Fort White: Dive Base | Creative Homestead Retreat

Our unique wooded 5-acre homestead offers the perfect sanctuary where adventure, nature, and creativity converge. Not just a place to stay; it's a dedicated escape for world-class cave diving and springs exploration, a supportive haven for nature-based practices, inspiring creativity and homeschoolers. Note: This is a private, self-contained, 1-bedroom, 1-bath studio apartment. It has a private entrance, but is connected to our home. This is a working homestead, not a polished resort. The space The Space: Your Thoughtfully Designed Sanctuary Our cozy apartment is crafted for comfort, convenience, and inspiration, ensuring every detail of your stay is effortless. Bedroom ✔ Drift into restful sleep on the queen-size bed, wrapped in extra pillows and blankets for customizable comfort. ✔ A blackout privacy curtain separates the bedroom area from the living room, creating an enclosed, restful space even without doors or walls. ✔ Choose complete darkness or a soft glow from the Himalayan salt lamp. ✔ Nightstands with charging ports let you unplug while your devices recharge. ✔ Stay organized with a dresser, walk-in closet, and a corner rack for ritual garments, swimsuits, or dry suits. ✔ Ceiling fan, portable fan, and heater give you full control of your environment. ✔ Antique writing desk with a peaceful view and a captivating Ginnie Springs photo display, perfect for journaling, studying, or creative flow. ✔ Explore your musical side with an upright piano, percussion and wind instruments, and metronomes. ✔ For families, a Pack ’n Play ensures safe sleeping space for little ones, while an air mattress and padded cot offer extra beds for everyone. Living Room ✔ Comfortable seating area with a Roku TV, Netflix, and a Blu-ray player—plus a large DVD collection. Just let us know your favorite genres, and we’ll set you up with movies you’ll love. ✔ Books, board games, coloring books, and a retro gaming console loaded with over 10,000 classic games for nostalgic evenings in. ✔ The full-size sleeper sofa offers a cozy extra bed for additional guests. We’ve added extra padding to make sure it’s genuinely comfortable, not just “good for a sofa bed.” ✔ Armchairs provide more structured, supportive seating, ideal for anyone who prefers higher chairs that are easier to get up from, enhancing comfort and accessibility for all. ✔ Padded storage benches add extra seating and hold spare sofa pillows, puzzles, and toys for little ones. Kitchen & Dining ✔ Whip up delicious meals in our fully stocked kitchen, complete with all the cookware you need—including a cast iron skillet and Belgian waffle maker—for a true home-cooked experience. ✔ Enjoy complimentary coffee beans (with grinder), a selection of teas, pancake mix, butter, syrup, and a variety of condiments to kickstart your day. ✔ Dining table seats four comfortably, with an extra leaf stored in the closet if you’d like more space. ✔ High chair and booster seat provided to make family mealtimes easier. Bathroom ✔ Built-in drying bar in the shower to hang wet swimsuits or small items after a refreshing dip in the springs. ✔ Stocked with Dove shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and plenty of fresh towels. ✔ A handheld shower wand and optional shower chair make bathing more comfortable and accessible for anyone who needs extra support. ✔ Hair dryer, first aid kit, and a small stash of complimentary feminine hygiene products tucked under the sink for your convenience. Your 5-Acre Outdoor Sanctuary & Homestead Amenities Reconnect with nature, explore creative energy, or simply enjoy the fresh air across our expansive 5-acre wooded property. These unique outdoor areas are shared with the host but are typically left entirely for guest use, ensuring your privacy. ✔ Gather under the stars in our Sacred Fire Circle, where a large fire pit and ceremonial bell create space for intention, quiet reflection, small gatherings, or marking the full moon. ✔ Unwind in the double hammock nestled in the shaded picnic area, ideal for forest bathing or a mid-afternoon nap. ✔ Enjoy outdoor meals at our Picnic Area with a gas grill (propane provided), a convenient overhead light, and bug zapper for comfortable dining day or night. ✔ Lounge on the back deck for sipping coffee, watching squirrels, and soaking in the birdsong. ✔ Padded hangers and hooks are located just outside your door for easy drying of dive gear, wetsuits, drysuits, or swimsuits. ✔ Explore our functional garden, where herbs grow year-round and seasonal vegetables may be yours to pick and taste – we never spray! Or wander the wild spaces of our property for meditative walks and seasonal foraging. ✔ By day, listen to the waterfall and meet Lavender, Calico, and Ruby, our koi pond guardians. By night, be serenaded by the mating songs of several breeds of frogs and toads. ✔ Explore unique activities like our knife throwing station (safety waiver required), giant inflatable bowling, or stargazing through our telescope. We can point out a few clear spots on the property for optimal viewing. ✔ Say hello to our friendly rabbits and quail, or ask for a tour if you’re curious about small homestead animals – we'd love to share if we have baby litters or recently hatched quail! (And just ask if you'd like to help us feed them!) ✔ Keep your eyes open for visiting wildlife — deer, tortoises, owls, frogs, hawks, and fireflies all visit our land. They live a wild life on their schedule, not ours, but patience and stillness may reward you with a sighting! ✔ With five wooded acres, there's plenty of space to walk, write, reflect, or simply breathe in the quiet. ✔ Generous & Secure Parking: We offer ample free parking with plenty of room for large vehicles, dive trailers, boats, RVs, and even semi-trucks, right on the property. Dive-Friendly Amenities: Your Ultimate Basecamp We love hosting cave and open-water divers alike, and have intentionally prepared the space for your gear, your needs, and your post-dive relaxation and recovery. ✔ Just 5 minutes to Little River Springs, 7 minutes to Peacock Springs, and 15–20 minutes to Ginnie Springs and the Ichetucknee—all premier Florida Springs and cave diving destinations. ✔ Close proximity to Amigos Dive Center, Cave Country Dive Shop, & Extreme Exposure Dive Center for all your dive supply needs, including air and specialized gas fills (like Nitrox, Trimix, and Oxygen) and equipment sales/service. ✔ Dedicated outdoor hooks and drying areas for wetsuits or drysuits. ✔ Flexible gear prep surfaces are available between your door and the parking area, and a dedicated outdoor rinse sink will be available very soon for your convenience. ✔ Plenty of easy access parking for dive trailers, boats, and large vehicles. We understand that post-dive downtime matters. Enjoy strong coffee, a soft bed, and peace and quiet when you need it most. Elevate Your Stay: Personalized Retreats & Workshops Curious about trying something new or deepening an existing passion? Beyond our standard amenities, we offer unique opportunities to enhance your visit. ✔ Personalized Retreat Plans: Let us help you craft a truly unique experience. Whether you're seeking a focused spiritual retreat, an immersive creative workshop, a deeper dive into homesteading skills, or a journey into medieval history and crafts, we can tailor a plan just for you. ✔ Optional Workshops & Activities: Inquire about hands-on sessions during your stay, which may include: -Nature crafts and seasonal foraging -Fire-building and homesteading basics -Spiritual and mythological exploration -Rabbit and quail care basics -Stargazing sessions, plant identification, or basic woodworking -Specific medieval crafts or historical insights, leveraging the collective 90 years of experience within our family. ✔ Homeschooling & Lifelong Learning: We celebrate curiosity! We've curated a selection of over 2,000 books (from spiritual texts to children's science and world mythology), art supplies, field guides, games, and science kits, all readily available to spark learning during your stay. We're here to support your projects and passions—just ask how we can make your stay even more enriching! Ready for an unforgettable Fort White experience, tailored just for you? Dreaming of a personalized getaway? Message us to create your unique escape! We can't wait to welcome you to our Cave Diver Basecamp & Creative Homestead! Guest access Your Stay & Our Thoughtful Hosting We've designed your visit for both privacy and attentive support, ensuring you have everything you need for a seamless and comfortable experience. Guest Access ✔ Enjoy private and exclusive access to your self-contained apartment, providing a true home-away-from-home feel. ✔ Generous, free parking is available right on the property, with ample room for all vehicle types, including trailers, boats, RVs, and even semi-trucks. ✔ Our unique outdoor areas—the sacred circle, gardens, hammock, and more—are shared with us but typically left entirely for your private enjoyment during your stay. ✔ For your convenience, shared laundry facilities (washer, dryer, soap, two portable drying racks, iron, and ironing board) are immediately accessible via a separate exterior door. Other things to note About the Land: A Working Homestead This is not a polished resort—it’s a lived-in, ever-improving homestead, constantly growing and changing as we strive for greater self-sufficiency and to live in reverence with the land. We believe this unique character adds to the authenticity and charm of your stay. ✔ You may see garden tools, in-progress projects, or natural forest debris. ✔ We aim to keep farm smells and dog "gifts" as unoffensive as possible, but they're animals and they do their thing, and sometimes they're faster than we are. ✔ Bugs, frogs, lizards, fireflies, and the occasional muddy footprint are part of life here. ✔ No harsh chemicals are used—we protect the springs, the soil, and your health. ✔ Neighbors are on 5-10 acre lots, so they are nearby but rarely seen or heard, ensuring your peace and privacy. Please note: As is common in rural areas, you may occasionally hear neighbors engaged in target shooting. Rest assured, this is a normal part of country living and there is no cause for concern. If you’re enchanted by the wild and raw, this land will feel like home. Explore Our Community & Local Gems Beyond the springs and our homestead, our area offers unique attractions that draw visitors from around the world. ✔ Discover significant spiritual centers just 20 minutes away, including the ISKCON Alachua Hare Krishna Temple and the Temple of the Universe, both renowned for their meditation and spiritual teachings. ✔ Explore the unique geological wonder of Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, a National Natural Landmark steeped in local history. ✔ Just a short drive away in Gainesville, you can visit the Florida Museum of Natural History, home to the popular Butterfly Rainforest exhibit (please note: the museum and exhibit are currently undergoing renovations and are anticipated to reopen in 2026). ✔ Wander through the charming town of High Springs, known for its interesting antique shops and quaint downtown. ✔ Experience the magic of the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, an annual event (typically in late January/early February) that transports visitors to a bygone era with knights, jesters, and artisans. As hosts with over 20 years of working the Faire, we'd be delighted to share insights and tips for your visit. ✔ For motorsports enthusiasts, we're approximately 45 minutes from Gainesville Raceway, home to the annual Gatornationals. Our peaceful homestead offers a quiet retreat after a day of high-octane action, keeping you close to the excitement without the crowds. ✔ Discover other charming local towns, nature trails, and hidden gems throughout the region. Share what's important to you, and we'd love to help point you to other great attractions tailored to your interests. The Neighborhood You'll find our homestead nestled in a quiet rural area just outside Fort White. ✔ Our property is located on a well-maintained dirt road. While it's regularly graded, please be aware that it can develop ruts during heavy rains. ✔ Neighbors are on 5-10 acre lots, so they are nearby but rarely seen or heard, ensuring your peace and privacy. ✔ Grocery stores, gas, restaurants, and dive shops are all within a convenient 10–20 minute drive. Exceptional Amenities & Guest Perks We've gone the extra mile to make your stay truly worry-free and exceptional. ✔ Effortless Departure: No check-out chores—just pack and go! We take care of the rest, maximizing your precious vacation time. ✔ Accessibility First: Our single-level property features a private entrance with a lit sidewalk and available ramp for stepless entry, a handheld shower wand, an optional shower chair, and supportive armchairs for easier seating, making it more comfortable and accessible for all. ✔ Uninterrupted Power: Enjoy reliable and sustainable power, backed by solar panels and a whole-house generator. This means continuous comfort for you, even during hurricanes and widespread local power outages, ensuring your stay remains seamless. ✔ Enjoy fresh, filtered well water—blessed for your well-being. House Rules To ensure a comfortable and harmonious stay for everyone, please note: ✔ No smoking or vaping anywhere on the property (indoors or outdoors). ✔ No unapproved pets. ✔ Maximum of 8 guests on the property at any time, including registered Airbnb guests and any invited day guests. Please read the full listing carefully before booking. Our strict cancellation policy reflects the significant effort we put into preparing each stay and helps us avoid misunderstandings about layout or policies. We want your visit to be seamless and perfectly matched to your expectations.