Purradise Springs — Local services in Alachua

Denise and Thomas are purrrrfect hosts who provided us with a truly amazing and unique experience!  You must stay here if you love cats, because you will become instantly relaxed as you are immersed in a sea of cat purrs. The tents give you a true glamping experience, complete with the creature comforts of A/C or heat, and just the right amount of tranquil space.  Upon arrival, you will find the beds are fully made up with a clean set of sheets and warm blankets that are on THE MOST COMFORTABLE MATTRESS  to sink into.

The cats will visit, stay and roam in and out of the tents if you desire and there are bins provided inside the tents so you can lock up any personal food you bring, so it's kept safely away from the cats.  There is a massive fire pit with nice, comfortable chairs to lounge in while you relax and roast marshmallows. Other than roasting marshmallows, cooking is not allowed on the property, so be prepared to bring ready-to-eat food that you should keep locked up. There are plenty of local restaurants within 5 minutes and High Springs is 15-20 minutes away with a greater selection of restaurants. The cozy and clean guest bathroom is located inside the lodge with towels provided next to the tub/shower. The lodge is also where you will find quite a lot of indoor-only cats as well as the kitten room.  The kitten room is a precious room filled with cats that will sit on your lap for hours and hours if you let them, which the same can be said for many of the indoor/outdoor cats.  There is a hammock right near the fire pit as well as several hammocks out in the star field.  I wish we stayed longer to explore more of the property and experience the hammocks at night in the star field, but that will have to be for a future visit.  I highly recommend taking a walk to the star field soon after you arrive so you can see where it is located and then plan for some time when the stars come out to have a beautiful and peaceful stargazing experience, while relaxing in a hammock.  Denise and Thomas honestly do so much for each and every cat they have, which is evident in the care, love and attention they give to all of their cats. They dedicate their lives to nurturing, feeding and giving veterinariay care to every cat in their care, which gives guests the opportunity to have this amazing experience at their cat sanctuary.. I could go on and on, but I highly recommend the experience and if you are unable to visit, please donate anything you can to help them with their continued, daily expenses to care for...

This was a surprise getaway from my wife Carol, I was kinda skeptical in the beginning…yeah right, Purradise with nothing but kitties’ and no sooner than we arrived the cats start coming out of old buildings, and from the tall grass and it actually looked like the camp was being flooded with cats. So you basically go there to relax and mingle with a ton of cats which was a lot of fun especially when we couldn’t keep track of who was who since the whole time there the kitties are fighting for your attention. One thing to remember is that this is a camping/ relaxing trip so make sure you bring food and drinks that doesn’t need refrigeration unless you have a cooler, also bring earplugs but more importantly bring tons of cat food and treats to support Thom and Denises’ efforts to give these cats the life they deserve. At night we really enjoyed sitting out by the bonfire with the cats sitting on our laps and under our chairs. And when we turned in for the night both my wife and I had 3 cats (6) sleeping with us. I look forward to making another trip maybe next...

If you don't love cats, stop reading and find another place to visit. But if you are a cat lover, this is the place for you!

Accommodations: this is real "glamping." The tents (purrts) are clean, spacious, and comfortable. There's a full bed, fold out foam couch, heat and a/c. We stayed during a cold snap in January and were toasty warm.

Area: the springs at Itchatucknee State Park area amazing. The clearest water I've ever seen. We hiked several nice trails, and there's kayaking and tubing if you're so inclined. There are several good dining options within a few miles.

The Hosts: Thom and Denise are the real deal. They are fully committed to the welfare of the many cats they have rescued. They give you plenty of space. And we had great conversations around the fire in the evenings.

The Cats: An incredibly well socialized herd representing every variety of domestic cat I can think of. They greet you upon arrival, sit in your lap, and join you when you sleep. For a cat person, this place is nirvana.

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