Entire home

UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!

Photo gallery for UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!

A wooden deck with two rocking chairs and a small table, overlooking a forested area.
A spacious kitchen with granite countertops, wooden cabinets, and a central island.
A bedroom with a four-poster bed, a vanity with a mirror, and a wooden chair.
A spacious lobby with a patterned carpet, leather sofas, and a central coffee table.
A spacious room with a patterned carpet, wooden beams, a stone fireplace, and a television.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Air-conditioning
  • Internet
  • Washing machine
  • Non-smoking
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View map
Starke, FL
  • Place, Crystal Lake
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Florida
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • Place, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
    ‪46 min drive‬
  • Airport, Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

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

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

About this property

UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!

What about staying in a historical house - the once Governor’s family home with full of antiques and stories-including hidden uncovered gold coins-while enjoying a five star hotel bed & bath amenities with sound sleep? What about sitting at the beach watching sunrise or having a drink on the porch toasting the full moon? What about taking a morning walk in the garden like yard and being greeted by the red canaries?What about staying quiet counting the cranes wandering on the back yard and watching the squirrels chasing among the trees? A lot of details telling the combined taste of life and art, west and east, southern style and oriental touch. Truly one of a kind experience not to be missed!
Only 40 minutes from University of Florida and Jacksonville and situated by the most desirable spring feed Crystal Lake. Open to events and weddings.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Keystone Heights Vacation Rental | 4BR | 3BA | Step-Free Entry | 2,200 Sq Ft
Home on Lake Hutchinson w/ Dock!
Keystone Heights
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (6 reviews)
Home on Lake Hutchinson w/ Dock!

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 5115202vb
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Long-term renters welcome
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

About the area

Starke

Located in Starke, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Eugene l. Matthews historical museum and Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Wainwright Park and Waldo Motorsports. Looking to get your feet wet? Kayaking, power boating and fishing adventures can be found near the property.
View more Holiday homes in StarkeOpens in a new window
Map
Starke, FL

What's nearby

  • Crystal Lake - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Gainesville Raceway - 37 min drive - 46.4 km
  • University of Florida - 43 min drive - 53.6 km
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 46 min drive - 55.3 km
  • Oaks Mall - 55 min drive - 72.2 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Stone’s Irish Pub - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Hardee's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! located?

This Starke holiday home is on the beach, 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Crystal Lake, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Lake Geneva and Santa Fe Lake. Starke Golf and Country Club and Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park are also within 12 miles (20 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. 4 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
My daughter didn’t want to leave!! Everyone was blown away with property. Booked for UF graduation and was about a 40 minute drive (20 miles) but so worth it!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We wanted to thank you for letting our family stay at your beautiful lake house. We had an amazing time and truly enjoyed our stay.The house was perfect for our large family. There was plenty of seating for everyone, lots of open space to gather together, and more than enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably. We especially loved the screened-in back porch, the lake area, the ample storage space, and how well the home accommodated big family hangouts. The beds were very comfortable, everything was clean and well-maintained, and overall the house felt welcoming and relaxing.We had a wonderful week, Our whole Family would love to do it again. Thank you Sammy for letting us enjoy your house
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Such a unique stay, with a great location. The beach and lake is private, so we left our kayaks and gear on the beach the entire stay without worry. The house was super open and airy, with plenty of space for our large group. We cooked breakfast and dinner every night and the kitchen could accommodate a large group. We spent our days travelling to lakes and beaches nearby, and both the gulf side and Atlantic side were about 1.5 hours away, so there was plenty to keep the family busy. There is large storage areas for boats and boat trailers and a huge parking area not pictured on the listing that are a must have if fishing in the area. Beds were super comfortable, each bedroom super unique, really cannot say enough good things. And the toilets... they are the super fancy foreign toilets and now I want one so bad! If I had a large group I absolutely would not hesitate to return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 June 2026
Thank you very much for the review! Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed message that is better than a paid commercial! Truly appreciate it and hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026

About the host

Hosted by Shan Liu

Host profile image
A runaway soul and body healing from the busy past

Why they chose this property

Beautiful, safe and peaceful

What makes this property unique

A unique historical family house with full characters

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback