Runaway Bay Lodge

This place is a hidden gem. Our cabin was wonderful! I told Kennedy I would leave the place clearer than when I found it but that was very hard as the place was immaculate! The view was incredible with the most beautiful sunsets! Very laid back. We definitely will be back.

This location really is a hidden gem. My family has come here twice now and we are planning right now for the next visit. The sunsets here are absolutely amazing. We had the Jamaican jerk chicken cooked by Kennedy and the food was so good. Sitting outside listening to the water and fish jumping makes for a relaxing atmosphere. Excellent vibes and amazing company can be expected at this place I call paradise.

The owners of Runaway Bay are super accommodating! We booked our stay through a travel website that mistakenly allowed us to reserve a room even though Runaway Bay was actually closed (and had been for a prolonged amount of time) and had never received our payment. One of the owners came as soon as he could to set up our room even though it was his day off. We were super grateful for that - many other hotels would never let someone stay in a room if they were closed and had received no payment. The owners are currently working with the travel site we used to figure everything out. As for our stay, Runaway Bay feels so much more comfortable and personable than a formal hotel. In the best way possible, it felt like a close friend's house. The lake was beautiful and stargazing at night was so refreshing. If you reserve a tent, keep in mind that you will be glamping. There's other reviews complaining about bugs, but honestly that's unfair. If you're uncomfortable with bugs and camping in the Florida heat, right in front of a lake, it's probably best to not reserve a tent. The indoor units looked very nice, and would be worth the extra money if bugs and hot weather make you uncomfortable. Also, the majority of the bugs are seasonal and don't bite, but unfortunately are unavoidable in the summer. All in all, Runaway Bay was amazing. If you're looking to rejuvenate yourself in nature with a gorgeous lakeside view and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, this place is for you!

The pros: This is definitely a cute little hippie destination if you are looking to just relax and enjoy the quiet. The hot tub was clean and had a great view of the lake. The cons: Unfortunately despite the location and the vibes, you do not get what you pay for. I saw the pic's and was sold on the experience, but when we got there things were not quite as they were shown. We stayed in the Ome Sweet Ome (Cute name right!) Yurt, the picture make this yurt look new, but it didn't look that way when we got there. There were patches of duct tape on the yurt and screen windows that couldn't be opened because of the holes in them. The outside hadn't been cleaned (pressure washed) in some time. It looked a little run down and dilapidated. I think the AC (ran during the day while I was in there resting) was leaking water onto the floor (if not the ac not sure where the water came from) and the heater (used at night) was not really for more than a cute decoration as a little fireplace, which is fine if you like to sleep in spoon position with your partner for heat, but not the most comfortable sleep. The 'village' was quaint and definitely boasted the hippie vibe which I love! but again the floor planks were old and some had screws coming out that could easily be a tripping hazard. I dock was gone, you see it in pictures, but it was no longer there due to a Hurricane. I get that but you should advise people because my husband wanted to be on that dock fishing but instead he was at the front of the deck fishing or he went to the boat dock next door. there were no railings for the deck either, and as a clumsy person, I was scared to walk close to the edge. The common room where the pool table and kitchenette lived, was OK, but the sink had no handles and you had to use the knob off the pipe under the sink to turn the water on/off. The pool table doubled as a eating table but on the pool felt itself, thus not making it a very nice pool table. I decided it would be a nice treat to have one of the couple meals that you can find on their website. We talked to the owner and he advised that there would be wagu beef empanadas as an app and a fresh salad with Jerk chicken at the main meal. The price is that of a fine dining restaurant so I expected to be fed the 4 course meal that was offered, at the dinner time of sunset-ish.. ok around 7-7:30pm. We were finally asked around 8:30pm with another couple if we would be willing to eat together because otherwise one of us would have to wait longer to eat. As all 4 of us were hungry (verging on hangry) we agreed to eat together. The salad was delish, but there was no wagu beef empanada and the jerk chicken plate was luke warm in some places and cold in others. The food tasted great despite the temp, but again there was no dessert and no 4 courses. We paid but I felt a little like we got ripped off on the overall food and experience promised. It would not be fair to say I wouldn't go back, I would. But the things that need to be done to the place for that to happen seem to be things that haven't changed in a while. So with all that said, was it relaxing yes, was it worth the price or meet the expectations of the website, NO. I wish the owners the best, I think they have a fantastic concept, but need to renovate and do a little housekeeping for the prices that are asking.

We just got back from a week stay and it was amazing. Everything about it was perfect. I haven’t felt more relaxed in a long time. I loved the tiki and everything that was provided in there. There was a dock which was a perfect spot to do some fishing. Enjoyed the hot tub! The outdoor shower was definitely a nice touch to it as well. It really did feel like vacation. The owners are really friendly as well. We felt very welcomed when we arrived. I want to thank them for making this place happen. I was pretty bummed out when we left, but just like everything, all good things have to come to an end. Highly, highly recommend this place!