Come stay a while at our serene two story lakefront cottage surrounded by beautiful oak trees, backyard patio, outdoor eating and grill. Enjoy amazing sunsets as you sit on the back patio of our Lake house rental or stick your toes in the white sandy beach and refreshing water. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities to swim, fish, go boating, water sports and don't forget to simply relax. Located just 25 miles from Gainesville, Florida, 56 miles from Saint Augustine, Florida, and 53 miles Jacksonville, FL.
Property manager
Dawn Croft
Premier Host
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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NO smoking is allowed inside the house. If any guest smoke outside, please do not throw cigarette butts in the yard. Thank you.
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 indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Keystone Heights
Located in Keystone Heights, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Starke Golf and Country Club and Royal Manor Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Gold Head Branch State Park. Looking to get your feet wet? Jet skiing, kayaking and waterskiing adventures can be found near the property.
Keystone Heights, FL
What's nearby
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park - 12 min drive - 9.6 km
Gold Head Branch State Park - 12 min drive - 9.6 km
Santa Fe Lake - 14 min drive - 11.3 km
Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park - 29 min drive - 32.5 km
Kingsley Lake - 31 min drive - 29.1 km
Getting around
Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 39 min drive
Restaurants
Florida Cracker Kitchen - 9 min drive
McDonald's - 9 min drive
Wendy's - 10 min drive
Cedar River Seafood - 10 min drive
Hardee's - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Crystal Lake Retreat pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Crystal Lake Retreat?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Crystal Lake Retreat?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Crystal Lake Retreat located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 9 miles (15 km) of Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Gold Head Branch State Park and Santa Fe Lake. Lake Rowell is 12.4 mi (19.9 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This was a peaceful place and had beautiful views of the lake. If you're trying to get away from a busy city - stay here. The decor is nice, beds were comfy and the host was attentive. She thought of everything!
Butch and Dawn are by far the best host that we have ever had.
Great memories are made each year we stay.
The house & lake was amazing as always!! Next summer can't come fast enough.
We had a wonderful visit in this beautiful home right on the water. Celebrating our sons graduation and family all together. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home.
Absolutely beautiful home with an even prettier view and beach looking out onto the clear lake. Everything was just like it is shown in the listing pictures!
It’s our second time staying & we had just as much fun, we’re local to keystone so it’s a great and affordable staycation that we love having the opportunity to enjoy
We’ll hopefully be back next summer
The lake house view is beautiful. The atmosphere is quiet, peaceful and relaxing. The house was beautiful with every detail considered. This is a place we will definitely visit again.
I rented the house for my best friend bachelorette weekend. We were looking for a fun/ relaxing place to hang out at the property was it. Had a great time with friends and the lake view was pretty.
We loved everything about are experience the water was beautiful the beach was super nice and the kids loved it we will be back for sure house was clean and the a/c worked good! Over all we had a wonderful time!
Our stay was nothing short of AMAZING!!! The lake house was so cute and very clean. We enjoyed fishing and relaxing in the beautiful water. The neighbors and everyone we encountered in town were so friendly. Definitely will be back!
Everyone had a great time!
Very nice lake house and clear clean lake!
Brought 4 of our oldest grandchildren age range was 12 to 16 and we pretty much stayed in the lake swimming and paddle boarding.
The kids even had a blast catching brim -
Nothing big but we catch and release. Glad they were all able to catch some fish.
We cooked full family meals everyday and the kitchen had everything I needed.
Hopefully we will come again soon!
Very clean, comfortable furnishings, and plenty of space! The host was readily available to answer questions. We stayed over a weekend and found the place to be quiet and peaceful. It is worth noting that the driveway and area leading up to the unit is not paved and the property has a slight hill with some irregularities (tree roots, etc) so someone with mobility challenges may find it a little challenging to come/go from this unit. We were very happy with the accommodations and will definitely be earmarking this place for a return visit!
I kept meaning to let Dawn know how much we appreciated her lake home; just didn't get around to it until now. Very nicely furnished kitchen, very comfortable beds, cute decor, very quiet neighborhood, beautiful lake. What's not to love! Perfect for us, although there was a little challenge getting up and down the slope, as we are senior citizens. This is a lakeside community next to a small town, about 8 minutes away. The surrounding properties are well-kept and we felt at home and secure.
Thanks, Dawn!
We just left after a 6 day stay. We had the most relaxing and fun stay! Everyone enjoyed the lake, porch sitting and just good quiet time catching up with family. I seen someone complain about the airplanes but let me tell you, there were just a couple planes that flew while we stayed and everyone really enjoyed watching their tricks. It was really cool. And they are quiet planes so that should bever be a worry when booking. If anything I thought it added to our stay. I can't say enough about this little get away. We are already planning our next trip. Thank you for letting us enjoy your home to make memories ❤️
We had a good time, not going to reiterate what everyone else wrote. Property itself is clean but generic. Two issues nothing on website about using the canoe so not sure if we could have and it definitely would have added to experience if we could. Might have been in guest book . The other strange thing no one mentioned is property is practically next door to Keystone heights airport, a motorcross and a skeet shooting range. Very annoying when trying to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee on back porch Saturday morning. It drove us inside until about 2 in afternoon. I don’t know if other people are immune to noise but it was not our experience of peace and quiet everyone else wrote about. Not sure if I would have chosen this spot. However when all that ended it was very quiet and peaceful starting about 2pm. Sunday was better. Enjoyable, not to much activity on lake.
Laura C.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
About the host
Hosted by Dawn Croft
Hi, My name is Dawn. My family and I have enjoyed Crystal Lake for well over twenty years. It is a place we come to for family fun and relaxation. It is good to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, even if for a short time. One of our favorite family activities besides, skiing, swimming, and fishing, is our annual Low Country Boil every July 4th. It consist of boiled shrimp, snow crab legs, sausage, potatoes, onions, and corn on the cob. Dessert always involves home-made ice cream. We have made priceless memories, enjoyed countless breath-taking sunsets, and built life lasting bonds. It is a joy to be able to share a part of this with you.
Why they chose this property
Crystal Lake is one of the most beautiful, clear, spring fed lakes in the area, and is a popular vacation spot. The house is nestle among large oak trees on a slopping hill. It is conveniently located 25 miles from Gainesville, Florida, for the sports fans who enjoy college sports.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests