Entire apartment

The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm.

Photo gallery for The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm.

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Smart TV, fireplace
Combined shower/tub, hair dryer, towels, soap

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire apartment

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet friendly
    Pet friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm.

This luxury 1600 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment sits above the Show barn. Totally renovated with brand new full kitchen, granite countertops and large island. New stainless steel appliances (stove, refrigerator, microwave, diswasher), Kuerig coffee maker, toaster, blender, dishes and pots and pans for cooking. 2 large bedrooms with full baths and king size beds, tv's in both bedrooms. Washer/dryer, hair dryers, electric fireplace & central heat and air that you control. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and SmartTV with YouTube Plus Live TV Streaming. Windows all across the front and back to give you a spectacular view of the farm and animals. Full length front and back porch to relax, sit and sip your coffee while you watch our beautiful sunrise or sunsets.

Welcome to Rock Haven Farm with our granddaddy oak tree canopied driveway that will stun you. Enjoy the stunning views over our 60-acre horse farm. A quite and tranquil setting, yet just minutes from an I-75 interchange. Located halfway between Ocala and Gainesville, and 90 minutes north of Orlando.

Love animals? We have grandkids so we have animals! ;) Come visit and interact with all our adorable small animals. We have goats, mini donkeys, belted galloway (oreo) cows, and alpacas. And of course since we are a horse farm, we have horses who love carrots and apples. We do not offer horseback riding, but we can point you in the right direction if that is your interest.

Three night minimum stay.

***NON-SMOKING***
No smoking allowed inside the house, you are welcome to smoke outside, but no cigarette butts on ground. No beer bottle caps on ground either.

Pets are welcome, we love pets! ~~~Pets are allowed with a $15 per night pet fee per pet. Sorry, no rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans or aggressive dogs.~~~ ***ATTENTION***If you bring a pet, please bring your own food and water dish. DO NOT use the kitchen dishes for pet bowls. If you do not bring pet bowls, the Dollar Tree is 10-12 minutes away, please make a trip and spend $2.00. If you use the kitchen dishes or bowls, you will be charged $75.00 to replace the whole set. Also, bring your own pet furniture covering if you are going to let your pet on the furniture. If you let your pet on the furniture without protecting it with your own pet coverings, you will be charged an extra cleaning fee of $275.00. When you leave, if we find pet hair on the furniture, we will take pictures of the pet hair on the furniture and send them to you along with notice that we are charging to have a professional shampooing of the furniture. Also, if your pet sleeps with you, bring your own bedding. If you let your pet on our bedding (sheets, comforter, pillows), you will be charged $225.00 to cover the cost of new bedding. Our cleaning company refuses to pick pet hair out of the bedding as it takes hours, so our only choice is to dispose of it.

A LEASE AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM IS REQUIRED.

We have facilities for horse owners to bring their horses on vacation with them. We have 43 stalls in 2 concrete barns and plenty of pasture turnout available (proof of negative coggins required). Contact us for rates. We welcome guests with or without horses. You will find our tranquil ranch setting a wonderful place to relax and enjoy God's surrounding beauty.

We are a family owned and operated farm located in beautiful northeast Ocala, just 21 miles from HITS, 23 miles from the Florida Horse Park, 12 miles from the Jockey Club and 21 miles from the new World Equestrian Center. Contact us for seasonal rates available for Equine Eventers.

Rock Haven Farm is centrally located with ease to all major attractions and activities such as 20 minutes to the Ocala National Forest with great camping and horse trails and 10 minutes to zip lining and horseback riding. It is approx. 80 miles to Daytona and Ormond Beaches, 70 miles to St Augustine Beach. On the gulf side; about 50 miles to Crystal River and Kings Bay. (Great areas to watch the manatees and dolphins play). Rock Haven Farm is 14 miles from the famous Silver Springs National Park with the world famous glass bottom boats. It is approximately 1-2 hrs from most major attractions including Disney World, Bush Gardens, Epcot, Universal Studios and Kennedy Space Center.

Property manager

Pamala VandeStreek

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $15 per pet per night. No vicious dogs allowed.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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 neighborhood

Map
Citra, FL

What's nearby

  • Bubba Raceway Park - 13 min drive
  • The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park - 15 min drive
  • Ocala Downtown Square - 20 min drive
  • I-75 Super Flea Market - 23 min drive
  • World Equestrian Center – Ocala - 28 min drive

Getting around

  • Ocala Station - 20 min drive
  • Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mimi's Diner - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Saddle Rack Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪MJ's Country Cafe & Buffet - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Anthony's Pizza & Subs - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The "Observatory". A spacious apartment on a gated horse farm. located?

Situated in Citra, this apartment building is within 9 mi (15 km) of The Orange Shop, Orange Creek Restoration Area, and Florida State Fire College. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park and Bubba Raceway Park are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tracey A.

Fantastic
Beautiful and relaxing property. Loved the livestock. Wonderful property owners!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda K.

Excellent place to stay!
My husband, daughter and 2 1/2 yo grandson enjoyed staying here! A very large place, clean and Pam greeted us upon arriving to take us up to the apt. to explain a few things. We loved being able to walk around the property to see the horses, donkeys and goats. We would definitely stay here again if coming back to this area!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristen M.

Amazing Barn Apartment!
A beautiful apartment on top of a working barn. Beautiful scenic views! Owner was so sweet and accommodating! Definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura H.

Great place for families
This was our second time staying on Pamala’s property but the first in the Observatory. What a treat! Spacious and open inside with full porches on the front and back. Wonderful kitchen with everything you could possibly need! My grandkids loved going out to pet and feed the many animals, especially when the owners were out to chat with them. Great communication with the host whenever we had any questions.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Treasure B.

Wonderful!
This property was the perfect location for our family vacation. We can’t say enough good things about it. Pam was great at communicating.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Leslie R.

Lovely Country Home
We chose this property because of it's location. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. The hosts were very pleasant and communication was excellent. We definitely will stay here in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andy N.

Perfect
Perfect
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy L.

Making Memories
Making memories on a family gathering that was long over do. In previous years we were not able to all get together. This year a special couple on their wedding day brought us together. (Missing one person do to a close delivery date) The rental was in an excellent location from the venue to their house. We would have loved to stay longer to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. #beautifulplacebeautifulpeople
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eileen K.

Really Nice Rental w/ a Terrific Host
Truly enjoyed our stay in this brand new rental. All beds, furniture, appliances, etc. were high-quality. Beds, couches, chairs and stools were all extremely comfortable. Completely open floor plan with lots of space and access to a large front and back deck, offering a great opportunity to sit out and enjoy the sunrise, sunset or just watch the many farm animals on the property (horses, goats, donkeys, alpacas and cows). Speaking of farm animals, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there was NO farm odor at all (we were somewhat concerned this might be an issue when we originally booked the rental). My wife's got a pretty sensitive nose, so, if that's you and you're concerned, it shouldn't be an issue. It's a bit of a stair climb to get up to the apartment, but, as long as you don't have any significant health or joint issues, it shouldn't be a problem. We certainly had no trouble with it. Pam was a TERRIFIC host, quickly addressing any issues we ran into (nearly all of which were simply the result of it being a brand new rental that was missing a few odds and ends things that Pam quickly picked up and delivered to us). She's a truly wonderful person who clearly wanted to do all she could to make sure we had a great stay. We took an enjoyable walk around the farm, feeding Frosted Mini-Wheats to the various animals (at Pam's suggestion). All of the animals were very friendly, even the alpacas (and Pam assured us they are not prone to "spitting" as some are). If you want to eat out very much, there's little available for dinner, unless you want to drive about 25 minutes each way. Five Star pizza in Citra was decent & open in the evening, but most other restaurants nearby seemed to only be open for breakfast and lunch. That being said, there were quite a few well reviewed restaurants in Ocala (We ate at Harry's, at Pam's suggestion - the food was excellent). If you've never been, try and make a trip out to the WEC (World Equestrian Center) where they apparently do quite a few horse competitions and such. It's quite impressive & free to attend. There is seating & concessions on-site. If you're into the live oak/spanish moss look, you've got to do some driving around the area (McIntosh is a gorgeous little old town). Also, a walk on the Orange Creek North Tract will be a real treat for you. Location was great: close to Sliver Springs (definitely do some kayaking there), Gainesville, Ocala, etc. Would certainly stay again. Great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022