Quiet place, loved being on the river, seemed like a nature preserve. Saw many different animals and a manatee swam by. Ran out of paper towels, garbage bags and dish washer packets.
My husband and I love springs, kayaking, and paddleboarding, this was a perfect place for all of this and more. We grilled, relaxed in the water with our morning coffee, and caught a mermaid show at the nearby Weeki Watchee State Park. The home is perfect for a couple or a family and Amy is a great host. We loved the old Florida quiet feel of the area and home. We will be back for more paradise by the spring for sure!
Review for Don Lane River House â Weeki Wachee Springs Overall Experience: 9.8/10 Property Rating: 7.5/10The Don Lane River House is beautifully located in one of the most desirable parts of the Weeki Wachee River, offering stunning views and a peaceful setting. If youâre looking for a scenic getaway, this location truly delivers. It came with four kayaks, which was a great bonus, and I also rented a Go Boat from MyRamBoat.com just down the river â the lady there was amazing, and I highly recommend checking her out for a fun water experience.However, while the location is nearly perfect, the house itself fell short in many ways, mainly due to the lack of basic amenities and maintenance issues.The Good: Amazing Riverfront Location â Peaceful, scenic, and ideal for kayaking and relaxing. Plenty of Floats & Safety Gear â Nice to have extras like pool noodles and life vests. Kayaks Included â A great perk for exploring the river.The Not-So-Good: Lack of Basic Amenities â No dish soap, no sponges, no laundry detergent, and very minimal kitchen essentials. If you plan to cook, bring your own cookware, as the non-stick pots and pans are so scratched they are unusable (microplastic concerns). Only a few usable dishes for baking. Structural Issues & Safety Hazards â The uneven floors made it difficult to walk around comfortably, especially for someone with back problems. It was actually nauseating at times and would be a nightmare for anyone in a wheelchair.
Think the overall experience was great, but some of the pictures did not represent what was actually on-site (patio furniture, grill, etc.). But this did not diminish desire to return. A truelly beautiful setting and house.
THE HOUSE & LOCATION WERE GREAT. VERY QUIET & RELAXING. FROM THE BACK DECK WE SAW MANATEES, DOLPHIN, OTTERS & SQUIRLS, WHICH MY GRANDDAUGHTER LOVED FEEDING. OUT THE FRONT DOOR, WE HAD DEER, TURKEYS & RABBITS. GRANDDAUGHTER'S FAVORITE, THE BUNK BEDS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PIECE OF PARADISE.
Weâve never been to Weeki Wachee springs before and we got so lucky staying here. The location canât be beat and all the neighbors are nice and friendly. We loved kayaking up and down the river with the kayaks provided at the rental. We saw a manatee swim by the house and numerous turtles and interesting fish. My kids loved jumping into the river from the rope swing. The current is pretty strong so life vests are highly recommended for kids. The rental itself is clean and fully stocked with everything we needed even board games. We really want to come back during manatee season next time!
Our group of 6 enjoyed staying here very much. We especially enjoyed the living room, dining and kitchen areas. The 2 regular bedrooms were very comfortable. We loved the kayaks and our chance nature encounters with deer and wild Turkey. The bunk room is obviously meant for kids and we did not find that room comfortable and functional as an adult. This could be changed by some simple additions including mattress pads on the beds, improved comforters or blankets, a side table by each bunk, and some kind of dresser or side table to put your bath items on. Literally invest $200 and this could be fixed. Also, the outdoor furniture is similar and not very comfortable. Just needs a slight upgrade and the area would be so much more enjoyable. Overall though, very enjoyable!
Overall we had a great stay here. The house and property look a bit more dingey than the pictures but it is a lakehouse afterall. The kitchen could use some help. The oven is about 100 years old and the stove takes forever to heat. There is very little you won't have to buy. Things like extra toilet paper, trash bags, etc. are not included. But it was all worth it for the view and peace on the river. So much to do and see and it's so serene. We would frequent this place over and over again if it weren't for the fact that we got hit with a hefty fee after checkout because we had turned some white towels slightly pink in the washer. When I saw this, I threw one in with our white load and used bleach. Took it right out. When I saw the fee I contacted the owner and kindly told her bleach takes it out in one wash. She scolded me for having the nerve to suggest bleach when she had been kind enough to extend our checkout time. According to her, that extra time should've been spent bleaching towels. And maybe we should have. Hwever in my mind, I figured any competent person would know to use bleach. If I thought otherwise I obviously would've washed them myself, we just ran out of time. I explained to the owner several times bleach is all it takes to which she finally replied "I don't do the cleaning."
So maybe tell your cleaning lady! Lol. I couldn't believe someone can just charge you for 3 towels because they're too lazy to wash them. Lesson learned on my part - don't assume people know how to do laundry. I had heard from friends who stayed there that the owner can be unreasonable so I guess it wasn't a total surprise. It's worth noting that especially because she gave us a late checkout, we left the house in tip top shape, which we would've done regardless. We aren't careless people who trash the place. Just didn't realize bleach was the make or break. Anyway, if you visit this house you will have a wonderful time. Just beware you may be charged for some extra stuff at the end. And you should probably bring your own towels.