Things to do nearHolly Bluff Resort Marina

Holly Bluff Resort Marina has operated on this quiet bend of the St. Johns River for decades, earning a loyal following among anglers, nature lovers, and families seeking a slower kind of Florida vacation. The marina sits within the Hontoon Island area, a stretch of river that has drawn people for thousands of years, from the Timucua who once inhabited these banks to the fishing camps that sprang up in the early twentieth century.

Today the marina offers houseboat rentals that let you travel the river at your own pace, tying up in secluded coves and waking to birdsong rather than traffic. Boat rentals and dockage round out the offerings, making it straightforward to explore the braided channels, oxbows, and lakes that feed into the St. Johns. Fishing charters operate in the region, targeting largemouth bass, bream, and catfish that thrive in these warm, tannin-stained waters.

A short trip upriver brings you to Blue Spring State Park, where a first-magnitude spring pours 72-degree water into the river and manatees gather by the hundreds in winter months. The surrounding landscape of DeLand, Florida rewards those who linger, with a historic downtown and a university town atmosphere just inland from the river.

Holly Bluff Resort Marina remains one of the most genuine entry points to the St. Johns River experience, offering access to wild Florida that feels genuinely off the beaten path.