Old Florida Cottage

3-Bedroom Beachfront Home in St. Augustine – A True Florida Gem with Ocean Views and a Spacious Wraparound Deck.

Step back into a simpler era at the Old Florida Cottage, a quintessential beach haven where “Florida is as Florida was.” Nestled on a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil Summer Haven River, this unique property offers the rare duality of a private beachfront setting and a peaceful backyard estuary filled with mangroves and local wildlife.

The interior is a thoughtful ode to Old Florida, featuring eclectic furnishings, cozy gathering spaces, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. Large glass front and back doors allow beautiful natural light and stunning water views from inside the home. Relax on the couch while watching sailboats drift along the Intracoastal or pelicans soaring above the ocean waves. On beautiful days, opening both doors creates an incredible cross breeze throughout the cottage.

One of the best parts of staying here is being just steps from the ocean! With the beautiful coastal views and sea breeze, many guests enjoy opening the doors to let the fresh air in.

Please keep in mind that, due to our direct oceanfront location and Florida's warm, humid climate, the air conditioning works best when all doors and windows remain closed. Frequent opening of the doors throughout the day may cause the indoor temperature to rise and can make it take longer for the home to cool back down.

Panoramic Views: A massive wraparound deck provides breathtaking views of both the ocean sunrise and river sunset.

Gourmet Dining: A fully equipped kitchen and indoor dining for 8 make family meals easy and memorable, while the gas grill and outdoor dining area overlook the Intracoastal.

Adventure Access: Your vacation begins with a scenic drive down a private beach road layered with both sand and gravel, adding to the secluded Old Florida charm.

Nature at Your Door: Watch dolphins play in the surf, pelicans glide overhead, and shrimp boat lights sparkle on the horizon after sunset.

•No pets
•No smoking
•No parties or events allowed
A/C Notice: During the hottest part of the day, the A/C may take longer to reach the set temperature due to the intense Florida sun and our oceanfront location. Keeping doors and windows closed will help the system cool the home as efficiently as possible

Sea Turtle Lighting Reminder

Our beach is home to protected sea turtles, and local lighting guidelines help keep them safe.

To help protect these amazing animals, we kindly ask that after sunset you:

Close all curtains and blinds if interior lights are on.
Turn off outdoor lights whenever possible.
Avoid shining flashlights or other bright lights toward the beach.

Thank you for helping preserve our beautiful coastline and protect the wildlife that calls it home. We appreciate your cooperation!

Joseph Ellen Guest Protection Program. We believe vacation should be about making memories—not worrying about "what ifs." And let's be honest... nobody likes unexpected damage claims.

To help protect both our guests and our homes, all reservations are required to complete the Joseph Ellen Guest Protection Program before check-in.

As part of the simple pre-arrival process, you'll:

Complete a quick guest verification.
Review and electronically sign the Joseph Ellen Rental Agreement.
Choose one of the following protection options:
Damage Waiver: A small non-refundable fee that provides coverage for eligible accidental damage during your stay. This is the most popular option and helps avoid unexpected costs from minor accidents.
Security Deposit: A fully refundable security deposit hold that's released after checkout, provided no damage or policy violations are found.

We'll send you a secure guest portal link before your arrival to complete these quick steps. It only takes a few minutes and helps create a smoother, worry-free experience for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your stay!