St Johns River Retreat Unit 1

The view was very relaxing!!!

Not very clean, but not filthy either, cleaning lady could do a better job!

The property was huge and beautiful in a perfect spot on the St. John’s river. There were natural areas nearby to hike and a trip around Lake George gets you to Ocala National Forest. We booked this place last minute the week of Christmas when very few places in the area were available - it stood out for its river view and apparent privacy… boy did it deliver on both of those. We were fortunate with nobody in the adjacent property, but even if there had been someone there the privacy would’ve been uncompromised. The property itself is several acres. Except for the property manager, Lacy, we saw or heard no other humans while on the property. On that note, Lacy is perhaps the kindest host I’ve ever encountered. He came by after we arrived to see if we had a boat he could help with, and offered plenty of suggestions and friendly conversation. Our dog absolutely loved running around the property and it was a bonus that this property does not charge extra for pets. We did not have a boat or fishing gear but this property is ideal for those who have that in their plans. At the end of the day, the inside of this place is a bit dated but it does not matter… the star of the show is outside and the views of ONF across the water. If this listing had better pictures and slightly updated interior, it would go for double the price all day long and never be available. Provided you’re not the high maintenance city type, book immediately with confidence! P.S. this property has the better view

We didn’t like that our stay was only 3 days. Everything else was wonderful. Reviews of this property on some sites mention a rotten egg smell in the water… evidently these folks have lived their whole lives with tankless water heaters and do not know that smell can accumulate in a water heating tank which hasn’t been used for several weeks. Rather than skip your showers and knock points off your review, I recommend you leave the hot water running for a bit upon arrival to let the tank clear, then enjoy clean warm showers through the duration of your stay.

Beautiful view! The fire-pit at night overlooking the St.John’s River was amazing. I highly recommend this property!