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WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

Photo gallery for WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

A modern kitchen with a central island, bar stools, and a dining area with a patterned chair.
A living room with a dark grey sofa, floral patterned armchair, and a coffee table with a blue tray.
A room with a ceiling fan, a round table with chairs, a sofa with a cushion, and a window with a view of trees.
A modern kitchen with dark cabinets, a wooden countertop, and a built-in dishwasher.
A stone facade with a blue door, two blue chairs, and a potted plant.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
Homosassa, FL
  • Place, Crystal River Preserve State Park
    ‪20 min walk‬
  • Place, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Three Sisters Springs
    ‪7 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Den

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

WATERFRONT • Beautiful Inside and Out! Kayaker’s Paradise • Fishing • Manatees

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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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Of course we love kids!
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Events

No events allowed
Wedding & Family events! Contact us for details.
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking outdoors only. Must pick up butts.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1498514vb
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.
Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • 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.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 173 out of 183 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 183 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 183 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 183 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 183 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The property description is totally accurate. We fished, enjoyed local dining and just relaxed. Would definitely visit again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Joanne the host was wonderful! The house is clean, spacious and quiet. Great location to attractions in the area. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sitting by the water and watching the otters and fish was very relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location

We enjoyed our stay. The home was so clean and in a great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Halls River was amazing. The house was just what we wanted great. Joanne was a lovely host!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect place to relax

Enjoyed our stay and will be back next year.
Stayed 13 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable, clean home with everything we needed. Appreciated the kayak launch.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Florida experience

The cottage is adorable - comfortable and clean. Location is very private but convenient to everything. Would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Canal in back of house
Facing back of house with deck and screened in patio.
Kayaks on canal
Steam rises from the canal in the early morning.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great getaway

Very relaxing place. The nature around you is so wonderful and relaxing
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Kayaking by the neighbors.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place!

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!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome!

Great location, super clean, loved kayaking!! Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Halls River

The area is beautiful
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quiet and convenient

This home is Tucktaway on a quiet spot of the river. We had easy access to kayaking and multiple state parks. We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Old Florida experience

Immaculate and clean home. Great Old Florida feel. Easy booking and pet friendly. Highly recommend a stay here. Close to the best Florida springs.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Northern Escape

We stayed
Stayed 18 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful woodsy setting

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

Host profile image
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

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