Entire home

UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!

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A wooden deck with two rocking chairs and a small table, overlooking a forested area. - UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! (Starke)
A bedroom with a four-poster bed, a vanity with a mirror, and a wooden chair. - UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! (Starke)
A spacious kitchen with granite countertops, wooden cabinets, and a central island. - UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! (Starke)
A spacious room with a patterned carpet, wooden beams, a stone fireplace, and a television. - UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! (Starke)
A spacious lobby with a patterned carpet, leather sofas, and a central coffee table. - UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! (Starke)
UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! provides laundry facilities and more. Stay connected with in-room WiFi.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathrooms279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Beach view

Add dates for prices

About this property

UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!

  • What about staying in a historical house - the once Governor’s family home with full of antiques and stories-including hidden uncovered gold coins-while enjoying a five star hotel bed & bath amenities with sound sleep? What about sitting at the beach watching sunrise or having a drink on the porch toasting the full moon? What about taking a morning walk in the garden like yard and being greeted by the red canaries?What about staying quiet counting the cranes wandering on the back yard and watching the squirrels chasing among the trees? A lot of details telling the combined taste of life and art, west and east, southern style and oriental touch. Truly one of a kind experience not to be missed!
    Only 40 minutes from University of Florida and Jacksonville and situated by the most desirable spring feed Crystal Lake. Open to events and weddings.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Bidet
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 3,000 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Long-term renters welcome
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Located in Starke, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Eugene l. Matthews historical museum and Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Wainwright Park and Waldo Motorsports. Looking to get your feet wet? Kayaking, power boating and fishing adventures can be found near the property. Visit our Starke travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Starke
Map
Starke, FL

What's nearby

  • An aerial view of a historic town with red-roofed buildings, a large stadium, and surrounding greenery.
    University of Florida
    43 min drive - 53.6 km
  • A football stadium filled with spectators and cheerleaders.
    Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
    46 min drive - 55.3 km
  • Crystal Lake
    19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Gainesville Raceway
    37 min drive - 46.4 km
  • Oaks Mall
    55 min drive - 72.2 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)
    37 min drive

Restaurants

  • Stone’s Irish Pub
    7 min drive
  • McDonald's
    5 min drive
  • Circle K
    9 min drive
  • Florida Cracker Oyster Bar & Grill
    4 min drive
  • Hardee's
    8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! located?

This Starke holiday home is on the beach, 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Crystal Lake, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Lake Geneva and Santa Fe Lake. Starke Golf and Country Club and Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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UF Game Day Graduation Retreat-Former Governor’s Home, HGTV featured Must See! Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10

Cleanliness

10

Location

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We wanted to thank you for letting our family stay at your beautiful lake house. We had an amazing time and truly enjoyed our stay.The house was perfect for our large family. There was plenty of seating for everyone, lots of open space to gather together, and more than enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably. We especially loved the screened-in back porch, the lake area, the ample storage space, and how well the home accommodated big family hangouts. The beds were very comfortable, everything was clean and well-maintained, and overall the house felt welcoming and relaxing.We had a wonderful week, Our whole Family would love to do it again. Thank you Sammy for letting us enjoy your house
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
My daughter didn’t want to leave!! Everyone was blown away with property. Booked for UF graduation and was about a 40 minute drive (20 miles) but so worth it!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Such a unique stay, with a great location. The beach and lake is private, so we left our kayaks and gear on the beach the entire stay without worry. The house was super open and airy, with plenty of space for our large group. We cooked breakfast and dinner every night and the kitchen could accommodate a large group. We spent our days travelling to lakes and beaches nearby, and both the gulf side and Atlantic side were about 1.5 hours away, so there was plenty to keep the family busy. There is large storage areas for boats and boat trailers and a huge parking area not pictured on the listing that are a must have if fishing in the area. Beds were super comfortable, each bedroom super unique, really cannot say enough good things. And the toilets... they are the super fancy foreign toilets and now I want one so bad! If I had a large group I absolutely would not hesitate to return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026