My family (2 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs) were very happy to stay at this property in December 2019. We have family in Lakeland, so we have stayed at many local vacation rentals and were lucky enough to discover this one shortly after it was first listed. This is by far the coolest vacation rental we have ever visited in Lakeland or anywhere. The house has such a neat, retro vibe. The owners have modernized all the important bits and made very cool design choices, while maintaining some of the original charm and quirkiness. Note this has not been completely gutted redone, there are some uneven floors and creaking doors expected for an older home, but to us that added to its charm.
The property has a camp like feel, with an amazing fire pit my kids loved and want to recreate at home. Even though it is just off US98, it feels rural and remote.
The hosts were great to deal with and quick to answer any questions by text throughout our stay. They left a lovely welcome gift and provided more items than typically available in a vacation rental. We really appreciated the homey touches.
One of the best things about this house is that we could bring our dogs. There was plenty of green space to walk the dogs outside (though note there is not fenced in yard.)
As a nervous mama, the only thing I wasn't crazy about was the proximity to water (the property is bordered on one side by a small, overgrown pond). Of course, since the town is LAKEland, it shouldn't be unexpected.
To summarize, things we loved:
Great design in a retro, unique house
Camp-like property
Dog friendly
Three bedrooms with very comfortable beds
Separated master (upstairs)
Two indoor sitting areas (downstairs and upstairs) [Note: the pictures show a spiral staircase, this is for attic access and not used by guests. There is a regular staircase to access upstairs.]
Screened in porch (upstairs)
HUGE hot tub - like an above ground swimming pool - that had a secure cover
Patio area with lovely strings of outdoor lights - we enjoyed dining al fresco and took pictures of this area to recreate something similar at home.
Large built in fire pit
Great hosts
All the little homey touches. It was much better outfitted than most vacation rentals.
Location - just off 98, short drive to Publix
Things we weren't crazy about:
Not much!
The proximity to a small pond
We have already planned our next trip this unique VRBO. I expect it will book quickly.