THE Farmstay for Animal Lovers!

98%

21 reviews

· Keystone Heights, Putnam, Florida

20 acres hosted by Elaine W.

3 lodging sites · 1 RV/tent site · 4 RV sites · 2 tent sites

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Elaine is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

Rooterville is a nonprofit sanctuary, home to approx 100 rescued farm animals of all types, THEY make it an amazing place to visit! When you stay with us, you are welcome to explore the sanctuary and interact with the animals. The only place off limits is our cow pasture. But you can book a cow cuddle if you'd like to go in and interact with the cows, especially the Highland cow. It is a wonderful experience for the cow lovers. Come on out to the country for the experience of a lifetime interacting with sweet farm animals in luxury accommodations or bring your own RV or a tent and "rough" it in your choice of spots on our beautiful 20 acre property surrounded by lots of amazing wild creatures of all sorts and our friendly animal ambassadors. We have butterfly gardens, one with a bee hive, and we're surrounded by natural woodlands in a convenient yet private and peaceful setting. Maybe you'll spot a bald eagle getting a meal from our ponds! There's so much to see and enjoy right here at the sanctuary, we have over 100 rescued animals who can't wait to meet you and maybe bum a snack from you too. You are welcome to bring snacks to feed the animals or buy some from our gift shop. If you get bored, there is plenty to do nearby: Goldhead Park, a paved Bike Trail, Jacksonville, St Augustine, High Springs, Ocala and Gainesville are all within an hour's drive. Melrose is quaint and rural. We don't rush here. Except at feeding time! You'll get to experience that too if you get out early enough. (9AM) We can't wait to meet you! You'll come as a guest and leave as a friend! No smoking in our units, no pets due to our animals and our Anatolian guard dog who will love you but not a pooch they don't know. CAMPERS & RV's, NO ADMITTANCE TO THE SANCTUARY FOR BOOK-IN AFTER 10PM WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION, please be considerate of the owner and others here trying to sleep! You are welcome to come and go as you please after you are here of course. Campers and RV's especially will need to be considerate of other guests on the property when setting up after dark. We have space in the front of the property to boondock for late campers' arrival and we'll get you into the sanctuary and set up in the AM if you get here late.

Activities

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Natural features

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Lodging 3 sites

**Please note, the rate is $149 weeknights and $169 Fri/Sat plus $10pp, per night extra for more than 2 guests. Hipcamp's system is not charging properly due to a glitch, please expect to pay these rates regardless of what HipCamp bills you. I'm sorry for this issue and hope they fix it soon!** Stay at a Farm Animal Sanctuary in a stunningly beautiful, luxuriously appointed, REAL covered wagon! Wake up in the country surrounded by nature and friendly farm animals with a comfy king bed. You won't find anything like it! Please note, we have removed the bunk beds, there is only a king bed in the wagon and lots of room now! Experience a country getaway with beautiful scenery, a pond with a fountain, southern hospitality at its best and friendly, adorable animals. Feed the animals treats, shop in our gift shop, talk turkey with the gobblers, you won't find this much fun in one place anywhere else on the planet! Maybe you'll get lucky and spot our bald eagles dipping into the pond for their meal. Your wagon will have the finest rustic linens, an ultra-comfortable premium mattress and handmade furniture. Your wagon will have a small fridge, microwave, keurig coffee pot and toaster, full bathroom and heat/air. There's no roughing it here! The best part is that ALL proceeds help care for the rescued animals who live at the sanctuary so you not only get a great stay, you do a great thing! There is a bike trail only 2.5 miles away and plenty of lakes to visit, Goldhead State Park is a hop skip and jump away. We are an hour from Jacksonville, High Springs, St Augustine, Ocala and Gainesville if you have business to conduct or want to enjoy attractions in any of those places. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, too. If you love nature and animals, a stay at Rooterville will be a dream come true. No smoking or pets are allowed in our wagons. For the BEST experience, book a cow cuddle and spend time with our friendly, cuddle cows. We have a sweet little fluffy Highland cow who loves visitors! You'll get pictures you'll cherish for a lifetime. WIFI IS NOT GUARANTEED! Storms may take out our range extender. Read about our wagons here: https://plainscraft.net/covere...

Enjoy the peace and quiet of the country in a conveniently located sanctuary for animals. This is an Animal Lover's Experience for 2 in a REAL 1800's style LUXURY covered wagon with a king bed. Perfect for a getaway! A nature lover's dream, we are on a park-like 20-acre property surrounded by natural woodlands making it a private retreat from the busy-ness of everyday life. Your wagon has every amenity! Full bathroom with shower, heat/air and it overlooks a beautiful pond surrounded by nature and lots of happy animals. Enjoy sitting around the campfire, a game of yard darts or watching the birds and animals. Book a cow cuddle for the most fun! Your wagon is more than you're expecting! SUPER COMFORTABLE PREMIUM MATRESS for the best night's sleep! Your wagon has a table with 2 chairs, Keurig coffee pot, toaster, a mini fridge and microwave. Feed the fish turtles, $.25 per handful of feed. If you need ANYTHING, just ask! We're here to make your stay amazing! Come into our main area and visit with friendly animals and enjoy our beautiful butterfly garden with a bee hive. We have hawks, owls and lots of beautiful birds to enjoy. You're going to love it here, we guarantee it. If you don't like animals and nature, this is not the place for you. The wagon is a beautiful, unique place to spend the night! The best part is that ALL proceeds help care for the rescued animals who live at the sanctuary so you not only get a great stay, you do a great thing! There are plenty of restaurants nearby, too. WIFI Is not guaranteed, storms may take out our range extender. Wavelink piggies2023 is login info. If you love nature and animals, a stay at Rooterville will be a dream come true. No smoking or pets are allowed in our wagons. We can't wait to meet ya!

Welcome to paradise! 20 gorgeous, peaceful acres with lots of happy farm animals for you to meet. It will be an experience to treasure for a lifetime for animal lovers! Leave the hustle and bustle of life behind and soak in the peace, tranquility & beauty of Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in your private, furnished 2/2 home. There is plenty to do here or nearby. The butterfly garden with a beehive is a unique treat! You'll be surrounded by friendly animals who can't wait to meet you!

RV sites 1 site

NewInstant book

RV Farm Experience with Pond View

100% (5)

Vehicle site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 45 ft

Stay at a sanctuary for farm animals who can't wait to meet you! Bring your RV for the experience of a lifetime with a beautiful view of our pond with a fountain. If you love animals and country living, this is the place for you! We can arrange RV stays for more than 29 days if you like. Snowbirds welcome! Beautiful scenery, wildlife, rescued farm animals to enjoy watching go about their daily lives. Lots of natural areas and wildlife to enjoy. Bald Eagles, Owls, Bats and more! Cows and pigs will be nearby and the pond has fish and turtles you can feed. Yard games, big open area if you have a drone or something similar to fly, it is a beautiful space! Anything we can do to make your stay amazing, just ask. Peaceful, serene, private. Wifi is not reliable, storms may incapacitate our range extender. Access: Wavelink piggies2023 There is a screened pavilion with lights, a grill and picnic tables available, gift shop, vending with snacks/drinks. You can be as involved with the animals as you like. Your spot is grass and pretty level. Full hookups if needed or boondock for a lower price. We prefer to use a tote for your black water. Gray water is fine on the grass. You must arrive before dark to get into this spot. ***Absolutely no RV's or campers allowed into the sanctuary to set up without permission after 10PM-NO EXCEPTIONS, we don't want to disturb anyone on the property after 10PM*** If there are no other guests, I will work with you but I need to know if you'll be arriving later than 10PM. If you come late, you can boondock outside of our main gate until 8AM the next day, it is private and secluded but no hook ups. You are welcome to use a generator if there are no other guests or you have their permission to do so. Long-term stays are welcome! This is a great place to spend the winter. We are close to Jacksonville, Gainesville, St Augustine, Ocala, Palatka, and High Springs. The bike trail is 2.5 mi away, and Goldhead State Park and Keystone Heights are within 12 miles with all fast food, restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, etc. Gray water can be run in the grass, black water can be dumped with a tote for an additional $30 fee, free for long-term stays.

RV/tent sites 1 site

NewInstant book

Tent Camp or Boondock

100% (1)

RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 45 ft

Enjoy a great weekend getaway! Gaze in awe at the spectacular night skies, the peacefulness of nature and the fun of interacting with all sorts of farm animals! It will be a stay you'll never forget! If you love animals and nature, this is the place to visit. This is our animals' home, no pets are allowed inside the sanctuary except small dogs or cats that stay inside of your unit. We have a 125lb Anatolian Shepherd who will attack a strange animal, we do not want that to happen to your pet. Please keep small pets safe and inside your RV. NO PETS for tent campers. Wood is available for sale for a campfire for $15 or bring your own. Cold, filtered water is available and vending. Gift shop on site too to get fun things for you, your loved ones and your pets! We can't wait to meet you! RULES FOR THESE SITES: RVs: BOONDOCKING ONLY! NO RV HOOKUPS! NO RV's INSIDE THE SANCTUARY AT THIS PRICE. PETS must be inside your unit the majority of the time and on a leash when outside of it. Pick up any waste. Admission to the sanctuary is included. NO PETS inside of the sanctuary. TENT CAMPERS: you may pick a spot inside the sanctuary. NO PETS for tent campers. Restroom trailer is available for use. No showers.

Tent sites 1 site

NewInstant book

Camp with the Critters by a Pond

100% (2)

Tent site · Sleeps 4

Tent campers only, no RVs. NO POWER, NO WATER. RESTROOM PROVIDED. Nature and animal lovers will love staying at our beautiful sanctuary for farm animals surrounded by nature. We have 3 ponds and 3 different types of environments here: Wetlands, sand hills and prairie. Each has their own types of wildlife. Catch a glimpse of the bald eagles dipping into the ponds to catch a meal. Enjoy the sandhill cranes and if you come at the right time of the year, you might even see them with a baby! Armadillos, woodpeckers, deer, and wild turkey are among the many wild animals to be found here. The farm animals will provide hours of entertainment as they go about their daily lives. We have a beautiful restroom trailer with heat/ac and hot water. Whatever you need, just let us know and we'll do our best to make your stay amazing! Rooterville is located convenient to so many points of interest: Jacksonville, Gold Head State Park, High Springs, Gainesville, St Augustine, Ocala and more. Melrose and Keystone Heights are known for their lakes to enjoy water recreation. We are 2 miles from a paved bike path. Relax and enjoy the animals and the peaceful environment or spend your days taking in as many of the activities the surrounding areas have to offer, whatever you prefer. Volunteer to help care for the animals too, if you like. We're going to make sure you have the best time possible. We can't wait to host you!

500 ft

Reviews

98% Recommend27 ratings · 21 reviews

The campsite is a haven for animal lovers, offering a unique experience where guests can interact freely with various farm animals. The covered wagons, described as clean and comfortable, serve as cozy retreats for visitors. Elaine, the host, is frequently praised for her attentiveness and the warm welcome she extends to every guest. While the presence of animals is a major highlight, some guests have noted a strong sulfur smell in the water supply.

Summary AI-generated from real reviews

Terry M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Covered Wagon Glamping for 2, #2

What an amazing stay. The wagon was beautiful and clean. We had everything that we needed and the beds were very comfy. We loved sitting by the fire pit and enjoying the nature around us. I really loved feeding the animals and having them roam around freely around you was a treat ! Elaine was a lovely host and very attentive. I would definitely go back! Thank you Elaine for a wonderful weekend.

Marina S.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Without hesitation, go

Tent · With kids ·

Camp with the Critters by a Pond

What a gem of a place. All the farm animals wandering around, with as much right to be there as any human. A chance to hang out, get to know them, pet them, feed them even, and nourish cross species relationships. :-) my partner and children and I loved this place. I would love to return again.

Roberta K.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Girls weekend

Covered Wagon Glamping for 2, #2

It was AMAZING!! We stayed in the Wagon #2 it was clean had very nice bathrooms, comfortable bed everything you could ask for. Loved feeding the animals and got to help brush the horses. Elaine was an amazing host and workers were more then helpful with questions and telling you about the animals and how some got lucky to make it to Elaine’s farm. Would definitely do it again!

Debora S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2025

Just book it!

Tent ·

Camp with the Critters by a Pond

Beautiful place, awesome host. Would love to come back someday and visit all the animals friends.

Anthony T.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2025

Covered Wagon Glamping for 2 #1

This was an amazing stay! I was so happy with everything! The covered wagon for two was the perfect getaway and was more than I could have ever expected. Will definitely return!!!! Elaine is a gracious host and we were well taken care of.