Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock

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Entire home

Year around exquisite sunsets in this 100' wide lake frontage

175' long dock and beach. Solar shade sail area at end of dock

Pristine Florida Lake and its many views

Solar power boat lift available upon request

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Excellent

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7130.1 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Washer
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Kitchen
Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Melrose, FL

Santa Fe Lake
‪1 min walk‬
University of Florida
‪33 min drive‬
Gainesville Raceway
‪35 min drive‬
Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)
‪28 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Outdoor shower

Kitchen

Dining area

About this property

Charming Lake Front recently upgraded old Florida cottage with a spectacular redesigned dock. Sandy white beach next to cypress and magnolias. Launch your boat or canoe for excursions on 6,000 acres Santa Fe Lake. Or just sit at the end of the dock for breathtaking sunsets.
Near the quaint towns of Melrose and Keystone Heights. Santa Fe Lake is a 6,000 acres fresh water paradise.
Enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, or simply sipping sundowners by the water’s edge. 25 minutes away from Gainesville, Fl. Home to the University of Florida. Historic town of St. Augustine and its beaches are only 45 miles away. Grocery and convenience stores less than a mile away. Enjoy a few of the local restaurants and antique shops or day cruise to many other nearby attractions. One acre property with a gated entrance for additional privacy.

Property manager

Luis

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 27

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Smoking allowed outside areas of the home

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 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 fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Melrose

Located in Melrose, this cottage is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Gold Head Branch State Park, while Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park and Hippodrome State Theatre are cultural highlights. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or Gainesville Raceway. With jet skiing, waterskiing and water tubing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.

Melrose, FL

What's nearby

Santa Fe Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
University of Florida - 33 min drive - 38.3 km
Shands at the University of Florida - 34 min drive - 39.2 km
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - 35 min drive - 39.1 km
Gainesville Raceway - 35 min drive - 42.0 km

Getting around

Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

‪Florida Cracker Kitchen - ‬8 min drive
‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
‪Wendy's - ‬8 min drive
‪Cedar River Seafood - ‬8 min drive
‪Hardee's - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock located?

This Melrose cottage is on the beach, steps from Santa Fe Lake and within 9 mi (15 km) of Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Gold Head Branch State Park. Starke Golf and Country Club and Lake Rowell are also within 20 miles (32 km).

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

7.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

4/10 Poor

Jason C.

5 March 2025

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Fleas and foul water

The property is on a well with a very strong sulfuric/mineral odor. This was not communicated to us until a couple days before checkin. Had we known about this issue, we wouldnt have stayed here. You cant cook with the water. Also the unit is pet friendly, which is fine and we knew about this, but the living area and two of the bedrooms were teaming with fleas.

Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

20 July 2016

Another great summer vacation!

We had a great week here! This was our 2nd time staying here and can't wait to come back next summer. The updated dock was wonderful.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2016

10/10 Excellent

Michael B., Southern Maryland

5 March 2024

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

Wonderful Lake house

My wife and I spent the full month of February 2024 at this lake house. Everything about this experience was great. The owner was ultra responsive, the house (cabin) very comfortable, clean, well equipped with everything we needed. The area is peaceful, quiet, close to Melrose and Keystone Heights - both cute little towns with great restaurants. My wife and I had an excellent time...

Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael F., Sarasota, Florida USA

22 January 2018

Old Florida cabin loaded with charm!

We had a wonderful time at this cabin. Everyone in the party agreed that this was the most charming, unique, and fun cabin they had ever been too. What a view! What a location! We can’t wait to come back. Slept 7 of us comfortably and no one felt crowded. What a gem!

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2018

2/10 Terrible

Kathleen R.

2 April 2021

Liked: Check-in, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Beware! Pictures do not show condition of property.

When we arrived it was so filthy like no one had been there for years. We sanitized and clean before we brought any of our belongings into the place, even though we were charged a cleaning fee. You couldn't see through the windows they were so dirty. All mattresses did not have protective covering and some were soiled with urine or something. One piece of furniture was worn down to the stuffing. We could not sit on any furniture without a covering. The patio furniture had a layer of dust on them. The yard was scattered with debris (wood, old boat, yard waste and even had a roll-off container in the yard. None of this was described in the description. Owner was contacted upon arrival and did not offer any resolution to improve the experience of the stay. Pictures were taken and sent to VBRO, who has taken no responsibility for hosting a property that suitable to live in.

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

26 February 2022

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

Relaxing vaca

Great sunsets, kayaking, boating and fishing. Porch areas diverse and relaxing. Quiet neighborhood, spent much time outside. Lake folk friendly. Tournaments on weekends but weekdays were perfect. House not brand new or ultra fancy but a perfect lake cottage, exceeded our expectations.

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin H., Orange Park, FL

11 August 2021

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

Santa Fe Lake house Vacay 2021

We enjoyed our stay with family at the lake house. True cabin feel and all we needed as we were outside everyday til dark. Good fishing and family fun. Would love to return if possible next year.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lance D.

18 July 2021

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

Nice place

I enjoy the place would love to come back

Stayed 12 nights in Jun 2021

6/10 Okay

Don S.

31 May 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication

Disliked: Cleanliness

Not what we expected

The lake cottage was described as humble and rustic. When we arrived we added another word, unkept! Upon arrival the first things we noticed was that the lawn was freshly mown but you are greeted by a decaying boat and and old toilet in the yard. The interior of the screen porch, where you enter the home was covered in a major layer of dust and dirt, including the furniture and washer, dryer area. The bathrooms including the one off the back porch were clean which seemed to be a plus. Bed spreads contained stains and were wrinkled as if some just tossed them on the beds. Two bedroom closets were piled with bed linens, pillows and comforters. The front porch that overlooks the lake contained a chair that looked like it previously resided in the office of an old car garage and jalousie windows that obscured the view of the lake because they hadn’t been cleaned in forever. There are lots of televisions and cookware in the house, the large toaster oven however still contained grease and food scraps from past users. The water, as mentioned in the description is funky and makes the toilets looks like haven’t been flushed. Outside, folding chairs etc. were just piled on the front porch next to an old Coke machine and covered in dust and dirt. High point was the lake and the dock. We stayed as we could not find another place on the lake on short notice, we cleaned and straightened what we could to make our stay doable. It was sad to see this older home treated with disrespect.

Stayed 11 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Keith A.

22 March 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice and quiet.

We had a great time and the house was fairly nice. The only downfall was the water is on a well and has a sulfur smell and its yellowish.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeff W.

9 December 2020

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

Great place

Very nice relaxing place to stay would stay again

Stayed 16 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

James H., Melrose, FL

4 September 2020

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

Another wonderful vacation

This location is a good as it gets. Proximity to local grocery shopping and restaurants is great. Living the Lake Life! We hope to repeat next summer.

Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

jim M., Walton

13 April 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake stay.

For long term stays a water softener would help out the guest.

Stayed 56 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

W H.

6 January 2020

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

Great place for a week or two vacation on Lake Santa Fe!

Everything you would expect for a cabin on the lake! Very comfortable and plenty of room. Yard is exceptional and well maintained. Dock is superb! The listing is very accurate so no surprises. Feels like you are somewhat remote but only a few minutes from downtown Keystone Heights and grocery stores.

Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Clyde M.

26 October 2019

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

Great place

We were working in Gainesville this place worked out perfect for us.

Stayed 18 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

20 August 2019

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An Amazing Family Friendly Oasis

This property is absolutely amazing. The house is quaint and has a true Old Florida Vibe to it. Its very comfortable and sleeps six with plenty of room. The outside is spacious with loads of room for kids to run around and explore, which leads me to the accessible dock with two sunshades. Perfect for those lazy or busty days on the lake. The pier has several tie ups so you can tie up your boat or Jet Skis. You cannot miss with this property. Great Stay and we WILL be back next year.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Jane S.

7 May 2019

Private and relaxing stay with incredible sunsets

41 day stay on Santa Fe Lake was just what the doctor ordered. Perfect relaxation and the most spectacular sunsets. A very quiet, peaceful location. Luis is a very hands on property manager who responded to every question or concern extremely promptly. Being pet friendly was very important to us and the fenced in yard was a huge plus! Our dog enjoyed her stay very much as we did also.

Stayed 41 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Kirk B.

19 April 2019

Great Weekend Getaway !!

Was nice and quiet ! Perfect lake and was just what we needed... The house is Great and a little dated which is perfect because it really reminded me of staying with family at their house!

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Janelle K.

24 February 2019

Relaxing, equipped and convenient

This is just what we were looking for...a nice lake getaway that was quiet, relaxing, close to restaurants and activities, and fully equipped for out of state travelers. We enjoyed every moment of our stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Daniel A.

28 August 2018

Quaint place right on the lake!

The dock is great. I especially enjoyed rocking on the back porch under the fan. And after some energetic sweeping, we liked sitting in the screen enclosure after dark. The fan and dim lighting was perfect for conversation and a few adult beverages. We will consider future stays here. But we do concur with cleaning comments others have offered.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

debra w.

18 June 2018

Work for us.

It was exactly what we were looking for. It was close to a relatives home so we could visit with them and not over crowd their home. The house was clean but does need some attention on the outside area. We would stay again.

10/10 Excellent

Jamie H.

29 May 2018

Very relaxing!!

Enjoyed our stay at this lake house cottage. Loved the distance to lake and able to see kids from house. We rent a lot of places on sante fe and this by far is our favorite, we prefer the older lake houses and ease of renting versus the newer homes with large deposits and rules. Thanks Mr. Louis and we will be back!!!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2018

8/10 Good

Patsy P.

7 April 2018

Beautiful sunsets !!!

Our second stay. Just kind of cold to use second bathroom on porch. WiFi and dish wonderful !! Thanks, Luis !!!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

James S.

24 March 2018

Favorite lake vacation

This was our second stay at this lovely lake cabin and we are eagerly looking forward to our next visit already. It's a little piece of heaven. The house is perfect for us, comfortable, well equipped, and convenient. Wi-fi and TV are exceptional although not used much because the reason you go here is to relax and unplug. Luis leaves all the lake toys you could possibly need available for your use. The dock is amazing and where we spend almost all of our time when not out on the kayaks exploring the lake. Wine and HD's at sunset on the dock conclude the day. The title of the listing says it all! Also very convenient to Blue Water Bay restaurant in Melrose which we adore. Thanks again for a terrific getaway!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018

2/10 Terrible

Edwin S.

13 March 2018

Sehr abgewohnt, ungepflegt und dreckig

Während unserer 3-wöchigen Reise durch Florida haben wir eine Woche in diesem Cottage gewohnt. Wir würden diese Unterkunft nicht empfehlen. Das Kranwasser schmeckt, riecht und ist wahnsinnig Eisenreich. Überall rote Ablagerungen. Ein Badezimmer ist im Prinzip außerhalb des Hauses, im Bereich des Eingangs. Sehr ungemütlich für nächtliche Toilettengänge. Betten und Couchen sind sehr durchgelegen. Dreckiger und ungepflegten Gesamteindruck. Wir können dieses Cottage nicht empfehlen und würden es auch nie wieder buchen. Für den Preis bekommt man in Florida schönere und saubere FeWos.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2018

About the host

Hosted by Luis

Languages:

English, Spanish

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Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock

Photo gallery for Old Florida Sunsets Delights at Lake House retreat with spectacular beach & dock

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

About this property