Riverview Homosassa Escape w/ Dock + Lanai!

Reviews

• Lovely retreat

  5/5

  My family and I really enjoyed our stay. The home was exactly as described and very clean. The beds were very high so I opted to put the mattress from the pull out couch on the floor in the living room for my kids and I to sleep on. This was very comfortable and worked perfectly for us. I would definitely stay here again.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Stay was just okay

  3/5

  Great location on the river. Cottage is cute and decorated in coastal decor. Kitchen, dining and living room is spacious.

  Down side was there were too many bugs. There is stagnant was behind the house. Not sure if there is a canal or if it’s just swampy. Tried to sit on screen porch but too many bugs in there to as one door on the porch didn’t close all the way and there were sandbags in front of it. Went inside to relax. I thought the couch and loveseat were too hard but my son didn’t. On the upside the side bed was comfortable. Beds in bedroom were very very high. We are fairly tall and still thought the were high. But they are pretty and quilts and decor is nice.

  Very clean cottage. Evolve was great to work with. If you have a boat and are going to be out all day I would recommend this place, GREAT location on the Homosassa River. We were fishing from the shore and just got bit up by bugs too much. Even with bug spray on.

  Oh, driveway is sand and can get kind of rutted out after a storm.

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Amy, we’re so glad you enjoyed the wonderful location on the river, coastal decor, and cleanliness of the cottage, but we’re sorry some aspects fell short of expectations. After sending your feedback to the owner, they’d like to share the following:
  - In Florida, it's important to be aware of pests like "no-see-ums," especially around dusk. These tiny bugs can be irritating. Using a high-concentration Deet, Cutter, or Deep Woods Off repellent can be effective in mitigating their presence. Additionally, there are natural remedies available, such as products using lemongrass oil. To further address pests, we have our yard regularly sprayed and apply pest control granules throughout the yard. This helps to keep the nuisance of bugs at bay.
  - Behind the cottage, there's a wetland, tucked away from both the river and the main residence, which is protected and regulated. Florida, wetlands are areas saturated by water, supporting specialized vegetation. Regulation safeguards against wetland loss and pollution. Wetlands serve vital functions for our ecosystem.
  - The door on the right side of the screened lanai is functional. Sandbags in front of the door are from previous hurricane preparations, as noted in the welcome binder. We'll relocate them near the boathouse to ensure they're out of the way.
  - The couch and loveseat are new which may explain the firmness. Thank you for your comment regarding bed height. It's important to note that furniture preference is subjective.
  - The driveway has received repairs, including grading and the addition of rocks to resolve the matter.
  We work hard to provide an outstanding guest experience and we look forward to hosting many satisfied guests.

• Wonderful stay on the River!

  5/5

  Can’t wait go back. It’s a wonderful quiet place to relax and feel a part of the river ecosystem.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Beautiful River Front Home in the Heart of Homosassa State Park

  5/5

  WOW! If you're a nature lover and wildlife enthusiast who loves peace and serenity, THIS is the home for you! The home is large, spacious, bright, and airy with a well appointed kitchen (our home-cooked dinners with fresh caught fish and produce from local markets were delicious!). Tasty restaurants are a short drive away if you prefer. Beds are soft and feel like they have European pillowtop covers. I prefer more firm beds, because I have a back injury, but my sister loved the softness of beds. Entire house is immaculately clean, with a gorgous wrap-around deck/lanai with screens to keep bugs out in the hotter months. Kitchen, Living and dining room all face the beautiful river, along with the lanai, so if you're trapped inside due to heavy rains or whatever, you don't feel trapped. The view is breath-taking, and makes it a pleasure to relax, cook, dine, etc. inside the home with a such a beautiful river view. Honestly prettier than any sea-side restaurant we tried. We ate breakfast outside on the backyard lawn every morning and enjoyed watching herds of manatees swim up and down the river (just 6-10 feet from the banks), ocassional dolphins, tons of birdlife, and large 4-5 foot fish/baby sharks? jumping out. A kayak fistherman told me he caught 2 black tip reef sharks that day (36 inches long), as we kayaked past him. Another GREAT feature of this home is the availabilty of 2 kayaks and 1 canoe. My sister and I used both kayaks, and found that it was just a 12 minute brisk paddle from home to the heart of Homosassa Springs: Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This is where many manatees were congregating to keep warm during the cold winter days we enjoyed there. So we had manatees swimming all around us every day we paddled there. This is the perfect home for a small adult friends/adult family trip (3-4 people max if 2 smaller people don't mind sharing a bed). I say small group, since there's only 1 bathroom, and the queen beds, though comfortable, feel small. Definitely not big enough for me and my husband (we're used to King Size for comfortable sleeping). Not sure about the size and feel of the sofa bed, since we didn't try it. However, if you have small kids, and don't mind sharing a bathroom between so many people, then accomodating 6 people could work. Overall a great stay, and I would absolutely return for another sisters or girlfriends trip!

• Beautiful home-great location

  5/5

  This cottage is tastefully and comfortably furnished, was spotless upon arrival, and has every amenity you need, plus. The location is ideal, with an inviting screened porch overlooking the river, and plenty to do nearby. It is a very easy and leisurely paddle up river to the Springs to see Manatee, and there is ample opportunity to see the Manatee and other wildlife from the comfort of the porch. I wished I could have stayed longer and will return.