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Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit

Riverside holiday home with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit

Aerial view
Dining
Living area
Room
Bathroom

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8197.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
  • Place, Ruskin Family Drive-In
  • Place, Tampa Bay
  • Airport, Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.)

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Guest Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Guest Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Guest Bedroom 3

1 Single Bunk Bed, 1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Guest Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Master Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit

Welcome to The Blue Heron House! A beautiful 4 Bedroom home with private heated pool, fire pit, kayaks, & private dock on the Little Manatee River that leads to Tampa Bay. Relax on the dock or by the pool and enjoy the picture perfect sunset while watching the dolphins and manatees swim by. Enjoy local waterfront restaurants or stay in and cook in the well equipped kitchen. We have both charcoal and propane outdoor grills available to you as well. Bring your boat, or charter a local captain to take you down river and into Tampa bay!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We have baby gear!
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed on pool deck, just use ashtray.
Return lawn furniture and fishing gear/Kayaks to their original place and lock up the shed before you leave.
The pool heater is set to 85 degrees year round. Do not attempt to adjust the valves or a $100 fee will be added for pool service tech.
We do not permit the use of fireworks on our property or dock.

Important information

You need to know

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 a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Ruskin

Located in Ruskin, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Tampa Bay and Vinoy Park, while MacDill Air Force Base and Salvador Dali Museum are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Manatee Viewing Center, or check out an event or a game at Sun City Center Community Tennis. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Ruskin, FL

What's nearby

  • Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park - 3 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Ruskin Family Drive-In - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Tampa Bay - 7 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Gannon University Ruskin Campus - 9 min drive - 8.4 km
  • MacDill Air Force Base - 44 min drive - 53.9 km

Getting around

  • Tampa Union Station - 29 min drive
  • St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Beanie's Sports Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Little Harbor Tiki Beach Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Taqueria Los 7 Hermanos - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit located?

This family-friendly Ruskin holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park and Tampa Bay. Ruskin Family Drive-In and E.G. Simmons Regional Park are also within 3 miles (5 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. 58 out of 61 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 61 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 61 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 61 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 61 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Orlando S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved this home, we all agreed if we met in the tampa srea again we'd stay here again, great layout and location!Owners were nice and went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

lori g.

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

family getaway

Great visit!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

JOAN B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location

Didn’t like the neighborhood

Rooster next door woke us at 4 each morning, location was far from downtown Tampa Listing shows up as being in Tampa,We did think the house was very nice
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hannah D.

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

great place

loved it
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roberta B., Katy, tx

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

Blue Heron House - Perfect Setting !

Very nice house, perfect size and close to all the activities we wanted to pursue. The pool and pool area were fantastic. Sons in law had a blast fishing off the dock.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erica H.

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

Spacious Home

We had a great time staying at this spacious, well stocked property. The location was somewhat central for us to take day trips to several amazing beaches and even Magic Kingdom. The kids loved swimming in the pool and fishing off the dock.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

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

Look no further

This place was exactly as shown in the website and the attention to detail with all the extras was exceptional. Joe was an excellent host. We would highly recommend this place .
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

George M.

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

Family Time

Clean, had everything and anything that is needed in a home, very open interior so we had plenty of room for the 6 of us. We enjoyed being able to play in the pool too.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

patricia t.

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

Pool and kayaking

The house is large and very comfortable. We spent most of our time on the lanai, in the pool or on the canal. Very relaxing holiday in a quiet neighborhood. The house is very well stocked. No need to buy spices condiments or cleaning products
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joy L.

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

Beautiful Views

We were in the area for work and coming back to this house after a long day was extremely relaxing. Beds are super comfy, pool is warm, the dock is amazing! While there we saw dolphins & manatees. We captured some beautiful pictures of the sunsets & the stillness of the water in the evening. We were also able to enjoy some fresh mango from the trees in the front yard. The house was very clean, however, when we arrived the trash cans were full & stinky and the trash didn't get picked up for days. The inside of the grill (burners & such) were rusted out & need replaced. Great house! We really enjoyed our stay and will plan a visit again!
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris L., Hudson, Wisconsin

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

Amazing Place!

This home was perfect for our family of five. Our kids, age 16-22, made full use of the pool, kayak, paddleboard, and paddleboat. We had a bags tournament and the pool deck was perfect for grilling out and playing games. The layout of the house ensured everyone had their own space and allowed for sleeping in or staying up late without bothering someone else. Ruby even provided us with a few items to get us going before we had a chance to get to the store. The home was clean, the neighborhood quiet, and the river was full of action from stingrays to manatees to jumping fish. We didn't even feel the need to drive to a beach. We spent all three days hanging out and enjoying all there is to offer from this home. Ruby was very accommodating and quick to respond to every email. We highly recommend this VRBO if you are planning a trip to Florida!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly K.

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

Phenomenal!

The Blue Heron house was perfect for my family. The attention to detail was not overlooked. The host provided toilet paper, paper towels, towels (bath and beach), shampoo/conditioner, soap, kitchen and dishwasher items to name a few! My children LOVED the toy box. They played for hours. My favorite had to be the door alarm to the pool area. It gave me an extra sense of security with the children. The deck on the canal was very beautiful and peaceful. We all enjoyed the mango tree in the front yard…bonus! The neighborhood is very quiet and friendly. The location could not be beat. We were near grocery stores, and between some of the best beaches. We drove to Indian Rocks beach one day (beautiful water!) and Siesta Key the next (the best sand!). I had an issue with the grill and the electricity going off briefly. The host was very quick to respond and transparent with the issue. Excellent communication and very friendly. I would 100% recommend this house and would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stefanie F.

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

Lives up to the description

Eight of us stayed at the Blue Heron House over spring break. There were 4 adults and 4 kids under 12. 1. The house is spacious, updated, and extremely clean. I found it to be the cleanest VRBO I've ever stayed in. When you first arrive, the place looks small from the street, but it certainly is not. 2. The kitchen is updated and has most everything one would need. We noticed we could use a little more small sized tupperware for leftovers. Other than that, it was perfect. 3. The bedrooms are very comfortable, and each room has a TV with Netflix loaded on it. The kids stayed in the queens, and the adults stayed in the King beds. I found our bedroom to have good soundproofing. 4. Living Room- We brought our own firestick from home for the living room TV... because we were staying during march madness. There was more seating than we all needed, and the couches were very comfy. There was also plenty of games, toys, and art supplies for the kids. They were very happy. 5. The bathrooms were clean and updated too. Great water pressure. The 4 year old struggled to get on the toilets, so a step stool would be our suggestion. 6. The laundry room has a brand new washer and dryer. We did a lot of pool towel drying, and we were able to wash our clothes before heading home. 7. The backyard lives up to everything you see in pictures. I think the pool is bigger than some hotel pools. The heated water was perfect. We highly recommend this place!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brittany W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family of seven had an unforgettable getaway at this stunning home. The property was not only beautifully decorated but also meticulously clean, creating a welcoming atmosphere right from the start. Nestled in a peaceful neighborhood, we enjoyed the serene surroundings, where friendly neighbors added to the charm of the area. The highlight of our days was splashing in the inviting pool and exploring the nearby waters with the kayaks. To our delight, we even spotted a playful dolphin while out on the water! With such an incredible experience, we are already looking forward to our next stay at this lovely home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alexa D.

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

Blue heron home

Very clean, beautiful home
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

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

Water front retreat

House had everything we needed for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

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

Manatee river

Very satisfied
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diana A.

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

Exceeded expectations

Everything was immaculate, perfectly decorated and extremely well stocked. The icing on the cake was the beautiful view from the dock where you can catch both the sunrise AND sunset. Oh, and watching manatees swim by was also a huge plus! Sadly part of our group wasn’t able to make it, but we will definitely be back so they can have a chance to experience it as well.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Kimberly L.

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

Great time had by all

We had a short stay for Spring Break. Bigger beaches were busy and traffic was heavy getting to and from. If we had more time we would have liked to explore the area closer to the property as there was a nice park nearby with a small beach area. Property was clean and worked well for our group of 8.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Troy S.

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

Perfect!

This house is right next to family we have in Tampa, so we will be using this location many times in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael T.

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

Awesome place

The house was great had everything you could possibly need. The pool was wonderful
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

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

Perfect Family Getaway

This was the perfect place for our family to come together. The house was clean and fully stocked with everything we needed. It’s a great location, close by to Apollo Beach with great restaurants and some shopping. The owners were communicative, friendly, and quick to respond anytime we had a question.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clarice F.

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

Go Big Red

Everything was great from the booking, to the checking in, to the checking out. The house had everything we needed. We would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cory G.

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

Awesome place, worth the stay!

The listing shows everything almost exactly how it was when we arrived. The pool is just as big as the listing shows (it's also about 6' deep at the lowest part) and the indoor living area is nice and big. Decorations are really nice and gave me some inspiration for my place even. We visited over Thanksgiving and got lucky enough to see manatees in the inlet in the backyard. So cool! Would definitely recommend. The only real thing to note is that there's no garage or carport, just a driveway. Didn't bother us but figured it should be noted.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Earl B.

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

Yearly Fraternity Brothers Weekend

Every year a few of my fraternity brothers and I get together for a weekend of fellowship. This year we chose Tampa as our destination. I researched several properties and we decided upon Blue Heron based upon the reviews and photos. When we arrived we weren’t disappointed. The property looked much better then the photos depicted. The property is beautiful, rooms are spacious, clean and had everything you could want for a vacation. It sits on the inland with a screened in pool overlooking the water. If you’re looking for a nice place for a family vacation I would highly recommend Blue Heron.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Joe

Host profile image
Hi! Our love of travel and staying in Airbnb’s has inspired us to invest in one of our own. Check out The Blue Heron, our vacation home and first short term rental. We’ve added everything that we love and need while traveling with our family. We hope you will consider us as guests as well as hosts! Cheers!

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with the view! We love to fish off the dock and watch the manatees and dolphins swim by. Our son's very first catch was just last Summer off the dock! The home is large enough for 8 guests and the pool is huge. The property was big enough to add a large fire pit, because who doesn’t like to make s’mores?! The location is perfect! You can get anywhere from Anna Maria Island to Disney within an hour or so!

What makes this property unique

Heated pool, Kayak, paddleboard, fishing gear, all provided at no extra charge! You don't have to leave the property to enjoy these either; we have a private dock!

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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