Historic Cabin on Santa Fe River near Ichetucknee Confluence
Available for rent by the night or week is our charming, historic cabin which sits on stilts overlooking the Santa Fe River. The Cabin has access to an owners-only beach on the Ichetucknee River, only a five minute walk away. The Cabin is located ideally for a float or paddle downstream from the headsprings of the Ichetucknee River, through the entire Florida State Park, careening through the US 27 Bridge tunnel, floating past the houses on the private section of the Ichetucknee River to our private park.
Our rustic Cabin was the first to be built on the Santa Fe River at the confluence of the Ichetucknee River. It was built in the flood plain. It began as a one room cabin in the 1960s. The first owner built the entire cabin from found materials, with the kitchen/bedroom upstairs, but the bathroom downstairs, sometimes flooded. Next he added a small bedroom and a half bath upstairs, above the floods.
In 1995 Virginia Seacrist bought the rustic cabin, adding our first porch and balcony which face the Santa Fe River. This room is screened on three sides with opening windows on the fourth side; the Santa Fe bedroom sits in the middle of the property, attached to the old house through the balcony. This room can be rented separately or with other parts of the house.
The next addition included a front face lift, changing the cabin’s peaked roof to match the shed roof of the Santa Fe Room. The addition is made of recycled cypress wood and provides the new kitchen and the Arbor bedroom, adjoining the existing bathroom. This room can be rented separately or with other parts of the house.
A new side deck offers open exposure to the rising sun and moon and a private shuttered outside jet bathtub room. Shutters can be easily opened to the starlit night sky as two people soak in the jet tub, or the shutters can be closed for privacy. A new outside shower has been added.
Large oak trees surround the entire house, with woods across the road and across the river. The stilt house perches mid canopy, where Cardinals and Wrens twitter and hummingbirds lite at the feeder.
A four hour paddle downstream from the US 47 Bridge over the Santa Fe River takes you to our Cabin. Leaving our cabin, you can paddle downstream to the US 129 Bridge over the Santa Fe River in four hours. The Santa Fe flows into the Suwannee River about five paddling hours from our Cabin, or one hour with small motor boat.
Our large riverfront shaded yard has tables, chairs, and a small grill is available.
Enjoy the Real Florida in one of Santa Fe River's original cabins!
Summer rainstorms on metal roofs deafen conversation, as you may be awed at the amount of water falling from the skies.
There's no better place to be than near the 68-72 degree springs in summer. No matter how cross or hot you feel, all troubles vanish when bathing in the springs only steps away from the cabin. Listen to others mummer, "Paradise," as you let the heat drain from your body.
Guest report seeing manatee pods with babies every month of the year. It is unlawful to harass them, but sometimes babies caress your legs while you stand in shallow Ichetucknee waters. Pods have been seen sleeping on our river bank.
Wake up on a Santa Fe River screened porch. Open your eyes amid the tree tops when the rosy glow of sunrise coincides with the chirps of red cardinals. Listen to the morning rooster crow, the turkeys gobble, the mullet splash.
Winter is best for seeing wildlife on the rivers and in the woods. Saunter the five minute walk, with your towel draped over your shoulders and coffee cup in hand, to sit silently on the limerocks watching an otter glide down the Ichetucknee River at our own private Ichetucknee beach. Take a refreshing dip yourself.
As the weather cools, you enjoy watching sunlight eat up the lingering twirls of mist hovering over the river from our own Santa Fe River bank . Read, converse, watch the hawks circle, and the woodpeckers hammer. Use the well- equiped rustic kitchen to serve your riverside breakfast.
Hop on a Hydro-Bike to peddle up river, then drift down. Or share a canoe or paddle a kayak up the Ichetucknee River, right around the corner.
Opt for shuttle service to the head springs of Ichetucknee State Park to hike beside the river, swim and snorkel in the headsprings, or drift downstream in a tube or boat.
Activities and Attractions Nearby:
Ichetucknee State Park: tubing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, head springs and Blue Hole cave
Troy Springs State Park: translucent green spring empties into Suwannee River; sunken boat at confluence; swimming, snorkeling, cave
Oleno State Park: suspension bridge provides circle hike along Santa Fe River to sink; river disappears to reappear miles later; swimming, hiking
Fishing: fishermen catch bass, pan fish on the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers
Suwannee River Water Management Lands: directly across from Historic River House lie over 2 shore miles of management lands for hiking
High Springs: antique shops, farmers' market Tues/Thurs, music
Restaurants:
Goose Nest: Country cookin' only 7 miles away at reasonable prices for three meals a day
Great Outdoors Cafe: Fashionable indoor and outdoor dining at less than big city prices; 15 miles in High Springs
Floyds Diner: Nice moderately priced menu in classic diner style; 15 miles in High Springs with indoor/outdoor seating; music groups outside
Trombone Charlies: meals often include musicians; 15 miles in High Springs
Grocery stores:
Convenience Stores: Ft. White, include wine/beer store, ice, gas, fishing bait and supplies; 9 miles
Schrafts Grocery Store: supplies Branford families; county is dry; 15 miles
Winn Dixie: supplies High Springs families; on US 441 in High Springs; 15 miles
Rates
Preferable are long-term stays; ask for rates and dates available.
Maximum people renting entire cabin: 10
Maximum upstairs only: 8
Maximum downstairs only: 4
Prices for rental vary from $110/couple for a one night stay on one of the upstairs, unair-conditioned porches to more or less for longer stays or for using more rooms.
The air-conditioned room is $140/night, sleeps two on a pull out sofa. The adjoining bunk room can also be air conditioned; this combination is perfect for a couple with two children, or two couples.
Prices vary if you bring your own linens or are a family unit.
Please phone to discuss dates, number in and type of group. We will work out the price together.
I require a separate check for cleaning/damage, which is fully refundable if you clean up and nothing is broken or lost. However, I charge $25/hour for cleaning if you choose not to clean up yourself.
Rentals Available
You can rent one room or as many rooms as you need. No strangers will share the same level, and most likely no strangers will occupy the house at the same time. Allowing you to rent as much space as you need saves you money. You do not need to rent the entire house.
Rental of entire Cabin sleeps 10: two very separate upstairs screened bedrooms with double beds, bathroom, kitchen, living room, balcony, outside privacy screened jet bath tub and shower on deck, air conditioned TV/library room, includes one air conditioned bedroom; also includes totally separate downstairs screened studio apartment with optional hammocks, optional blow up queen sized bed, one single bed, bathroom w/shower, outside bathtub, microwave oven, cooking burner, coffee maker, deck.
Rental of partial Cabin upstairs only, sleeps 8: two separate sleeping porches, plus one air conditioned suite upstairs, each with double beds; small room now has bunk beds, one bathroom, kitchen, air conditioned TV/library room, balcony, jet bath tub/shower on deck
Rental of any upstairs room can include the small room with two bunk beds for 4 beds.
Rental of partial upstairs Cabin sleeps 4: two completely separate screened bedrooms with double beds, delightful ambient air, one bathroom, kitchen, air conditioned TV/library room, balcony, hot jet bath tub on deck
Rental of air conditioned suite sleeps 2: sofa bed, dining table and chairs, TV/CD player, Franklin stove, bathroom, kitchen, air conditioned TV/library room, balcony overlooks river, hot jet bath tub on deck
Studio rental sleeps 2-4: rustic garden level studio apartment on the river has one twin bed, two hammocks, one blow up queen sized bed, bathroom w/shower, outside hot soaking tub, microwave oven, cooking burner, coffee maker, deck. This private room is the entire underside of the stilt house. It offers cross ventilation and is often cooler than upstairs screened rooms: heat rises. It is cooled with fans and river air currents. This studio apartment is not available during high waters, as it often goes under water.
Included in your rental are use of three hydrobikes, one kayak, a rowboat, and a canoe.
Spring of 2010 high waters did not leave wet, barren lawns; instead grasses and native flowers are popping up.
Hydrobikes provide the perfect vehicle for seeing clearly into the water, as you are perched, like a Heron, above the water, not parallel to it, like a snake, as in a kayak or canoe.
Directions:
- Take I-75 past Gainesville's four exits to the first exit to High Springs/Alachua.
- Turn onto US 441 towards High Springs, passing Santa Fe High School.
- Just outside of High Springs, notice the brown Ichetucknee State Park sign on the right.
- Turn left across opposite bound 441 lanes to US 27.
- Pass through High Springs. Drive about 15 miles on US 27.
- Pass through Ft. White. Drive about 11 miles on US 27 before turning.
- Pass the South Entrance to Ichetucknee State Park towards Branford.
- Turn left before crossing Ichetucknee River into Three Rivers Estates on Riverside Drive.
- At end, bend left with Riverside Drive then right at tree on Santa Fe Drive.
- Snake, then sharp right with Santa Fe Drive--Hydro Bike sign at mailbox.