You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit
Welcome to The Blue Heron House! A beautiful 4 Bedroom home with private heated pool, fire pit, kayaks, & private dock on the Little Manatee River that leads to Tampa Bay. Relax on the dock or by the pool and enjoy the picture perfect sunset while watching the dolphins and manatees swim by. Enjoy local waterfront restaurants or stay in and cook in the well equipped kitchen. We have both charcoal and propane outdoor grills available to you as well. Bring your boat, or charter a local captain to take you down river and into Tampa bay!
Property manager
Joe
Languages
English, Spanish
Add dates for prices
Property amenities
Beach
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Pool/Spa
Heated pool
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Kitchenette
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
4 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Note from host: Smoking allowed on pool deck, just use ashtray.
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near the marina
Near the sea
On a river
On the waterfront
Things to do
Heated pool
Kayak
Water sports equipment
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Sailing nearby
Snorkelling nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Water skiing nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Windsurfing 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)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
Garden
Unit size: 2,123 square feet
Similar properties
Waterfront Mid Century Cottage w/Pool and Spa- Close to beaches - Sleeps 9
Waterfront Mid Century Cottage w/Pool and Spa- Close to beaches - Sleeps 9
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Note from host: We have baby gear!
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
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
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
Property is also known as
Home away from home!
Tampa Bay area stunner! 4 Bedroom waterfront oasis!
About the area
Ruskin, FL
What's nearby
Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park - 3 min drive - 1.4 km
Ruskin Family Drive-In - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
Tampa Bay - 7 min drive - 4.1 km
Port of Tampa - 33 min drive - 38.3 km
MacDill Air Force Base - 44 min drive - 53.9 km
Getting around
Tampa Union Station - 29 min drive
St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted) - 39 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 7 min drive
McDonald's - 4 min drive
The Fish House - 3 min drive
Beanie's Bar & Sports Grill - 5 min drive
The Dog House and More - 16 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Does Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
Is Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit located?
This family-friendly Ruskin holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park and Tampa Bay. Ruskin Family Drive-In and E.G. Simmons Regional Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
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Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit Reviews
Reviews
10
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. 55 out of 58 reviews
10 - Excellent
55
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 58 reviews
8 - Good
2
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 58 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10
Great visit!
lori g.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025
8/10
We had a short stay for Spring Break. Bigger beaches were busy and traffic was heavy getting to and from. If we had more time we would have liked to explore the area closer to the property as there was a nice park nearby with a small beach area. Property was clean and worked well for our group of 8.
Kimberly L.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
10/10
The house was great had everything you could possibly need. The pool was wonderful
Michael T.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
10/10
loved it
Hannah D.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
10/10
Everything was great from the booking, to the checking in, to the checking out. The house had everything we needed. We would stay here again.
Clarice F.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
10/10
Very nice house, perfect size and close to all the activities we wanted to pursue. The pool and pool area were fantastic. Sons in law had a blast fishing off the dock.
Roberta B.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023
10/10
We had a wonderful stay!! We really enjoyed the Mr. And Mrs. Crab restaurant!! The home is wonderful our favorite part was the pool and grilling out! We will definitely return again!
Alicia P.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021
10/10
We had a great time here in this house! Great pool and dock for fishing! We will be coming back to stay!
Kristin N.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
10/10
We came from San Antonio, Tx. for a guys trip, house was clean and very nice! Quiet neighborhood as well:
Garret B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
10/10
We had a great time staying at this spacious, well stocked property. The location was somewhat central for us to take day trips to several amazing beaches and even Magic Kingdom. The kids loved swimming in the pool and fishing off the dock.
Erica H.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022
10/10
Just what we wanted and very responsive owners.
Lori R.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
10/10
Well maintained property, huge pool. Shed full of pool toys, bags, kayak, paddle board. Great property to get some sun for a few days.
Joe T.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023
10/10
This place was exactly as shown in the website and the attention to detail with all the extras was exceptional. Joe was an excellent host. We would highly recommend this place .
Susan E.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
10/10
The house is large and very comfortable.
We spent most of our time on the lanai, in the pool or on the canal.
Very relaxing holiday in a quiet neighborhood. The house is very well stocked. No need to buy spices condiments or cleaning products
patricia t.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024
10/10
Property owner was very responsive. House was very clean upon arrival. There were games and puzzles that my kids enjoyed while winding down at night.
Christy A.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023
10/10
Clean, had everything and anything that is needed in a home, very open interior so we had plenty of room for the 6 of us. We enjoyed being able to play in the pool too.
George M.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
10/10
We loved our stay in Ruskin at the Blue Herron House! We saw several manatee and had some dolphin too, right from the dock. Ruskin is a short drive to Tampa and close to Bradenton and Sarasota for the best beaches! The house is clean and well maintained and Ruby was very quick to respond to any communication. Can’t wait for our next stay!
Katherine L.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022
10/10
It felt like home as soon as we walked in the door. It was perfect for our family of 6 and we especially enjoyed the private pool, views and quiet neighborhood.
While we were tucked away in our own space, we were still close enough to travel to several places to eat and visit different beaches.
Ruby's communication was on point with quick responses and made check in/out easy and helped make our vacation perfect.
Brandi H.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
10/10
Ruby was great and very responsive. Nice pool and amazing water views. Daughter loved paddle boat. We would come back!
christopher S.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021
10/10
The house was perfect for our family summer vacation. It's was exactly as shown in the pictures and everyone had space to spread out. The pool was perfect and we spent lots of time splashing around. We even made smores in the fire pit one night, the kids loved it! Publix and Winn Dixie grocery stores are nearby so you can stock up the kitchen and cook some meals. We would definitely recommend this property and we hope to return for next summer's family vacation!
Miriam M.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
10/10
This place was great - comfortable, plenty of space and so much attention to detail. My kids swam everyday in the heated pool. The house was really well stocked - pods for the washer, beach towels, games and even art supplies for the kids. We used the kayaks right off the dock, and it was a quick drive to a beach to swim there as well. Definitely recommend.
Shelly P.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023
10/10
This property is exactly as pictured but what you don’t see are all the little details that made the stay exceptional. The beds are very comfortable (even our Goldilocks found a bed that was just right). The kayaks and paddle boat where great fun and there were plenty of pool toys. Labels on the light switches made it easy to find the correct switch and so many more details made our visit unforgettable.
Julie B.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2023
10/10
We were in the area for work and coming back to this house after a long day was extremely relaxing. Beds are super comfy, pool is warm, the dock is amazing! While there we saw dolphins & manatees. We captured some beautiful pictures of the sunsets & the stillness of the water in the evening. We were also able to enjoy some fresh mango from the trees in the front yard.
The house was very clean, however, when we arrived the trash cans were full & stinky and the trash didn't get picked up for days. The inside of the grill (burners & such) were rusted out & need replaced.
Great house! We really enjoyed our stay and will plan a visit again!
Joy L.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
10/10
This home was perfect for our family of five. Our kids, age 16-22, made full use of the pool, kayak, paddleboard, and paddleboat. We had a bags tournament and the pool deck was perfect for grilling out and playing games. The layout of the house ensured everyone had their own space and allowed for sleeping in or staying up late without bothering someone else. Ruby even provided us with a few items to get us going before we had a chance to get to the store. The home was clean, the neighborhood quiet, and the river was full of action from stingrays to manatees to jumping fish. We didn't even feel the need to drive to a beach. We spent all three days hanging out and enjoying all there is to offer from this home. Ruby was very accommodating and quick to respond to every email. We highly recommend this VRBO if you are planning a trip to Florida!
Chris L.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
10/10
The Blue Heron house was perfect for my family. The attention to detail was not overlooked. The host provided toilet paper, paper towels, towels (bath and beach), shampoo/conditioner, soap, kitchen and dishwasher items to name a few! My children LOVED the toy box. They played for hours. My favorite had to be the door alarm to the pool area. It gave me an extra sense of security with the children. The deck on the canal was very beautiful and peaceful. We all enjoyed the mango tree in the front yard…bonus! The neighborhood is very quiet and friendly. The location could not be beat. We were near grocery stores, and between some of the best beaches. We drove to Indian Rocks beach one day (beautiful water!) and Siesta Key the next (the best sand!). I had an issue with the grill and the electricity going off briefly. The host was very quick to respond and transparent with the issue. Excellent communication and very friendly. I would 100% recommend this house and would definitely stay again.