Come stay in this beautifully decorated, freshly remodeled home featuring a spacious and relaxing open floor plan with all new furniture throughout the house.
Kayaks included! You can enjoy nature, fish and kayak right from the backyard.
Scenic and Relaxing, Halls River Retreat is located in the coveted north end of Homosassa Springs, only minutes from the centers of Crystal River, Homosassa Springs and Old Homosassa.
The Retreat is located on the Halls River, part of the Homosassa River, a pristine spring fed river where manatee come to give birth and relax away from the hustle and bustle of boat traffic on the main part of the river. It is a kayaker’s paradise.
The Halls and Homosassa Rivers offer year round world class fishing opportunities - and are home to an abundance of wildlife in the water, on shore and in the air!
AMENITIES and SPECIAL FEATURES
Kayaks for Guest Use. Single and tandem
Explore the unspoiled shores of the Halls River and the Homosassa River
Incredible Fishing and a Nature Lover’s Paradise
SWIM WITH THE MANATEE - Watch, get up-close, and swim with the Gentle Giants of Homosassa. Did you know that the waters of Citrus County (Homosassa and Crystal River) are the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with the manatee in the wild?
Kayak alongside Emu Island Florida and enjoy the antics of a mob of rare blue-eyed white and blonde emus
Screened room and a large outdoor deck overlook a spring fed canal where you can relax, fish and enjoy nature
BBQ grill in screened porch
Outdoor fire pit (we do not supply firewood)
Wi-Fi to keep you connected during your stay
Large fenced-in back yard
This waterfront home is only minutes from shopping, the world famous Three Sisters Springs, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park and Crystal River. It is only an hour’s drive to some of Florida’s best theme parks, zoo, museums and attractions!
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. All of the nature photos on this page were taken either in the backyard or within a very short paddle from the Retreat.
Amazing, breathtaking, and captivating moments and memories await you at Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Springs Florida.
Prior to and throughout your stay, we are just a text or phone call away.
Your host,
Joanne
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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
Note from host: Wedding & Family events! Contact us for details.
Host has not indicated whether there is a 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 first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Homosassa
Located in Homosassa, this holiday home is on the waterfront. 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 Three Sisters Springs and Crystal River Preserve State Park. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
Crystal River Preserve State Park - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 3 min drive - 3.5 km
Three Sisters Springs - 7 min drive - 9.3 km
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 7 min drive - 9.6 km
Rainbow Springs State Park - 39 min drive - 44.3 km
Getting around
Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.) - 70 min drive
Restaurants
RaceTrac - 3 min drive
Michael Anthony's Pizza - 3 min drive
McDonald's - 3 min drive
Grumpy Gator's - 4 min drive
Sugarmill Family Restaurant - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?
As of 11 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees on 17 Oct 2026 start from AU$1,304, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps from Crystal River Preserve State Park and 2 mi (3.2 km) from Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Citrus County Dog Park and Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The property description is totally accurate. We fished, enjoyed local dining and just relaxed. Would definitely visit again!
If you are looking for a very clean and cozy cottage near Homosassa River this is your place to stay. Near all amenities and restaurants. The cottage is adequately stocked with all your necessities to prepare meals for the group. 100% would rent again.
House is right on the a canal. We used the kayaks that r provided with the house and kayaked for several hours almost everyday. We will be back. Beautiful setting.
We had a great stay at this property. The host, Joanne, was very responsive and helpful. The kayaks were quite good and we spent several days exploring the water ways. The house looked newly renovated and the decor was very tasteful. The kitchen was great and gave us more than we needed. The homosassa and crystal river area had a lot to offer, with springs near by and many good restaurant choices. Would definitely recommend!
We truly enjoyed our stay at this beautiful, relaxing property. This home was perfect for a comfortable retreat after a day of full adventures. Host was absolutely amazing and very responsive. The location is very convenient with access to multiple activities nearby. We would love to stay here again on our next trip to the area.
We had a wonderful stay! The home was exactly as described—clean, comfortable, and in a great location accessible to both Homosassa and Crystal River. It had everything we needed for a relaxing trip.A special thank you to Joanne, who was an exceptional host. She was incredibly kind, friendly, and amazingly responsive throughout our stay. Any question we had was answered quickly, and she genuinely cared about making sure we had a great experience. Her communication and hospitality were truly outstanding.Thank you, Joanne, for helping make our trip enjoyable!
The host made our stay incredibly easy, enjoyable, and so much fun! She communicated with us any time we had a question and gave us some amazing suggestions regarding things to do. The home is so cute and was a perfect safe location for us to have fun and fish! This adventure was one that we will not forget! If you are considering a beautiful location for your stay, pick this one!
From the moment you open the front door and are met by the sunlight steaming through the large windows facing an expansive backyard sloping down to a shimmering canal with an array of colorful kayaks propped on its bank, you know this place is special.
Kitchen and other spaces were great. Kayaks, canal access was super nice too. Nice little neighborhood. Great comm from owner. Pet covers were great idea.
Loved our stay. Close to everything. Nice and clean. Had everything I needed even stuff I forgot like a lunch bag to pack sandwiches. Loved kayaking and fishing from the backyard. They had plenty of kayaks and we brought own fishing gear. Really clean and loved the decor. Beds were comfy too
This is one of our favorite places to stay. Plenty of parking, clean and Joanne is a great hostess! This home is roomy and the AC works great. We will definitely be back!
The hostess, Joanne, was amazingly accommodating. The property was in the midst of quiet and wildlife. Nearby are restaurants, shopping, boat adventures, private beach, and small city life. Good place for a getaway!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
About the host
Hosted by Gary and Joanne Bartell
We'd like to introduce ourselves. We are Gary and Joanne Bartell and we are the property managers for Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Springs Florida. We moved to Homosassa in 1988 to raise our family and quickly got involved with local politics to help shape the future of our community. Gary served as a County Commissioner from 1990 to 2010 and was chairman of the Tourist Development Council for 14 years. Joanne was a founding board member of the Nature Coast Envirothon, a high school environmental education and scholarship program. We both enjoyed spending countless hours over the years educating the youth of the community about the rare and precious natural resources found in this area. Our vision has always been to protect and preserve these amazing natural resources for generations to come. We are delighted with the opportunity to share this home and the beautiful surrounding area with you.
What makes this property unique
The Halls River is a rare piece of Old Florida. Largely undeveloped, the river is a birder's paradise, a fisherman's delight, and a photographer's dream. Blue Crab, Turtles, Bass, Redfish, Snook, Trout, Ladyfish, Mullet, Bream, Sunfish, and various other species of fish can all be seen swimming about in the Halls River. In the sky above you will find Bald Eagles, Green Herons, White Pelicans, Wood Storks, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills and many more species of fabulous waterbirds. Along the river you may find dolphin chasing mullet, experience a manatee nursing a newborn calf, or take delight in watching an ever playful family of river otter. Along the shore you will enjoy the antics of a family of emus and a flock of Welsh Harlequin ducks that free range along the shoreline and swim in the river. Most days the morning sunrises and evening sunsets are aglow with brilliant colors that will take your breath away. For the adventurous, night time kayaking reveals brilliant stars and planets above - and - with a flashlight shone on the water the surface appears as a sheet of glass and you can see fish, turtles, and other creatures underwater as if you are watching them through a window. Amazing, breathtaking, and captivating moments and memories await you at Halls River Retreat in Homosassa Florida.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
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