The Ma Rainey Glam King Studio in LaVilla Pool

Summary:

History whispers and elegance awaits at the Raven! Book this lovingly restored early 20th century masterpiece for a night or a year! Dip in our on site 9 month (open March through November) HEATED pool and relax in the adjacent courtyard with a built in gas-powered grill.



The Space:

Welcome to The Ma Rainey — an elegant and soul-rich king-size studio inspired by the legendary Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues. During her touring years, Ma Rainey performed in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla district, a key stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit that shaped early American blues and jazz. This studio pays tribute to her legacy through refined design and blues-inspired details.



This beautifully styled king studio features a luxurious king-size bed, layered with soft linens and expressive, moody tones that echo Ma Rainey’s bold performance style. The space is anchored by an elegant chandelier, adding a glamorous touch reminiscent of vintage theatre halls where she once performed.



The open-concept layout offers a cozy lounge area with a mounted smart TV — perfect for slow mornings, peaceful evenings, or unwinding after exploring Jacksonville.

The thoughtfully designed kitchenette includes a refrigerator, sink, stovetop, microwave, dishwasher, and generous counter space. It is fully stocked with flatware, glasses, mugs, and essential items to support simple cooking and comfortable day-to-day living.

A small closet provides practical storage for your belongings, keeping the space tidy and uncluttered.

A dining table creates the perfect spot for meals or morning coffee, while a separate dedicated desk offers a functional workspace ideal for remote work or extended stays.



For added convenience, the studio includes an in-unit washer and dryer, making it easy to travel light and settle in comfortably.

The bathroom features modern finishes and clean lines that complement the studio’s elegant aesthetic — blending contemporary comfort with timeless inspiration from Ma Rainey’s era.



Every detail in The Ma Rainey has been intentionally curated — from the chandelier to the blues-inspired décor — honoring her musical influence while highlighting the century-old architectural charm of The Raven’s historic building. This boutique king studio offers a stylish, culturally rich stay in the heart of LaVilla.



Guest Access:

Guests have access to their apartments, all interior common areas, and the pool area from sunrise to sunset. We feature internet-connected smart locks at every common door and for the gates in the courtyard / pool area for added security. We have a team member on site during high occupancy periods and have a team-member stop by every night to ensure the property is secure.



The Neighborhood:

This beautiful property is located in the up and coming LaVilla neighborhood within downtown Jacksonville. At the turn of the 20th century this area was a thriving mecca for African American jazz musicians, on par with New Orleans and Harlem. Famous 20th century musicians such as Ray Charles (who lived less than a quarter of a mile southwest of the property on Church St), Ma Rainey, the “mother of the blues,” often performed in LaVilla, as did “Jelly Roll” Morton, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others! The city of Jacksonville is building out a "LaVilla Heritage Trail" with signs all over the area (including on the southwest corner of our off street parking lot) bringing to life the area's storied history.



Nearby neighborhoods include historic Springfield (a few blocks to the north), Brooklyn (a mile to the southwest), historic San Marco (2-3 miles to the south - over the Main St bridge), and historic Riverside/5 Points (less than 2 miles to the southwest). All of these areas teem with local restaurants, boutiques, and bars. The core area of downtown Jacksonville and the stadium district are 1-2 miles to the east and walkable during stadium events to include Jacksonville Jaguars games, the Gator Bowl, the Florida-Georgia football game as well as concerts at Daily's Place.



The Prime Osborn convention center is a mile to the southwest of the property.



Getting Around:

While you can walk around downtown Jacksonville on foot, it is best to have a car or use a ride-sharing app (such as Uber or Lyft) to go from the less densely populated portion of downtown - LaVilla - to the other parts of downtown.



Other Things to Note:

We charge for additional guests above a fixed amount. This amount and additional charge varies by unit type, size, and configuration. If you input the correct guest count when you make your reservation the amount the booking site indicated as the total cost will not change (due to guest count). We ask for confirmation of guest count after you complete your booking. If you need to increase your guest count after booking confirmation due to a booking error, this could result in a price increase. Finally, we verify guest count via external cameras located on our properties. In the event that we notice a guest count at the property that is higher than reported, we reserve the right to ask for additional guest fees that would be double the amount we would have charged prior to check-in.



Please refer to the following guidelines regarding fees for extra guests:



Studio & 1 BR units - $25 per guest/night after 2 guests (i.e. 3 guests would be $25/night extra and 4 guests would be $50/night extra)

2 BR units - $30 per guest/night after 4 guests (i.e. 5 guests would be $30/night extra and 6 guests would be $60/night extra)



Our property is pet-friendly so if you are highly allergic to dogs or cats this home may not be a good fit for you. Our cleaning service is very good but you may notice an occasional dog/cat hair here and there.



We do charge a pet fee of $50/night/pet that you bring with you. This reduces to $250/week per pet and $500/month per pet for longer term guests. This fee is not included in the accommodation fare rate. We will send a request for the additional funds once the number of pets is confirmed after booking.



If you are local to Jax and book for less than 5 days we reserve the right to ask you to cancel your reservation. We rarely make an exception to this policy, but may elect to do so at our sole discretion.



The following additional charges apply to late check outs/early arrivals, assuming I can offer this at all (I often can’t so please never assume this will be allowed):



1 hr or less early arrival or late departure: $25

1-2 hr early arrival/late departure: $50

2-3 hr early arrival/late departure: $75

3+ hr early arrival/late departure: $100 or the cost of an additional night’s stay, whichever is more



***Smoking is strictly forbidden anywhere on the property - both the interior and the exterior spaces***



***If we find cigar/cigarette butts of any kind on the property or evidence of smoking (ash, cigarette butts, empty cigarette packs, etc. left in common areas) we will assess a $500 cleaning fee in addition to the regular cleaning fee***



For guests requiring a pack n play, high chair, or any other non-standard item, please submit your request at least 7 days before check-in to ensure availability. If the request is made less than 7 days prior to check-in, we will make every effort to accommodate it, but cannot guarantee availability.



Interaction with Guests:

We have a team member on site during high occupancy period and our office is a few blocks to the north in Springfield. If you need something during the week (9am - 4pm; Mon-Fri) we can typically have someone assist you in an hour or two. Most weekends we will have someone on site during out standard check-in/check-out periods to assist, if needed.



We do have a team members who stops by the property overnight to ensure that the common areas are secure.