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Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds

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Chimera from the dock...
Deck and extension...
Deck extension...
Upriver from the dock...
Juke Box: Hits from the 50s 60s 70s & 80s; 60-game Arcade Game Machine (PacMan)

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14246.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Dunnellon, FL
  • Rainbow Springs State Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Rainbow River
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • K.P. Hole County Park
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Ocala, FL (OCF-Ocala Intl.)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Children's Bedroom

4 Single Bunk Beds

Guest Bedroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Downstairs Guest Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Downstairs Private Master Bedroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs Master Bedroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds

Chimera: Greek: "That which is longed for but impossible to achieve". For so many years it was! The perfect vacation destination - the absolute best pet free place to stay directly on the Rainbow River. Pet Free: Chimera - To bring your pet(s) on your Rainbow River vacation trip, see Pet Friendly Meraki - www.vrbo.com/1482265.

Directly on the Rainbow River - 4.5 miles of crystal clear water, perfect for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. Anhingas, ducks, turtles, owls, eagles, wood storks, and otters are frequent visitors. Bring your rods, live bait, and your Florida fishing license for some of the best bass fishing in Florida! Children with poles, small hooks, and bread can catch bream all day long.

Our guests enjoy river access and exit privileges at our two (2) Rainbow River vacation rental houses. The second property is Pet Friendly Meraki (vrbo.com/1482265), with about an hour and a half tube drift from there back to Chimera. It is a 1.8 mile drive from Chimera to Meraki. At the KP Hole (the county park) it's $30 to use their tube and enter the water. They don't let you use your own.

Bring your tubes - our ins company won't allow us to provide them.

Special sanitizing protocols are employed at both our properties; masks, gloves, antibacterial hand soap and dishwashing soap, and extra sanitizing agent are provided for your use during your stay.

With a living room, large den, and bar, Chimera provides lots of space for spreading out. It's not a typical "essentials only" vacation rental property. A Chimera visit is more like going to your place on the river. Spices, condiments, coffee, sugar, flour, rice, cereal - they're all there. Canoe, kayaks, fins, goggles, high chair, playpen, quality toilet tissue and paper towels, laundry and dishwashing detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets - all supplied. Your drinks will be on the bar waiting for you, whatever the kids like to drink will be in the fridge, and miniature chocolates will be plentiful. We do everything we know to do to make your trip to Chimera exceptional!

Chimera is clean, comfortable, and completely outfitted and supplied for worry-free family vacationing. Sandy has decorated and stocked Chimera to be like your home on the river! The game room: Arcade basketball net, table shuffleboard, Juke Box w/ genre hits from the 60s, 70s, & 80s, and 60-Game Arcade Game Machine w/ Pac Man. Chimera also has horse shoes and a corn hole game! At night, or if it rains, there's still lots to do. A beautiful custom bar facilitates drinks, cards, or board games, or extra seats for dining.

Chimera has four bedrooms w/ high quality comfortable mattresses and pillows. The smaller of two master bedrooms is downstairs so your parents don't have to climb stairs. Chimera sleeps eleven (11) in beds, fourteen (14) including couches.*

Inquire for Multiple-Night Discounts for stays of more than three (3) nights. The Vrbo system doesn't calculate the 4-6 night Mulit-Night Discounts, so we edit the reservation for you after it is made. It does calculate the discount for seven (7) or more days. See a complete Schedule of Rates w/ Multiple Night Discounts at the bottom of this section.

Chimera and Meraki have more than three hundred (300) 5-Star Reviews on the two major listing sites.

Chimera's Address: 18531 SW 108th Pl Dunnellon, FL 34432
Meraki's Address: 9585 SW 190th Ave Rd Dunnellon, FL 34432

Summer Reservations book at least a year in advance. Preferred holiday dates go pretty quickly also, so booking early is necessary. A large percentage of our current reservations are returning guests.

Rental Rates and Fees:
2-3 Nights $394/night
4-6 Nights $379/night (Inquire for this discount...)
7 Nights & More $364/night
Monthly** $7,500 (Oct - Apr Only)
* + Extra Guest Charge of $25/night/number of guests more than ten (10); includes Overnight Guests and Daytime Visitors. Children ages six (6) and under are wecome but not counted. Daytime Visitors must leave by 7:00 pm.
* 4-6 Night Rate will apply to Reservations for eight (8) to fourteen (14) days but include more than two (2) Weekend Days. Weekend Days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
* Meraki has an RV Electric Connection – no sewer. No RV Fee, but all RV guests count as house guests.
* + $200 Cleaning Fee
Taxes: Rent, Cleaning Fee, and Event Fee, if applicable, are subject to 11% Tax (7% State of Florida Sales Tax & 4% Marion County Bed Tax)
**Monthly Rate: Subject to availability; Only for stays beginning 1st of the month Oct– Apr and cannot extend into May. Extra Guest Rate does not apply. Contact Owner
Holiday Rates: We don't increase rates for Holidays, but...
– Holidays have a Minimum Four (4) Night Stay, and...
– Multi-Night Discounts Apply
Holidays are Rental Dates that include any of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any day immediately before or after one of these days.

Event Fee - Contact Owner for acceptability and rate for your event.

There are several very nice golf courses in the area.

Horseback Riding: If you want to have a little diversion from river fun and do something else really enjoyable while in Dunnellon, go online and type in "Orange Blossom Trail Rides". Just thirty (30) minutes away, an eighty (80) acre property plus 53,000 acres in Florida's Goethe State Forest, and Sandi, the owner, is most hospitable and provides a wonderful horseback riding experience.

The outside of Chimera is under 24-hour video surveillance.

Property manager

Hal Rogers
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Small Event Fee Applies: Discuss w/ Owner...
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Small Event Fee Applies: Discuss w/ Owner...
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

Dunnellon

Located in Dunnellon, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Circle Square Cultural Center and Don Garlits Museum of Racing are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at El Diablo Golf & Country Club and Citrus Springs Golf & Country Club. Travelling with kids? Consider Aquatic Wilderness Adventures, or check out an event or a game at HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Dunnellon, FL

What's nearby

  • Rainbow Springs State Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Rainbow River - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • K.P. Hole County Park - 6 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Aquatic Wilderness Adventures - 11 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Juliette Falls Golf - 13 min drive - 11.9 km

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Thirsty Turtle Pub - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Duffy's Pub - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Swampy's - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Inquire for Comp Days w/ Rental Before May 1, '25 / Sleeps 11 in Beds located?

This family-friendly Dunnellon holiday home is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Rainbow Springs State Park and Rainbow River. K.P. Hole County Park is 1.9 mi (3.1 km) away.

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. 180 out of 183 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 183 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 183 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 183 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 183 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Herbert m.

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

It was an amazing vacation!

Everything was perfect!
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ripberger S.

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

Spacious home on The beautiful Rainbow River

Our family group of 9 was very comfortable in this spacious home. We used the wonderful variety of small boats and snorkeled in the river. The otters were a delight. The kitchen was well equipped so we cooked some meals and had dinner in a great Mexican restaurant in town. Hope we can return.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

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

Multi generational gathering

The house, view and amenities all exceeded our expectations! Hal was great with communication and Ellen is wonderful!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley W.

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

Good location

Great property to enjoy the water, the kids loved being able to play in the clear water right off the backyard. Hal was available to us for questions throughout our stay. Would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon B.

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

Rainbow River is gorgeous

We’ve never stayed in this area and look forward to returning one day.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Janice B.

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

Best Place Ever

Chimera was the perfect Vacation spot for our family of 9. Plenty of Beds and baths and the kitchen was stocked with all the things we needed for our early Thanksgiving meal! It even has a game room for the little (and big) kids!! Hal, the owner was the perfect Host, answering any of the questions we had during our weekend! The river was high due to the hurricane but we managed to get kayaks out to enjoy the beautiful clear water…even saw otters swimming around! I think we have found the vacation spot where we can watch our grandkids grow up!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn W., Winterville USA

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

Annual Florida Trip

This house was perfect for group of friends. lovely location. Hal was awesome and kept up great communication
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Judy B., Essex, CT

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

Wonderful experience

Loved the location on the river. Lots of wildlife. Great host. Will definitely be back.
Stayed 16 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dan S.

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

Great Stay!

Hal is the ultimate host and Ellen is amazing! We stayed at Chimera for the weekend with our college children and their friends and had a great time. Every comfort was thought of from the fun kayaks to the chilled wine at check in. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kevin H.

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

Great

Great!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chastity T.

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

Hal and Ellen are the Best!

The owner Hal and Caretaker were very communicative and MORE pleasant to work with. The house was beautiful and the River was Amazing! Our group has stayed in a few VRBO's on Rainbow river and this has been the best one yet!! I would 100% stay here again and recommend anyone else stay here as well!! Thank you Hal and Ellen!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paula B.

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

Great spot!

We had a group of 10 and the house easily accommodated us. The house was fantastic. The host was outstanding. The location is perfect about 2 mikes from winn Dixie. The location on the river is great as well. About a 2 hour float to swampy’s restaurant. We loved everything about the house, the deck. We have stayed in crystal river snd rainbow river s lot of times and this place is our favorite.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

jennifer s.

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

Chimera House

This house found us. We booked last minute and it couldn’t have worked out any better. The location of being right on Rainbow Springs and taking a morning plunge and then an afternoon tubing expedition is what our family needed. The host was more than accommodating and informative. They even welcomed us with some refreshments for us and the kids. They have step by step instructions for what ever activity you would like to do which comes in handy if you’re not familiar with the springs. We will definitely be coming back next year or in the summer if booking permits.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Vicky R.

Beauty & the Peace

My husband & I spent 3 days on Rainbow Springs in this vacation house & had the best 3 days we could ever imagine. We canoed, kayaked, fish, swam, & spent the evenings in the game room competing in shuffleboard & billiards. I even danced, (HaHa) to the Juke Box. I loved the Juke Box & all the oldies. We saw otters, many species of birds & very large fish while sitting on the dock. We caught several Bream & Bass. The house is very nice, clean and provides everything you could possibly need for your stay. We plan to return & bring our family & grandchildren.

10/10 Excellent

Cristy R.

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

Dream Vacation on the River

This place was amazing. Dream house on the river. Free tubing and kayaking. Great views. Lots to do - outside and inside; they had corn hole and horseshoes for outside along with tons of deck space. Inside was a cute game room complete with jute box. Four good size bedrooms. When it states sleeps 11, they mean 11 real beds (no pull out couches here). Plenty of cups, plates and silverware which I appreciate. Bar area to hang out in. Really can't say enough good things. I have stayed at many vacation rental properties but this in one I will definitely go back to. The river was beautiful. Hal was super great - very friendly, responsive and just over all great guy. Little touches to make the trip special. Definitely recommend to everyone.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

ken m.

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

Amazing Wildlife Getaway

We travel a lot and stay in VRBOs quite a bit. This is by far the most amazing host ever. He was so generous. We absolutely loved the place. One of the best stocked homes we stayed in. It had everything. We, our grandchildren, and their parents, all enjoyed the game room, but we are outdoors people and had the best time on the dock. We saw deer, hawks, ducks, and best of all, a family of 5 otters from the dock. Our grandchildren loved fishing from the dock where they caught and released bream. We took the kayaks out and paddled up stream. It is truly an amazingly beautiful peaceful river. Winn-Dixie and other stores are less than a 5 minute drive away. There is nothing left undone here! The House, the river, the wildlife, but mostly the host made this a great time for us and our family.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pingping S.

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

Nice stay. Great hosts.

Everything is nice. The location, the river, the house. The best: Hal and Sandy are the best hosts we have ever had. They do care about the property, and the guests' experience. Thank you so much for a joyful stay. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jason R.

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

great stay!

Everyone thought this property was special with the location, game room, bar, deck, shed of supplies, boats and more. Not to mention the crystal clear cool water and seeing the otters everyday! Great time.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Falon B.

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

Great weekend on the River

Love this location ! Really couldn’t get much better. Had something for everyone . And so nice to have kayaks and canoes right in the back yard. There was enough space for our group of 8. Great neighborhood to start your day with a run. grocery and restaurants are all super close . Would recommend anyone to stay , and we definitely would love to come back! Thanks Hal for all the extras it was so nice of you ! And thanks to Ellen as well for even contacting me that we left something that she would return back.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christina R., Kapolei

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

Wonderful!!

We had such a lovely time! Hal and Ellen were so accommodating! Love, love, love this place. We will return!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

paul h.

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

Excellent stay

We enjoyed this riverfront property very much. The amenities were first rate, only wish they had a larger tv. Gorgeous riverfront views and easy access to the beautiful Rainbow River. Will return if they'll have us!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda S.

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

Wedding

We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the property. Everything was just perfect. Views were amazing. House had everything and more we needed.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robin M.

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

Home on the Rainbow River

If you love the Rainbow River, this comfy well-stocked down-to-earth home right on the river is perfect for families.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Phyllis M., Largo, USA

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

A great float and relaxing getaway!

This vacation spot has everything that you ever wanted and then some! Beautiful riverfront with an incredible deck and backyard. You would never know that you are really still close to shops and restaurants. The house is stocked with all of the items that you need for a great stay! Certainly the getaway that you need!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A O.

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

Great owner

We thoroughly enjoyed our time. The owner went above and beyond to make our stay exceptional.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

About the host

Hosted by Hal Rogers

Host profile image
In 2015 Sandy and I sold our uniquely specialized comprehensive financial, tax, & estate planning practice, Gold Tree Financial, Inc. At Gold Tree we focused on our clients' needs. Instead of just concentrating on the financial products that generated revenue, we assured that our clients avoided probate and prevented unintended heirs, like your surviving spouse's next spouse, and their children from a previous marriage, or your daughter's divorcing husband years after your death. For our clients, we took the legal industry out of the loop at the time of death, preventing between six and eighteen months of unnecessary legal costs at $350 - $700 an hour. When we decided to share Chimera, it was quite natural to carry that "client focus" over to "guest focus". Nothing has ever been more satisfying for us, and our Reviews show how our guests feel! I play competitive billiards; Sandy sings in the church choir and plays in the bell choir. We are both members of the East Arlington Rotary Club in Jacksonville. We have eight children and five grandchildren.

Why they chose this property

Chimera (Ky-mer'-a) - "something that exists only in the imagination and is not possible in reality; something unattainable". Sandy says we should have named the house "Chimera No More". Buying Chimera fulfilled a 20+ year dream of owning a house on the Rainbow River that began at a time when owning a property on the river was not just unattainable, it was unimaginable! Chimera is warm and luxurious, but comfortable and casual for vacationing. The first time we walked into the house it just felt right and we knew it was the house we wanted as our vacation home. We didn't purchase it to rent, but once we experienced it, we couldn't image not sharing it, and what a joy sharing it has been! Chimera will be our legacy to our eight children and (so far) five grandchildren, and we hope it will be yours as well. That's just the history - It takes a stay at Chimera to really understand "why this property".

What makes this property unique

There are several nice places to stay on the Rainbow River, but there is nothing else like Chimera. It has four (4) Kayaks and a large canoe, snorkels & fins, and fishing gear for the kids, but there the similarities disappear. Your favorite beverage will be on the bar and something in the fridge for the kids; a selection of miniature chocolates awaits you. Nothing keeps the kids occupied at night (or when it's raining) like the game room. A 60-game multicade game machine (including PacMan), Wurlitzer Juke Box with genre hits from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, arcade basketball net, table shuffleboard, and Super Nintendo with lots of games, leave the adults playing poker and having drinks at the custom bar, with the kids seen but not heard! A large modern master bedroom upstairs, plus another more traditional master bedroom (downstairs for your parents), provide exceptional accommodations for you, your family members, and/or other guests. You won't need to bring extra kitchen utensils, or laundry detergent, or dish washing soap; they're all provided. Coffee, spices, flour, sugar, and cereal, are all provided as well. Sandy and I remember the places we have rented - two pots, four plates, and six miss-matched forks; not at your new river house! We have furnished and equipped Chimera like we would want it when we arrived on vacation; then we shared that with you.
If there is anything we overlooked, let us know after your visit and the next time you come, if we can add it, we will.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests