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Historic Cabin at Ichetucknee RiverHistoric Cabin on Santa Fe River near Ichetucknee ConfluenceAvailable 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. 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 light 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 grills. Enjoy the Real Florida in one of Santa Fe River's original cabins!
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. 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. Return to the Santa Fe River bank to watch sunlight eat up the lingering twirls of mist hovering over the river. 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. Tour the newest Florida State Park at Troy Springs, diving its cavern, snorkeling, or swimming over the sunken century-old boat, visible through the clear, green spring waters. Venture a bit farther to hike over Oleno State Park's swinging bridge, along the upper Santa Fe River to its river sink. Expect to pet deer wandering the woods. Enjoy dining at nearby Suwannee River Cove restaurant, or drive in to High Springs to enjoy gourmet dining at Floyd's Diner. On a crisp evening, linger beside the campfire glowing with the red light of sunset before retiring amid the trees on one of the riverhouse porches. Rentals Available$360/night; $600/two nights; $1500/week: rental of entire Cabin sleeps 8: two very separate upstairs screened bedrooms with double beds, bathroom, kitchen, living room, balcony, jet bath tub on deck, air conditioned TV/library room, includes one air conditioned bedroom; also includes totally separate downstairs screened studio apartment with twin beds, bathroom w/shower, outside bathtub, microwave oven, cooking burner, coffee maker, garden seating.$300/night; $500/two nights; $1200/week: rental of partial Cabin upstairs only, sleeps 6: two separate sleeping porches, plus one air conditioned suite upstairs, each with double beds; one bathroom, kitchen, air conditioned TV/library room, balcony, jet bath tub on deck $180/night; $300/two nights; $900/week: 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 $140/night; $280/two nights; $980/week: 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 $75/night; $120/two nights; $420/week: Studio rental sleeps 2: rustic garden level studio apartment on the river has twin beds, bathroom w/shower, outside hot soaking tub, microwave oven, cooking burner, coffee maker, garden seating. This private room is screened on two sides, cooled with fans. This studio apartment is not available during high waters. Included in your rental are use of three hydrobikes, one kayak, a rowboat, and a canoe. Because of severe drought, Santa Fe and Ichetucknee River waters are at an all time low in this Spring of 2007. With no rain, the rivers are completely spring fed, making them totally clear. Fish and manatees are visible as if looking through air. We saw a pike (pickerel), a bowfin, a sturgeon, and many bass and pan fish this spring. 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:
For a more rustic camping experience,
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