Entire home

Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow

Photo gallery for Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow

Exterior
Property grounds
Dining
Dining
Exterior
Reviews
10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5167 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
    Hot tubHot tub
  • Fireplace
    FireplaceFireplace
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Washer
    WasherWasher

Explore the area

Map
Babson Park, FL
  • Popular LocationCrooked Lake1 min walk
  • Popular LocationLEGOLAND® Florida21 min drive
  • Popular LocationBok Tower Gardens26 min drive
  • AirportLakeland, FL (LAL-Lakeland Linder Regional)45 min drive

Most relevant reviews

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow

An ideal family vacation spot, our 1920's Crooked Lake Bungalow, located in Babson Park, Florida has been lovingly restored and well maintained for decades. We have welcomed vacation renters for more than 20 years, with many guests returning for more than 15 consecutive years.

Spring fed Crooked Lake is over 4,200 acres and is an "Outstanding Florida Water". Outstanding Florida Waters are rivers, lakes and other water features designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as "worthy of special protection because of their natural attributes." Outstanding Florida Waters have special restrictions on any new activities that would lower water quality or otherwise degrade the body of water.

Crooked Lake is an ideal lake for many water activities. Fishing for tournament bass and speckled perch (Florida Crappie) is a year-round sport. Boating, swimming, stand up paddle boarding, jet skiing, water skiing, and kayaking are fun activities for families. Watching stunning sunsets, or simply relaxing on the white sandy beach are always an option too. Bring your own boat and watercraft. A cement boat launch is available on the property.

In a quiet private-home neighborhood along the Scenic Ridge Highway, our Bungalow offers comfortable space for 6: Living room with satellite TV, DVD, and DVR; Dining Room; fully equipped kitchen; Sunroom overlooking the lake with dining table and seating area; 3 bedrooms, and two full baths. The master bedroom has a King bed and an adjoining bath with shower and tub. The lakeview bedroom offers a King bed, and the third bedroom has a queen bed. Just off the sunroom with panoramic views of the lake, there is a spacious lakefront covered porch for reading your favorite novel, cooking on the gas grill, dining, and gathering in the comfortable seating area less than 40 steps from the water’s edge.

On the beach, you will find for your enjoyment a large tiki hut, a shaded hammock under the palm trees, Adirondack chairs, and beach volleyball poles (bring your own net and volleyball).

For bird watchers, we often see strolling sandhill cranes, soaring bald eagles and ospreys, colorful wood ducks, anhinga, herons, black-bellied whistling ducks, Florida mallards, herons and other wildlife.

Local restaurants within 10 miles include:
The Coop (Comfort food), The Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern , L'incontro (fine Italian), Crazy Fish Bar & Grill (casual seafood), Manny's Chop House (steak house), Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak (on Lake Pierce), Blue Palmetto Cafe at Bok Tower Gardens (quick bites), Giorgios (fine Italian), and Fat Boys BBQ

Things to do within a one-hour drive include:
*Bok Tower Gardens
*Lake Kissimmee State Park
*Streamsong Golf, Dining and Spa
*Ridge Audubon Center and Museum
*Lake Wales History Center
*Polk Museum of Art
*Tiger Creek Preserve
*Legoland
*Circle B Bar Reserve
*Lake Myrtle Sports Center
*Florida Skydiving Center
*Webber International University
*Warner Southern College







Property manager

Jolene C. Howell

Languages

English

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Babson Park

Located in Babson Park, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Lake Wales Art Museum and Lake Wales History Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Mountain Lake and Oakwood Golf Club. Travelling with kids? Consider Crystal Lake Park, or check out an event or a game at Jump Florida Skydiving. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Babson Park, FL

What's nearby

  • Crooked Lake - 1 min walk
  • Grand Hotel - 8 min drive
  • Eagle Ridge Mall - 14 min drive
  • LEGOLAND® Florida - 21 min drive
  • Bok Tower Gardens - 26 min drive

Getting around

  • Winter Haven Station - 30 min drive
  • Avon Park, FL (AVO-Avon Park Executive) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Topper's Creamery - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪All Star Grill North - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Central Florida Crooked Lake Bungalow located?

This family-friendly Babson Park holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 1 mi (2 km) of Crooked Lake and Ridge Audubon Nature Reserve. Lake Easy and Fire House Trail are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jamie & Tabitha M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Little Piece of Heaven!
Our family stayed at the cottage while visiting family in town. The cottage was better than expected! The bedrooms were comfortable and the kitchen well equiped. It was very clean and truthfully, I was a little worried about bugs....but we didn't see a single one! Anything we forgot, we found avaliable in the cottage! The best part was sipping coffee on the back porch overlooking the lake each morning. Those sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking! I could get used to that! We will definitly be booking again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super lake house
This property is perfect for what we were looking for. We are planning on returning for certain and hopefully our adult children can join us.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Bungalow Crooked Lake
Home was larger than I thought it would be. It is well kept and owners were extremely nice.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gail W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Girls Week
My girl friends had so much fun! They are already talking about next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jay G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful lakefront bungalow
Easy to book. Great communication from the renters who live right next door. They checked in and made sure everything was to.our liking, which was very kind of them. Will definitely be renting this property again in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gail W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Property!!
The Crooked Lake Bungalow is a perfect place to spend a relaxing vacation. The house is just wonderful and has everything you need for your stay. We will definitely use it again. Thank you Jolene
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly S., Naples, Florida

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great lake house
We went for Christmas and it was freezing. Our hosts made sure the house was nice and warm for us! Our stay was very nice. We even caught a couple of fish!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gay W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful lakefront holiday
Once again this idyllic lakefront property exceeded our expectations! Comfortable and welcoming, fully equipped kitchen, sandy beach with kayaks, everything in perfect working order and friendly helpful hosts! We were even lucky enough to view the festive Crooked Lake holiday boat parade…loved it!! Thanks again Jolene and Marty!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Liz B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming cottage!
Felt like home for the weekend, so we’ll equipped! We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dara P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect lake house
This is the perfect house for relaxing by the lake. The house is very clean and fully stocked with everything you could need. There is a lovely large patio in the back perfect for enjoying the lake views. The best part is the tiki hut on the beach! There is a marina and many restaurants nearby. The owners are a pleasure. We will be back for sure!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gay W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peace and Tranquillity
Such a peaceful lakeside retreat! This is our second time staying in this lovely getaway…it feels like home. Perfectly well-equipped including all possible amenities, plus kayaks for exploring the lake. Proximity to beautiful Bok Tower and Gardens is an added bonus. We highly recommend this tranquil spot, and hope to visit again often.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

JB K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning 1920s Bungalow
We've rented many VRBO rentals over the years, and this lakefront bungalow was top-notch! Marty and Jolene are excellent hosts. The home was immaculately clean and has all the amenities you could ask for. We highly recommend this lovely home and we hope to go back again soon. Thank You!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gay W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful and Scenic
This lovely bungalow on scenic Crooked Lake is spacious, and beautiful with all the amenities you could ask for. The hosts are welcoming and informative, and responsive to any needs. We thoroughly enjoyed a truly peaceful respite in this beautiful property.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful sunsets, gorgeous lake views in a peaceful setting.
This Annual family trip to Bok Tower Gardens turned out to be one of the best times ever…..we really enjoyed our stay at this perfect cottage. The amount of care put into this home rings true ….everywhere you turn. The children enjoyed the kayaks and fishing while adults relaxed on the huge covered porch overlooking the sanded shoreline and beautiful lake. Thank you Jolene and Marty for a pleasant and memorial vacation! We will be back xo Susan and family
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Donna B. B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous!
The beauty of this place is beyond belief. Top it off with wonderful hosts, makes this one of the best experiences! Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Howell for making our our stay over Thanksgiving just magic!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tamara T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous 1920's Lake Bungalow
The minute we arrived at this beautiful 1920's lake front bungalow, I felt right at home. Reminded me so much of my grandmother's house. The place was cozy and updated but still had that "vintage" feel. The rooms were all spacious. Every amenity was available. They thought of everything! The covered porch facing the lake was a great place to relax in a rocking chair. Then to sit by the lake under the chickee hut was just what I needed. Watching and listening to all the birds. Even saw a Bald Eagle. Took one day to visit Bok Tower and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately we were unable to kayak but plan to next visit. The owners were fabulous and so nice! I highly recommend this rental for a nice getaway. We will definitely be back!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lynda K., NYC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
wonderful reunion with old friends
Crooked Lake clear and warm . a delight to swim and kayak . spotlessly clean bungalow . well appointed kitchen and bath with more than we could need . lovely hosts . only problem one of us had a recent knee surgery so had problems getting up and down steps . hopefully this will not be a problem next time as we would like very much to go back . Thanks for a lovely stay .
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mekayla K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing!
Me and my sister and our families booked this house for a long weekend for my mom for Mother’s Day and it was amazing! They have everything that you would need from beach towels to cooking needs! We all had a blast and we can’t wait to go back! ❤️
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Karen J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tropical Island Vibe on the mainland of Florida
Serenity and beauty, two words to describe this beautiful oasis sitting in the heart of Florida. We were here to graduate a son out of college and we enjoyed downtime that was needed. We plan on visiting again with Mrs. Jolene for our anniversary.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Allison W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing Getaway
We had an amazing stay at this property. It was better than expected. The owners were so nice and accommodating. We relaxed on the beach, kayaked, grilled, fished, and enjoyed every second. Perfect family vacation especially during Covid to get away from it all. Very clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Matt G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
All perfect
Nicest rental in central FL - everything was awesome and better than expected
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

JJ R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great little spot for Frostproof area
Beautiful breathtaking views. House was very clean and comfortable. Mrs. Jolene was a sweetheart and took care of us and was very accommodating.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jenny B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing get away at the lake!
We had a lovely time in this very well appointed home that is right on the water. The home had lots of extra supplies and every household item we could want to make our stay more convenient. It was great to be able to cook meals and eat on the porch. No need to leave the lake! Our hosts were extremely helpful and made the visit easy and enjoyable. This home is a rare gem on Crooked Lake. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Joe M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lake getaway
This place was perfect in every way. We will definitely be back.

About the host

Hosted by Jolene C. Howell

Host profile image
Marty and Jolene Howell have been enjoying Crooked Lake since childhood and have welcomed visitors to their 1920s vacation rental bungalow for more than 20 years. Retired and living nearby on the lake, they also enjoy the quiet natural beauty of birdwatching, fishing and the stunning sunsets.

Languages:

English
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