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The Wekiva River Experience

93%
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· Heathrow, Lake, Florida
10 acres hosted by Angelina M.
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Due to hurricane damage the property will need some construction before we are able to rent it out again! Thank you for your understanding and interest :): PLEASE READ ENTIRE THING BEFORE TEXTING ME ANY QUESTIONS Our Primitive Campsite is located on 10 private acres on the beautiful Wekiva River in Rock Springs Preserve. The landscape is heavily wooded off the grid with a path to the Wekiva river as well as a small natural swimming hole that is fed by the river & spring. The swimming hole also doubles as a small boat launch with a canal through the woods that leads to the Wekiva river. In another direction there is a Wildlife Observatory Deck/Treehouse on short path from the cabin towards the entrance of the property. Being close to Wekiva Falls and in Rocks Springs Preserve, There are miles of hiking and biking trails nearby. Further into the Preserve there is a stables where you can horseback ride through Historic Indian mounds and graveyards. You can also canoe or kayak to and from Wekiva state park and Wekiva island. This luscious isolated campground is a great place to enjoy all kinds of wildlife, fishing and is the perfect family or friends getaway that's only 30 minutes away from Orlando. This is a PRIMITIVE campsite meaning although this may look like a house with a fridge, microwave, electrical sockets etc. in pictures there is NO ELECTRIC or bedding. We do have running water now inside the cabin as well as an outdoor shower however I would bring your own drinking water. There are currently no pillows or blankets on site so campers need to bring their own bedding and sleeping mats. There is a outdoor standing stove with a functioning starter you just need to provide the propane tank & a charcoal grill. There are also pots and pans but as for cutlery there is some but I would bring your own just to be safe. There are a couple of places that you can stop at along the way to pick up propane, firewood etc. including a Publix and ace hardware, gas station etc.  if you are coming off of i4. There is also a sign on the same road as the entrance by Wekiva falls with a phone number that you can purchase wood from. Considering the circumstances it would be extremely difficult to try to get to the cabin when the sun is down unless you've been before or are experienced in the woods so I would not recommend it but it is up to you. The trees are thick in the woods especially at the cabin and you should account for it to appear darker faster than usual especially in the winter. There is a well located behind the cabin, a hose, and a spring that is constantly pumping up fresh water through a pipe located by the swimming hole. There IS a working toilet inside the cabin it just needs water to be flushed! There IS a full sized canoe and kayak on site with paddles available for your use as well you just need to provide your own life jackets. Keep in mind the cabin is not on any marked roads so there is no address, the last road you will take before entering the woods is Wekiva River Road until you get to the gate to the forest. After I accept your request you should receive an automatic email/text with directions and updated codes to the gate and lockbox for the cabin within a couple of days prior to your arrival. There is a padlock with a number combination on the gate before you enter the woods. The code that you receive WILL be the correct code however the lock can be a little sticky sometimes. I have not had a lot of people have trouble with it but I personally have before so just keep trying or maybe have someone else give it a try if you have trouble. Keep in mind once on the dirt road this location is NOT the Hammock house, the hammock house is on your left as you continue straight once inside. Campers please be aware of the terrain as the roads can be sandy or muddy and risk getting stuck if you go too slow or stop in a soft spot (especially around the Hammock House) and I will be unable to help as I am a college student away at University most of the time. I have never had someone call me and say they have gotten stuck but my father and I got stuck once in the sand by the hammock house after stopping to look at an animal. I have had people message me asking if they should rent a truck but your own vehicle should be fine as long as you follow the instructions and remain aware of the dirt roads current conditions. As far as privacy goes there is one other private property located next to ours that has a do not enter sign you will see (to the left of our entrance) but as I mentioned previously the cabin is completely secluded and we have yet to see or hear anything from that direction or been onto the neighboring property. If you have any special requests for me to have something set up for your arrival, whatever it may be message me and maybe we can make something happen!  Thank you for your Interest!!!
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Wetlands
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93%
49 ratings · 39 reviews
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Jacob K.doesn't recommend
September 15, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
Smells like feces, flooded land
The place was not as represented in pictures. The entire place was flooded, and water in all surrounding rivers is black. Seems like the person managing the property never visits, cleans or repairs the property. Owner does not respond quickly, waited until the day after we arrived (12+ hours after arrival) to respond for instructions. Water for shower and sink smell terrible like sulfur, near breaking pipes. Septic tank seems backed up, bathroom smells of feces.
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Lavinia H.recommends
September 1, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
This is truly a one of a kind swamp experience, very authentic and the property is beautiful, incredible Forrest and access to the wekiva river, the cabin has the essentials for anyone who knows how to make the most out of a more primitive experience.
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Trenton P.recommends
June 21, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
We loved this place! Can't stress enough that this is CAMPING! I wouldn't even consider it glamping! It just saves you from bringing a tent. But as long as you know what you're getting into you're going to have a great time. Very cool atmosphere, the canoes are a ton of fun, and the nearby state park is a great way to spend the day.
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Joe R.recommends
June 5, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
Great Hideaway
Excellent spot for a true camping experience, lots of space and great access to the water. Tucked a couple miles back in the forest, you definitely feel secluded.
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Jamie T.
May 30, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
Not Flawless But Beautiful!
Okay, so overall I would say there is nothing wrong with this listing, however, I am going to list here the good and bad of our stay. Pros: -Beautiful property and it is a beutiful drive there. Our cars had no major problems getting there. - The river is wonderful and beaming with wildlife. It was a very beauty paddle. -The cabin did have running water (well water) and a flushing toilet as advertised. There is an outdoor shower that would be nice for just rinsing off in after swimming. -The woods were very quiet and peaceful. -There were two canoes and one kayak that we used to paddle out with (one canoe had a dented front though) Cons: -The springfed swimming hole advertised in this listing is not really swimable. The water was green, there was a dead fish floating under the dock when we got to the site, and a majority of it was very shallow and muddy with sticks along the botton. It was however an excellent boat launch. -There are no cots in the cabin just giant tables that serve as sleeping spaces so they were a bit uncomfortable without a camping mat or an air matress. -It was not an easy paddle to a good swimming area. The paddle down to Wekiva Island and Wekiva Springs or Rock Springs Run is very far and takes a good few hours. -The cabin was filled with large flying roaches at night that came very close to crawling on us in bed (we ended up sleeping in our car because of this). Overall our group had a fun stay despite the many misadventures we had.
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Chris B.recommends
May 10, 2022
The Wekiva River Experience
Fantastic location!
We had a great time! What a cool location. We would love to stay there again! Right on the water, very secluded.
Location
Heathrow, Lake, Florida, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Seminole, Miccosukee, and Mascogo First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Angelina M.Joined in June 2020
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