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Unique Waterfront Small Cottage

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Little Bell Spring
Outside
Outside Porch
Outside Porch
Outside Porch

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroomSleeps 233.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Fanning Springs, FL
  • Fanning Springs State Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Hart Springs Park
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Manatee Springs State Park
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Single Futon

Inside bath

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Outside shower

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchenette
Dining Area

About this property

Unique Waterfront Small Cottage

Please note that the Suwannee river levels can rise according to rainfall amounts as far up-river as Georgia. When this happens; the brown water covers the springs in the area and my spring will not look like the photo provided. These river levels can be monitored at http://www.mysuwanneeriver.org/realtime/river-levels.php

This cute little cottage is the perfect getaway for the couple who loves the Florida outdoors. It is called the Dragonfly Cottage and is located just off the Suwanee River in Fanning Springs Florida. Fronting little Bell spring, one of the counties 63 beautiful springs; it is the ideal spot for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding.
This area is called Florida's nature Coast; with an impressive network of bicycle trails close by, as well as quaint Gulf coast communities like Steinhatchee, Suwanee, and Cedar Key.
Enjoy 1.5 acres of spring front property with majestic live oak trees, a canoe & 2 kayaks as well as a dock, and fire pit. The cottage itself is a tiny 256 sq. ft. under air but includes big amenities like a separate bedroom with a queen size bed, cozy electric fireplace, a full inside bath with corner shower. There is a cute little dining table for two and everything you need to cook with is included. There is a full size refrigerator, microwave, two burner hotplate, electric skillet and griddle, large crock pot, blender and a toaster/oven large enough to bake a cake. Outside, there is a private outdoor shower stall for showering or rinsing off after a long day of outdoor activities, and you can watch the sun go down while enjoying a glass of wine sitting in the Adirondack chairs on the covered porch at the end of the day.

Property manager

Deborah Kirkland
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
The cottage is very small therefore out of respect for other guest who may have allergies to pet dander, no pets are allowed!
The septic tank for the cottage is also very small and more than 250' away. Please be respectful of that by NOT flushing large amounts of toilet paper
If you use countertop appliances, please clean them before returning them to thier storage shelf. Housekeeping assumes they are clean if stowed.

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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Trenton

Located in Trenton, this cottage is on the waterfront. Dakotah Winery and Hart Springs Park are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Fanning Springs State Park and Manatee Springs State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Fanning Springs, FL

What's nearby

  • Fanning Springs State Park - 4 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Chiefland Farmers Flea Market - 12 min drive - 14.4 km
  • Hart Springs Park - 17 min drive - 13.7 km
  • Manatee Springs State Park - 20 min drive - 22.4 km
  • Ginnie Spring - 39 min drive - 44.4 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Hardee's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Beef 'O' Brady's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Chompers Diner - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Suwannee Belle Lan - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Dakotah Winery - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unique Waterfront Small Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Unique Waterfront Small Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unique Waterfront Small Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Unique Waterfront Small Cottage located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 1 mi (1.7 km) from Fanning Springs State Park and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Suwannee River. Dakotah Winery and Hart Springs Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 145 out of 176 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 176 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 176 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 176 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 176 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.0/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Rosalia B.

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

Great little cabin

The cabin is small but has everything you need. From a small fully equipped kitchen to bathroom and kayaks/canoes, the place was great. There was a grill and fire pit. One really big downside was the amount of ticks. You could not do anything outside without one of those jumping on your skin. The water outback was a little dark so not made for swimming but you could go for a little ride on canoe if you wanted.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ralph M.

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

Review

We loved this beautiful place! It's a great stay for nature lovers. The cottage was small, but comfortable. The grounds and river/spring is beautiful. Birds were playing and fish were jumping.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike D.

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

Looking at Houses Weekend with Realtor

We spent very little time at the cottage as we were looking for a home to buy during our stay. The cottage was very clean and everything was in good working order. Plenty of towels available and the bed was comfortable. The cottage is very small and is meant for two guests only. We did not utilize the grounds or spring in the back due to our short stay. The cottage is located in a quiet area away from the main Highway or shopping. The property is gated and not difficult to find.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

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

Cozy and Quiet

The cottage was cozy and quiet , we enjoyed staying there and had everything we needed .Very quiet .
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joan W.

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

Perfect peace and quiet

Such a fantastic place for peace and quiet. Location is well maintained and spacious outside, cozy and comfortable inside. Local springs in the area should be added to your things to do list. Crystal River is just shy of an hour away, an easy drive and worth the trip during manatee season. Would recommend this cottage as an excellent "home base"!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tammy M.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly G.

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

Such a peaceful, cute lil gem!

Very relaxing
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenna A.

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

Old Florida Gem

My roommate and I drove 2 hours from Jax to stay at this gem for some R&R and it sure did deliver! We spent hours on the porch enjoying the beautiful old Florida feel and view. We had the pleasure of seeing many birds in there natural environment. We saw owls, cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers, crows, cranes and herons. We also saw turtles basking in the sun and even caught a manatee munching on the vegetation. The spring was covered in brown water and vegetation so we didn’t swim there but Fanning Springs is literally across the street and was beautiful! The property is close to all the necessities but far enough away to really relax. This is my second time staying at this cottage and it definitely won’t be me last. My new favorite vacation spot!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bette

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
We were overall very satisfied with the cottage. The view and the property were gorgeous. Simple and peaceful
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

John S.

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

Weekend Get Away

Great weekend trip for my wife’s and I anniversary weekend. Great springs near by, outdoor activities and Suwannee Bell Landing Restaurant is a must stop at.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Teresa P.

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

TY

We had a great time. The natural environment was appreciated and very much enjoyed!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Candace H.

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

Wonderful Gettaway

My husband and I stayed at Dragonfly Cottage for 4 nights, and the experience was excellent! The host communicated with us very well, and the check in and check out process went very smoothly. The property couldn’t be prettier, and we enjoyed being so close to the water. We arrived after a week of rain, so the water was a little brown but still very swimmable and clear. The hot water heater is understandably small given the size of the cabin, so the shower alternates between hot and cold. Overall, would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to get away from the real world and relax for a few days! Would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Amanda H.

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

Not like the pictures

The property was absolutely beautiful it is just everything needs maintenance. There is no floating dock like in the pictures. There is nothing to sit on at the dock except a very old rusted bench. The cottage needs so much work, the floors are not a little uneven there are really big waves in the floor, there is a thick layer of mold around the bottom of the shower. The owner just put in a ring doorbell on the cabin so when you sit outside you feel like she could be watching and listen to you, I don’t know that she does it just made me feel uncomfortable. The cottage itself could be perfect with some upkeep. Even with all that if you love being on the water it was worth it.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina K.

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

Relaxing

Definitely loved it. We enjoyed every minute of our time there. We could have done without the 2 days of rain. The only thing that i would chang is to ha something for clothing in the bedroom like shelving oe some kind of drawers. Had to lay the suitcase on the floor to work out of. I definitively would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location

Relaxing getaway

This place is perfect if you’re looking for a cottage on the water to relax. We spent the weekend enjoying the scenery sitting around the fire pit. We used the canoe to rake a ride up and down the river. The cottage is small but is very cute and has everything you will need!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

maria

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Excellent communication with the property owner. Perfect getaway for canoeing in your own private river. Close proximity to bike trails and close driving distance to Manatee state park. Very private and guests will feel secure.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

2/10 Terrible

TERRY

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is very nice the cottage has an uneven floor the cooking utensils that they want you to use are in bad shape there's a smell of mold through the whole cottage that you can't get out of your nose there's critters living underneath the cottage that all night are annoying at the wood floor it was decorated very nicely but the building needs to be knocked down
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Travis W.

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

Springs Solitude

Dragon Fly Cottage is a perfect venue for a quiet weekend in nature. The cottage has it all, kayaks, fire pit, grill, A/C, hot water, indoor fireplace, even WiFi in a picturesque setting. Owner has meticulously decorated the grounds & cottage. She was communicative & helpful. I sat on the large dock over the private spring watching shooting stars for hours. Fanning Springs is a short paddle or bike ride. Many other springs are under :30 drive.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

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

Slice of Old Florida

The Dragonfly never disappoints! Quiet, quaint and secluded. If you are looking for a slice of old Florida complete with a deck on a beautiful spring, this is the place. Perfect place to relax and get-away.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

christian m.

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

Beautiful Getaway

This vacation afforded us the opportunity to discover more of an area that we love in florida. This is a great getaway for a couple of adults who enjoy the outdoors. We fully intend to revisit here as often as we can.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

jacqueline s.

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

Swamp Life

The cottage was cute and comfortable. Just perfect for two. My husband and I had a relaxing time enjoyed our stay and loved the outside shower. The dock was fun to fish from. Looking down the water is clear and the fish are big. However, looking across the river or riding in the canoe it’s more like swamp life than spring life. Regardless we had a great time and will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clarissa E.

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

hidden gem

This hidden gem is amazing!! The huge waterfront lot is a dream come true for every nature lover. We enjoyed the water and the kayaks a lot! Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob M.

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

I spring lover’s paradise

Beautiful property right on a small spring. Water was clear and was a great morning wake up call. Canoed over to Fanning springs one day. We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven R., Sebring

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

Dragonfly Cottage

Beautiful ❣️
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Stacie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Cottage & waterfront location.

I was initially in love with the property and home. It’s a tiny home on a large lot but it was comfy and had everything you’d need if you’re looking for simplicity. I loved the LED fireplace in the corner of the bedroom and the outdoor shower. The home did have a musty smell that we later identified as coming from the water damaged, lifting and uneven floors in the kitchen and bath area (making it difficult for anyone who has any type of balance issues). Upon check-in we tried to use the code to the shed to get the kayaks out to hit the river (one of the main reasons we chose this listing), but it did not work. I messaged the owner and did not hear back for 2 hours, making it half past six. It turned out the service had placed the lock on the wrong door. The door we were meant to go in had been unlocked the whole time but blocked by a brick. However, not having a lock we did not want to go snooping through the property. The kayak chairs/seats were also broken so you kind of had to set it in the kayak and hope for the best. We wanted to sit on the deck but none of the chairs or deck couch had any pillows so we could not. The roof in the bathroom leaked during a rainstorm, which led me to slip on a puddle in the bathroom, notified her immediately. We were charged extra at the end for "extra cleaning" for not putting dishes away or trash outside (which I was unaware was required of me and was not outlined) and supposedly ruining a towel. Add’l Pictures were not provided.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Deborah Kirkland

Host profile image
This unique little cottage got its start as a 10’x12’ storage shed used to store tents, tools, and other items needed to cleanup, and maintain the dock and property. Built mainly out of necessity with the outdoor shower stall being it’s first addition; over time the shed evolved into the cottage you see today. A small window unit provided AC in the summer and a space heater took care of the heat in the winter. Over the next few years, the cottage became a labor of love for my late husband and me, with the addition of the indoor bathroom and then a small bedroom. The covered front porch is the final addition providing a wonderful space to relax and enjoy a beverage after a long day of outdoor adventure.

Why they chose this property

This property is best suited for two people who want to re-connect with nature at it's best and leave the hustle & bustle of the city behind for a few days.
The average stay is generally 2-4 nights but I have had a few writers or artists looking for solitude for longer periods of time. My per stay cleaning fee is based on that therefor longer stays will be subject to additional cleaning and linen fees for your comfort.

What makes this property unique

This is a private, secluded, cozy spring front retreat designed for enjoying the outdoors but keep in mind nature can be unpredictable and unfortunately, as much as I would like to, I cannot control it. In Florida, rain doesn't generally last for long periods of time. unless there is a hurricane. When there is a pending hurricane, based on its intended path, I will generally suggest rescheduling guests for their safety.
All Florida springs are effected daily by the waterways they are connected to. The Suwanee River and its tributaries experience minimal water level changes with the daily Gulf tide and rain levels. Occasionally however, if the rain levels are significant upriver, even as far as the Okefenokee swamp in Georgia; the river levels will rise pushing the river water (brown water) and sometimes aquatic vegetation into the tributaries temporarily covering our springs. This does not effect kayaking or canoeing but you may choose to swim a few miles south at Manatee Springs where the ground elevation is a little higher and the springs are rarely impacted by higher water levels. To monitor the water levels in our area go to real-time river levels on the internet. Scroll down to the Suwannee river and click the Wilcox station. This will give you the river levels for the last 30 days. A good reference number for clear swimming in our little spring would be about 4 feet or under. If this is important to you please monitor the levels because I will not be able to provide a refund due to elements beyond my control.



Languages:

English

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