time celebrating Thanksgiving together. We really enjoyed seeing all the cool fish and even manatees come up to the dock. The house was very close to stores and restaurants. Kitchen was big and had everything we needed to cook some great meals. Lots of fun. I really enjoyed the fire pit outside.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 26 December 2022
Thank you, Jason. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay! Please come back and stay with us again.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

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

Nice hideaway

Had a real good time here. Place was really spacious. Everything here to cook great meals and kayaks and canoe were awesome. Only problem we had was couldnt figure how to get the light to come on until you were at bottom of stairs. Thank you for letting us stay. Wud highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jay T.

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

Incredible Place!

Our stay at this river house was absolutely amazing. The beds were comfy, and the air was nice and cold. The home had such a peaceful setting. We made many memories as a family kayaking and canoeing. We loved visiting the state parks and local springs. Grocery shopping and restaurants were all close by. The host was amazing. They were helpful and always available. We are blessed to travel often and experience many different properties, and this property is at the top of our list. We look forward to return!  
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura O.

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

River Trip

Home is wonderful and clean plenty of room for my family and our dogs! Kayaks and canoe for use are an awesome bonus! We saw a family of manatees right off the dock. Very relaxing stay. The check in and out process were very simple. Owner does not leave you a huge list of chores to do before checkout which is a big bonus for me! I would recommend and will be back 😊
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 June 2022
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay, Laura and look forward to welcoming you again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tine N.

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

Perfect hideaway

It is the second time we stayed at this lovely home and it won’t be the last. It really feels more like a home than a rental with fluffy towels and soft comforters. We love being on the water and they provide good quality kayaks and paddles. The house is situated on a quiet canal and within a few minutes on the water you are surrounded by nature and, if you are lucky like we were, dozens of manatees. Our stay was perfect and we will come back next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 January 2024
Tine, We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and we are so happy you will be back. The "chubby mermaids" have been really active in the river this year and we love seeing them too. Thank you so much for the great review, it really means a lot to us. All the Best, The Rogers
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jackie H.

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

Homosassa hidden treasure

Everything about the house was perfect. It was in a very quiet area. It had everything we needed for an extended stay (30 days). We kayaked often and saw manatees every time except one time. The kayaks that were provided were nice too. The master bed was very comfortable and having the bathroom in the bedroom was very convenient. We loved our stay and are considering renting again in the future.
Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 March 2023
Jackie, Thank you for your great review. We are so glad you decided to stay with us for your "winter break." You took such good care of our home and we would love for you to come and stay again. David and Jennifer Rogers
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah P.

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

Great Vacation Spot!

This was a great place to stay, central to a ton of things. We were a large group (12 people) with young kids and had plenty of space in the house. The dock was a hit for fishing and kayaking/canoeing. Restaurants are close by, up to 15 min drive for some of them which provided nice views of the salt marshes. There are springs for swimming just up the road in Crystal River and beach access about 10 min away in the gulf. The kitchen was well stocked, plenty of towels and blankets for when we needed them, and a nice firepit outside for s'mores nights with the kids. Definitely hit up the Ellie Schiller park just a few miles down the road to see manatees and other local wildlife! This was an ideal HQ for our vacation and we would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Billy K.

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

Manatee Spectacular

We had plenty of room for our family. We were celebrating my 16 year olds birthday. We also hosted two of my sisters and their husbands. The kayak and dock access was a great treat. My 16 year old caught 8 bass and several brim right off the dock. The water was so clear you could see turtles, crabs, sheep head, mullet and of course the star of the show manatee right off the dock. The manatee visited every morning and afternoon. With a short kayak trip to the end of the canal you could see many more. We also paddled to the Emu farm just past the canal. We visited the local state parks and rented a pontoon boat for a morning to go up into Hunter Springs and Three sisters spring. There were manatee and dolphins everywhere in the river all the way out to the Gulf of America….lol. Would definitely recommend as house is great for large family getaways and being able to bring our dogs was a plus.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer & David Rogers

Host profile image
We are David and Jennifer, long-time Florida residents who enjoy spending time with our family and friends in the great outdoors. David was born and raised in Florida, and so is a true Florida Cracker.* We raised our family in the central Florida area and now enjoy spending time with our 14 grandchildren both in and out of state. David has worked extensively for the theme park industry and Jennifer had a long career as a public school educator. We hope you love our home state as much as we do!

*Fun fact: The term Cracker is a colloquial term for a Floridian that developed in the late 19th century because of the crack of the whips used by Florida cattle ranchers!

Why they chose this property

We bought this property because we have a deep love for properties with an Old Florida feel. Although we have definitely enjoyed living 10 minutes from Disney for most of our married life, we loved taking our children camping in various parts of the state as they grew up. We hope to introduce more people to all the beauty that Florida has when you step outside of the more manicured attractions.

What makes this property unique

Stilt houses have a long tradition in Cracker architecture and the fact that it was waterfront on a quiet canal instantly appealed to us! We love the friendly neighborhood with all our great neighbors and ease of access to fishing and boating.

Languages:

English
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