Choctaw Lodge Bed & Breakfast Retreat

Choctaw Lodge consists of three houses, all of which offer an "up close and personal" view of the Choctawhatchee River. The lodge, located in the center of the property, is the main house. Short distances from the main house are the boat house and the guest house located on either side of the lodge. The boat house and guest house are open to our guests. Also available is the Choctaw Lady, a 48' houseboat. All houses and houseboat are completely furnished
with fully equipped kitchens. Each house has its own unique blend of home and comfort and all are non-smoking. In the evenings, the properties are beautifully lit to accommodate walking from area to area.

The Lodge

The lodge is the property's main house. It is the place Ron and Kathryn call home. Although rooms are not available in the main house for overnight guests, it is the center of our gathering place for many lodge activities around the house. Breakfast is served daily at the main house on the beautiful 900 sq. ft. porch or the indoor dining room. The Jacuzzi which is available to our guests is also located on the main porch. In addition, and upon request, we offer yoga classes with a certified instructor and massage by our licensed massage therapist (both of which must be scheduled in advance). Our favorite fire pit is located on the deck attached to the main house. Many evenings are spent around this fire pit learning about the discoveries and experiences of the day. You will find hammocks and swings and the fish house for frying up the catch of the day. Should a land line phone be needed, we do provide a land line in the main house as well as internet service.

There is always a spot to relax outdoors or stroll through the paths from one house to the other. Throughout the property you will find many special places, with swings, picnic tables, hammocks, benches for river viewing or chairs around one of the three fire pits. One of Ron and Kathryn's favorite spots for enjoying the sunset or sunrise is their sundowner deck built over the river for special viewing. Our guests are also welcome to use the Jacuzzi located on the porch of the main house. For those with a bit of a competitive spirit, we offer horse shoes and bocce ball on property. Whichever house you choose to stay in, you will most certainly awake to Hawks soaring high in search of breakfast, house wrens bouncing back and forth to their nests and squirrels scurrying overhead in the trees with an early start to their day. Due to the flood plains, all three houses are built on stilts and are not wheel chair accessible.

The Boat House

The boat house is located on the east side of the lodge. It is a captivating two bedroom, one bath house comfortably decorated in a fish camp style. At the right time of the season this house is showered with the fragrance of Wisteria growing wildly on the River Bank. The boat ramp used to launch our boats, canoes and kayaks is located on the side of this house. The Boat House includes a large screened in porch facing the river. It is cooled in the summertime by fans and window air conditioners and heated in the winter time with a choice of individual oil heaters, a centralized gas heater or an actual wood burning fireplace in the living room. One bedroom has a double bed and the other a queen bed. Both bedrooms share a common closet. The couch also makes out into a comfortable queen size bed. All linens and towels are provided. A digital TV in the living room offers twelve local channels with a built in DVD and VCR player for viewing movies. We have a small library of movies in the boat house or you may bring your own. No satellite or cable services are available in this house. We also have a wonderful library with many different types of books for your reading pleasures during your visit. The kitchen is fully equipped with dishes, cooking utensils, pot and pans, microwave, coffee pot, refrigerator, gas stove and oven. Near the boat house you will find our lower deck built over the river with a fire pit. It is a great spot for relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet of the river. You may also want to lounge in one of our hammocks. The boat house is a delightful and comfortable house that many of our guests prefer. (Sorry, no Land Line phones in either the boat house or guest house).

Pricing:
Daily:
          o Minimum Stay of Two Nights Required.
          o Price includes breakfast at the Lodge every morning and daily access to canoes and kayaks at no extra charge.
          o $169 + Tax per night for two people
          o $260 + Tax per night for up to 4 people
          o ($50 for each additional person up to 6)
Weekly:
          o Price includes breakfast at the Lodge every morning and daily access to canoes and kayaks at no extra charge.
          o $850 for two people, 6 nights
          o ($45 for each additional person up to 6)

The Guest House

Just a short stroll west off the lodge, through the small garden path and past the gazebo is the enchanting cottage style house we call the guest house. Laced in jasmine, the charming nature of the guest house is alluring to those who wish to enjoy the tranquility the river offers. The guest house has two bedrooms, (one queen size, one double), two baths, kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry room and a sweet little screened porch facing the river. The delightful antique swing on the porch is a favorite place for guests to relax. The dining room is surrounded by windows and built in window seats to relax and read while enjoying the view of the river. The living room couch makes into a comfortable queen size bed. The fully equipped kitchen includes oven, stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, cooking utensils, pots, pans and dishes. This house also includes a laundry room with a washer and dryer, central heat and air, and a satellite dish TV with DVD and VCR player. (Sorry no land line phones in either the boat house or guest house). Just down the steps towards the river is another fire pit for those who wish to sit around and enjoy the outdoors and a fire. In the evenings you will enjoy the sounds of the swamps as they come alive with crickets, frogs, locusts, owls and other nature sounds you can only hear at night. Next to the fire pit is our gazebo surrounded by the sweet scent of jasmine growing up the sides. It is another favorite spot for our guests, especially in the mornings for coffee and tea.

Pricing:
Daily:
Minimum Stay of Two Nights Required.
Price includes breakfast at the Lodge every morning and daily access to canoes and kayaks at no extra charge.
$199 + Tax per night for two people
$360 + Tax per night for up to 4 people
($50 for each additional person up to 6)
Weekly:
Price includes breakfast at the Lodge every morning and daily access to canoes and kayaks at no extra charge.
$1,020 for two people, 6 nights
($45 for each additional person up to 6)

The Choctaw Lady

For those interested in an ultimate adventure, you may want to consider spending the night on the Choctawhatchee River aboard The Choctaw Lady, our 48' house boat. The Choctaw Lady is especially suited for birders, photographers and naturalists who wish to explore the river in a more intimate environment. Experiencing the swamps and the river at night can be exciting and challenging for those who are adventuresome at heart. The Choctaw Lady is powered by generator. It has a Master bedroom with a queen size bed in the aft of the boat. Forward and below deck is an additional bedroom with two double beds. The galley is fully equipped with a gas stove, microwave, coffee pot, dishes, pots and pans. It is also equipped with central heat and air, and the head (bathroom) includes a toilet, sink and shower. The couch in the living room makes into a comfortable queen size bed. The main deck offers room for your kayak or canoes which you may launch in the mornings at you leisure to further explore what the river offers. There is an upper deck with table and chairs for outside dining. Our licensed Captain will take you and The Choctaw Lady to a designated area removed from day to day civilization where you will spend the night. Our staff will check on you in the evening before dark and in the morning after sunrise. For your safety, the house boat may only be moved by one of our licensed captains. For emergency purposes and safety precautions the houseboat is tied to the river bank where cell phone service is available. The Choctaw Lady is available for overnight trips only when the weather and river conditions permit.

Pricing:
Daily:
Includes securing boat, Captain boat checks in morning and evening and breakfast groceries in refrigerator for you to prepare.
$299 + Tax per night for two people
$450 + Tax per night for up to 4 people
($75 each additional person up to 6)
Weekly:
Includes securing boat, Captain boat checks in morning and evening and breakfast groceries in refrigerator for you to prepare.
$1,800 for two people, 6 nights
($75 for each additional person up to 6)

Here at Choctaw Lodge, our retreat offers many daily trips and different activities on the river. The trips are specially suited for nature lovers who are in search of the best and most complete experience possible on the Choctawhatchee River. Our goal is to make your visit pleasant, comfortable and personal for you. In order to meet your expectations, we suggest a customized trip designed to best suit your needs and time on the River. Whatever your choice, discovering the Choctawhatchee river by chartered boat, canoes or kayaks, will allow you to experience this wonderful life on the river.

Our Guide boats are available for charter with a licensed Captain. Having a licensed Captain aboard frees you to enjoy the scenery and concentrate on spotting and photographing wild life, plant life and birds, (or fishing as our captains know the best fishing spots around). Your Captain will also take you into beautiful pristine, hidden lakes known only to a few locals, or you may choose to discover our beautiful natural spring fed swimming holes ... Not to mention our own personal favorite sandbars we love to swim at ourselves.

Choctaw Lodge offers 1/2 day or all day trips with our experienced Captain aboard one of our three motor boats. Our canoes and kayaks are a free amenity to you as a guest staying at the lodge. However, if you require a guide, our Captains are available to give you a guided tour by canoe or kayak for a fee. If you have your own canoes or kayaks, feel free to bring them with you.

There are over 79 species of birds living in this area including birds of prey such as osprey, hawks, owls and eagles. You may also spot other species of birds such as the blue heron, egrets, red-bellied woodpecker, the pileated woodpecker and the Mississippi kite, among many, many others. It has been rumored that the "possibly" extinct ivory-billed woodpecker has been spotted in this area. You may want to keep a sharp look out just in case! Keep a keen eye open for our leaping Sturgeons as well. These prehistoric fish are found in the Choctawhatchee River during spawning season. They can weigh up to 160 lbs and are often seen leaping two to three feet out of the water during the season. They do make quite a splash! Other fish in this river include bass, channel catfish, brim, sunfish and mullet, among others. More times than not, you will spot alligators resting on the river banks while the sun warms their cold blooded bodies. Three feet? Six feet? Eleven Feet? Yes we have seen them all! Only in winter months while hibernating do you not see alligators. Turtles lazily sleep on logs while snails lay their eggs at the bases of 1000 year old cypress trees. Twenty-one aquatic snails and freshwater mussel species exist in the Choctawhatchee river. Some of these species are found only in this river. Other wildlife in this area, but rarely seen are Black Bear, Coyotes, Florida Panther, Bob Cats, Deer and Wild Hogs. Turkeys are often seen on our roads in the early mornings.

Along with thriving cypress and cedar trees, other species of plant life found up and down the river include magnolia trees, needle palms, yellow (flame) wild azaleas, rare orchids, ferns, willows, Southern Pine, Beech, Laurel Oak, Basswood, Florida Maple, the fragrant Tupelo and American Holly. Many other plants adorn the river banks making every season unique and interesting throughout the year. At the right time of season, our Captain may pull up to wild scuppernong grape vines growing on the river banks. Yummy!

1/2 Day Trips

A 1/2 day trip is a chartered three hour trip. After breakfast, you will board our boat ready for your 1/2 day excursion on the Choctawhatchee River with our Captain/tour guide. Many directions can be chosen for your 1/2 day trip. You can choose from a trip to the springs as you tour the bird, plant and wild life along the way. Or you may choose to discover one of many hidden lakes. It is an adventure in itself just to make it through the swamps and tributaries that take you into these hidden lakes. This trip includes your Captain/guide, snacks and water provided by Choctaw Lodge. You are welcome to bring additional drinks or food of your choice.

All Day Trips

Our all day trip offers more of paradise, covering additional territory withinyour day. The all day trip includes all of the same opportunities as the 1/2 day trip with the chance to travel further up or down river. Each area of the river is different. This trip may offer more sightings of wild life, plant life and bird life. You will have a chance to experience the river, enjoy lunch, take a swim and return in time for dinner. Another choice for the all day excursion is a "SPECIAL TRIP TO THE BAY." The Choctawhatchee River eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico. As this trip down river turns from fresh water into brackish water it becomes the River Delta dividing into many rivers before emptying directly into the Choctawhatchee Bay and eventually flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. This trip down river into the Salt Water Bay offers many different species of plants as the landscape changes considerably closer to the Bay. You will leave Choctaw Lodge after breakfast. As you journey towards the Bay, the opportunities for spotting wild life and plant life abound, changing drastically as you arrive closer to the Bay. Your all day five hour trip includes, snacks, water, lunch and soft drinks.

Sunset Cruise

After a busy day on the river and before dinner, you will enjoy the sheer beauty of the river at sunset. As life on the river winds down for the day the Captain will shut the engine down just before the sun sets. With the engine off, you will drift quietly and methodically down river enjoying wine and cheese provided by Choctaw Lodge. This excursion is approximately 1 hour.

Pricing

• The River Runner is a 24 foot Carolina Skiff available for 1/2 or all day charters and Sunset cruises. It carries up to a maximum of six people and minimum of two, plus your captain/guide.
• 1/2 Day/three hour trip with snacks and water:
  • 1-2 people: $200 plus tax
  • 2-4 people: $200 plus tax
  • 5-6 people: additional $50 per person plus tax
• All Day/five hour trip with snacks, water, lunch & soft drinks:
  • 1-2 people: $340 plus tax
  • 2-4 people: $340 plus tax
  • 5-6 people: additional $85 per person plus tax
• Sunset Cruise Approx 1 hour long and includes wine and cheese, soft drinks and beer compliments of Choctaw Lodge: $35 Per Person + Tax (Up to 6 People)
• Night Cruise Approx 1 1/2 hours includes a lesson on the river at night. Water and soft drinks provided: $55 Per Person + Tax (Up to 6 People)

Night/Full Moon Cruises

You really haven't experienced the river until you experience it at night. This river comes alive with nocturnal creatures scurrying around the river banks and alligators quietly swimming past. You will join our captain aboard "The River Runner" to enjoy a late night 1 1/2 hour cruise. On this trip you are sure to experience the spirit of the river at night. And if you are lucky enough to be staying at Choctaw Lodge on a full moon, then, you will truly see the beauty of this river under the magic of a full clear moon. With stars shining, the moonlight glows bright as day light, casting shadows on the trees reflecting in the water. Depending on the season, your experience may vary. Typically, there may be a moment of silence, then suddenly sounds erupt as bull frogs and locust harmonize calling out to each other. Lightning bugs flicker, mosquito hawks fly above and you suddenly notice a slow movement in the water. We move our flashlights to the edge of the river bank to find alligators hunting for dinner. Yes the river is very much alive at night. Whether full moon, half moon or no moon, you will not be disappointed with your night cruise.

• The Choctaw Lady is a 48' Houseboat available for 1/2 day, all day, sunset cruises and overnight charters. It has a full galley, head and sleeps six.
• 1/2 day/three hour trip with licensed Captain includes snacks, water, soft drinks: $400 flat rate plus tax for up to six people
• All day/five hour trip with licensed Captain includes snacks, water, lunch and soft drinks: $600 flat rate plus tax for up to six people
• Sunset Cruise Approx 1 hour long with Licensed Captain includes wine, cheese, soft drinks and beer compliments of Choctaw Lodge: $150 + Tax for up to 6 People
• Over night (Bareboat)

Canoes and Kayaks

The canoes and kayaks are a free amenity to our guests staying in the boat house, guest house or house boat. Guided tours by canoe or kayak are available up on request for the following prices.

• 1/2 day guided tour: $100 + Tax
• All day: $175 + Tax

If you are a guest at Choctaw Lodge and have your own boat canoe or kayak, please feel free to bring you own. If you would like a guide on your boat, our Captain is for hire. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Jets Skis and Wave Runners are NOT allowed.

**If fishing, you must bring your own fishing gear & provide a Fla. Fishing license.**

Welcome To Our Backyard! That is the Standard greeting guests receive when arriving at Choctaw Lodge Bed & Breakfast Retreat. Owners Ron and Kathryn Hardy are always delighted to share their "place In Paradise" with nature enthusiasts in search of a unique encounter with the natural beauty of the Choctawhatchee River. The Hardy's have much to offer their guests including bird watching, nature and plant photography, swamp tours, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and much more in an area relatively unknown to most people. "It is the best kept secret in the Panhandle of Florida," the owners explain, "and our goal is to preserve it in its pristine and natural state as long as we are here."

Click Here To Read More About Our Wonderful Accommodations

Choctaw Lodge is located on the banks of the Choctawhatchee River between Ebro and Bruce, FL. Though secluded, guests are only 25 minutes away from Panama City Beach and 35 miles away from Destin, Seaside, and Grayton Beach. The EO Wilson Biophilia Nature Center at Nokuse Plantation is only seven miles from the Lodge and borders much of the Nokuse Conservation property. The Choctaw Lodge river front property includes three houses nestled among an array of indigenous trees including cypress, cedar and hard woods. Many species of flowers, birds (some rare) and animals can be viewed on this beautiful river. Through guided tours you will discover hidden natural springs and lakes only the locals know about or you may venture out on your own exploring in canoes and kayaks. Your days end with sunsets around the fire pits or a sunset cruise in one of our tour boats. When weather does not permit activities in the open boats, there is always the lodge's own 48' houseboat, "The Choctaw Lady".

With only a handful of dwellings between the lodge and Highway 20, Choctaw Lodge is surrounded by tens of thousands of acres dedicated to the preservation through water management plus the Nokuse Plantation with their 48,000 acres of protected land, assuring the survival and conservation of this beautiful area.

"This is not your typical Bed and Breakfast," explains Kathryn, "It is a "RETREAT" offering so much more and is dedicated to the conservation of this beautiful and rare part of Northwest Florida. It is a peaceful, tranquil lifestyle we have grown to love and it is our pleasure to make sure your stay at Choctaw Lodge is memorable. After your initial visit, we will anxiously await your return as everyone who experiences this river and Choctaw Lodge, does return!"

Owners Ron and Kathryn Hardy were both raised on rivers. Ron on the Tensaw River in the Mobile River Delta and Kathryn on the Ocmulgee River in Georgia. While living and working in Panama City Beach, they were longing to live on a river as they did growing up. To their surprise and delight, they discovered the Choctawhatchee River coincidentally, after finding river front property for sale scribbled on a note card and attached to a bulletin board at a local feed and seed shop.

"The rest is history" explains Ron, "The short version of the story is, we found paradise, retired and built our dream home, Choctaw Lodge. As we were building the lodge, the riverfront houses on both sides of us became available, so we bought and remodeled each one. Our goal was to have plenty of space for friends and family while visiting. We have been blessed with a great life."

In the past ten years, Ron and Kathryn have been privileged to meet photographers, scientists, environmentalists, nature lovers and bird watchers from all over the United States. With this area so isolated, it is hard for visitors to find a place to stay on the river so they can experience closeness to nature and have easy access to the river everyday. The Hardy's property was a perfect solution to the needs of these special visitors. "We love to entertain and open our lives to people who share the same interest and appreciation of this fragile and beautiful environment surrounding Choctaw Lodge." Kathryn speaks from the heart, "It was only natural after so many requests to open our doors to the people with like interests. Since Ron is a licensed boat captain we are able to accommodate the needs of our guests both on land and on water."

As a bed and breakfast home it is our pleasure to offer a variety of morning meals to accommodate your stay with us. Meals vary from day to day as we take pride in our unique blend of southern cuisine and gourmet flavors. Choose from delicious continental pastries, fresh fruits or full course morning meals. On Sunday mornings enjoy from a special Sunday Brunch menu with champagne. For those with special dietary needs, we will be happy to work with you on a personal basis. Just let us know prior to your arrival. Breakfast is served in the main lodge from 7 - 9 am. Afternoon Tea/Desserts are served 2 - 3 pm.

Each day a selection of pastries, cereals, oatmeal, fruit, coffee and tea are available. Or you may order from our chef's special menu which includes hot meals fresh from the kitchen. Choices from the chef's special menu must be planned prior to your arrival in order to assure freshness and prompt service. (Menu may change periodically due to seasonal availability). All Meals Include Your Choice of Coffee, Tea, Milk or Juices.

Yoga and Massage

"Therapy For Your Mind, Body and Soul"

Choctaw Lodge Retreat is an ideal location for meditation, yoga and massage therapy. Through advance reservations, yoga classes with a certified instructor can be arranged. Our licensed massage therapist is also available with advance reservations. Additional information on our instructors and massage therapist will be available soon. In the meantime, feel free to call Choctaw Lodge at 850-835-1784 for reservations.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 189
Ebro, FL 32437