General Facility Information and Rules

 All guests/residents are required to have a signed General Release, Liability Waiver, and Assumption of All Risk and Liability on file before entering the property.

All Guests, Residents & Visitors Must Sign This Release

• For the safety of the horses on site, do not touch or feed other guests’ horses.
• Campfires are not permitted unless in an approved fire ring. Please contact the office for questions or to borrow an approved fire ring.
• Absolutely NO SMOKING in the pavilion or rooms.
• All cigarette butts must be placed in the trash.
• Your campsite must remain clean. All garbage must be removed upon departure. The trash dumpster is located between the dog park and Royal Palm Cottage for excess waste.
• Parking allowed in designated parking areas only.
• Complimentary guest bicycles are located at the covered bike rack at the opposite end of the pavilion from the pool. Bicycles are available for use from 7 am-5 pm and must be returned to the bike rack daily.
• Please respect your neighbors. Quiet hours are observed from 10 pm to 7 am.
• Black Prong is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

Registration

• All Guests are required to check-in at the main office upon arrival.
• Check-in time is 3 pm-5 pm for Cottages & 11 am-5 pm for RV Pads (late arrivals need to be prearranged and may result in an additional fee.)
• Check-out time is 11:00 AM for ALL reservations.
• Only one (1) camping unit will be allowed per site.
• Please note that all accommodations, RV sites, and stall assignments are subject to change without notice.
• All apartments, RV sites, and camping sites are subject to an 11% sales tax. Stalls are subject to 7% sales tax.
• Any remaining balance will be due upon arrival.

Vehicles

• Horses have the right-of-way on the premises of Black Prong.
• While driving please observe the 10-mph speed limit.
• ALL golf carts used at Black Prong must be registered and operated by a licensed driver.
• No motorized vehicles are permitted in the state forest trails. Forestry officials will issue fines.
• Effective November 1, 2024, Black Prong will no longer permit cars, trucks, or horse trailers to be driven on or across the Property other than for the purpose of delivering people, animals, or supplies and for traveling to designated long term parking areas. Black Prong will provide one high quality electric golf cart with each Accommodation for use on the Property. Guests may choose not to use the Black Prong electric golf cart and may bring personally owned electric golf carts or utility vehicles for use on the Property.

CANCELLATION POLICIES THROUGH 10/31/2024

• Upon making reservations, a 25% deposit is required.
• Long-Term Stays/Reservations made well in advance: the deposit is 100% refundable if you cancel your reservation within 90 days of your stay, and it is 50% refundable if canceled within 60 days of your stay.  There will be no refunds for cancellations within 30 days of your stay.
• Short-Term Stays/Reservations made within 30 days or less: the deposit is 100% refundable if you cancel your reservation within 14 days of your stay, it is 50% refundable if canceled within 4 days of your stay. There will be no refunds for cancellations within 3 days of your stay.

CANCELLATION POLICIES FOR RESERVATIONS 11/1/2024 AND AFTER 

• For stays of 30 days or more, your deposit is fully refundable if you cancel your reservation at least 60 days prior to arrival, 50% refundable if cancelled between 59 and 30 days prior to arrival, and nonrefundable if cancelled less than 30 days prior to arrival. For stays of less than 30 days, your deposit is fully refundable if cancelled at least 14 days prior to arrival, 50% refundable if cancelled between 13 and 4 days, and non-refundable if cancelled less than 4 days prior to arrival.

Please read the Black Prong Terms & Conditions below for the complete policies.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BLACK PRONG GUESTS

Dear Nature and Equestrian Traveler 

Thank you for your interest in Black Prong, Florida’s premier luxury nature and equestrian resort nestled in the 53,000-acre Goethe State Forest located in Levy County, Florida, midway between Gainesville and Ocala.  Returning guests appreciate the beauty and tranquility of Black Prong’s 90 acres, its luxury accommodations, amenities like its beautiful pool, hot tub, fitness facility, pickleball court, dog park, biking, fine dining and stabling.

Beginning in November 2024, Black Prong has made some changes to further enhance the guest experience:

Complimentary electric golf carts with each lodging reservation – Except for checking in and out and supply deliveries, cars and trucks will be restricted from traversing Black Prong, and instead will have designated parking areas. All guest accommodation types will come with a late model, electric Club Car (or equivalent) golf cart for traversing the Black Prong property, with a choice between a sport model or a utility vehicle.   We are making this change in order to preserve and enhance the natural beauty and tranquility that defines Black Prong.

More onsite luxury accommodations – We’re adding an additional 8 one-bedroom cottages to the Big Oak area, bringing the total number of luxury cottages and tiny homes to twenty. In addition, we’re expanding two of our existing one-bedroom, one-bath cottages into two-bedroom, two-bath to accommodate larger families. Eight of these 20 units have stalls attached, and these units will be rented in their entirety, meaning no more shared facilities. Additionally, equestrians renting stalls at Black Prong must have an accommodation reservation for the same period.

Trail riding – Starting later this fall, Black Prong will have an onsite trail riding program for guests who like to horseback ride but who don’t bring horses with them.

Upgraded biking program – We’re upgrading our bikes to provide high quality traditional bicycles for both adults and children, as well as electric bikes for use by adults. All these will be provided to guests at no additional charge and are available to use in both Black Prong and the Goethe.

For more information on these and other exciting changes, please see the attached Q&A.

Sincerely,

Black Prong

FAQ for Reservations Beginning November 1, 2024:

Q. When can I make my reservation?

• A. You may book stays of 90 days or longer starting May 17, 2024. Stays of 30 days or longer can be booked starting June 1, 2024, and days of 7 days or longer can be booked starting July 1, 2024. On August 1, stays of 1 – 6 days can be booked. Legacy guests booking stays of 90 days or more will have an early booking window starting May 15, 2024.

Q. What types of accommodations are available to book?

• A. We will be accepting reservations for all accommodations except the 2-bedroom cottages. Our traditional one-bedroom cottages with attached stalls, luxury tiny homes with lofts, new luxury tiny home cottages without lofts, our airstreams, and RV pads will be available for rental. We will release the 2-bedroom cottages later this summer.

Q. How can I make my reservation?

• A. Reservations can be made online at www.blackprong.com or by calling Black Prong at 352-486-1234. The early booking period for legacy guests will be by phone only.

Q. What will the rates be?

• A. For guests who stay with us 30 days or more, the nightly rates for cottages and tiny homes will range from $174 to $357/night. RV pads will range from $63 to $97/night. Airstreams range from $136 to $148/night. Discounts are offered for stays in our shoulder seasons (before January 1 & after March 31). Rates for specific types of accommodations and shorter stays will be provided at the time of booking.

Q. What is required to confirm my reservation?

• A. A 30% deposit is required. This must be paid no later than the end of the second business day after making your reservation, or your reservation will be cancelled. We accept all major credit cards and wire transfers.

Q. What happens to my deposit if I cancel my reservation?

• A. For stays of 30 days or more, your deposit is fully refundable if you cancel your reservation at least 60 days prior to arrival, 50% refundable if cancelled between 59 & 30 days prior to arrival, and nonrefundable if cancelled less than 30 days prior to arrival. For stays of less than 30 days, your deposit is fully refundable if cancelled at least 14 days prior to arrival, 50% refundable if cancelled between 13 & 4 days, and non-refundable if cancelled less than 4 days prior to arrival.

Q. Tell me more about the new 1-bedroom tiny home cottages without lofts.

• A. These cottages are a new style of tiny home, smaller in footprint than our existing tiny homes with the same luxurious layout, but no loft. Each cottage has a king bed and a sleeper sofa. They will be located in the Big Oak Village.

Q. Please provide more details on bundling of cottages and stalls.

• A. When booking a cottage with adjoining stalls, the stalls are bundled into the cottage price, and you pay one flat rate. There are either 4 or 5 stalls in each 1-bedroom bundled accommodation, and 2 stalls in the 2-bedroom bundled accommodations that will be available later this summer.

Q. What type of electric golf cart will be provided as part of my rental?

• A. Black Prong will provide, at no additional cost, all accommodations with a choice of a late model electric Club Car (or equivalent) golf cart or utility vehicle for getting around Black Prong’s 90- acre facility. All golf carts and utility vehicles are to be used solely on Black Prong property and not in the forest or outside of Black Prong.

Q. What if I want to bring my own electric golf cart?

• A. You will receive a $10/day credit to use at the Bar & Grill for each day of your reservation if you bring and use your own electric golf cart instead of ours. No other types of golf carts or other motorized vehicles will be allowed.

Q. How will this new parking policy work?

• A. We are committed to restricting cars and trucks on the Black Prong property, both for the safety of our guests and to preserve our bucolic setting. Guests will be permitted to drive their cars and trucks to their accommodations to unload but must return them to designated long term parking areas within the designated timeframe (30 minutes after arrival for short term guests, 2 hours after arrival for guests staying 30 days or more). Horse trailers may stay onsite for up to 24 hours. These rules will be enforced. Guests who repeatedly violate this policy will have their reservation cancelled without a refund.

Q. What other amenities and activities should I expect to be available to me at Black Prong this season?

• A. The spa will be heated year-round. We will heat the pool using solar year-round, and supplement that with propane except during periods when there are hard freezes at night. Except during nights when there are hard freezes, the pool will be heated to 80 degrees and the spa to 104 degrees.
• A. We will continue to offer on-site activities for our guests. Bingo, movie nights and similar activities will be staples. As we did this past season, equestrian and nature activities will be for the enjoyment of our guests and developed based on our guests’ preferences.
• A. Guests staying in our cottages and tiny homes for more than 30 days can request a complimentary accommodation cleaning once per 30 days of their stay.

Q. What other important things should I know before booking my reservation?

• A. RV pads will be more limited this year compared to previous years. To better accommodate our long-term RV guests, we are allowing stays of 30 days or more in the “On the Line” RV spaces that are next to the pool.
• A. Except for the bundling of stalls with our traditional cottages in our cottage barns, stalls and tack rooms are in addition to your accommodation rate and can only be booked with an accompanying accommodation. Rates for stalls, including stalls used as tack rooms, range from $29/night for stays of 30 days or more to $56/night for short-term weekend stays.

This information is provided to help our prospective guests be informed about our accommodations, facilities, and policies in advance of booking a reservation. It is not a substitute for reading our Terms & Conditions.

Intrastate Horses
Horses entering the grounds must be accompanied by documentation of Equine Influenza Virus and Equine Herpes Virus (Rhinopneumonitis) vaccinations within 6 months prior to entering the stables. Documentation should consist of one of the following methods mentioned below (It is recommended that vaccines are administered by or under the direction of a veterinarian.) As well as a negative Coggins test within 1 year prior to entering stables

In the case of vaccines administered by a veterinarian, the guest, must provide documentation from the veterinarian on documenting that the horse in question received the vaccinations, name of the vaccines and date of vaccine administration.  A letter from the veterinarian on official letterhead with the name of the horse (or horses), name of the vaccines and date of vaccine administration and signed by the veterinarian is acceptable documentation.

In the case of vaccines administered by a person other than a veterinarian, the guest, must provide a receipt of the vaccine purchase which is signed by the owner, or agent with care, custody, and control of the horse; name, serial number and expiration date of the vaccine; and date of vaccine administration.

In the case of a horse that is unable to receive either of the vaccinations due to a history of adverse reactions, the guest, must provide a letter from the veterinarian on official letterhead stating that the horse in question cannot be vaccinated due to medical concerns and a log of temperatures taken twice daily for the seven days prior to entering the  grounds. These horses must also have their temperature taken and logged twice daily while on the grounds. The log of temperatures should be provided to the office.

Interstate Horses
Horses entering the grounds must be accompanied by documentation of Equine Influenza Virus and Equine Herpes Virus (Rhinopneumonitis) vaccinations within 6 months prior to entering the stables. Documentation should consist of one of the following methods mentioned below (It is recommended that vaccines are administered by or under the direction of a veterinarian.) A negative Coggins test within 1 year prior to entering stables and a health certificate

In the case of vaccines administered by a veterinarian, the guest, must provide documentation from the veterinarian on documenting that the horse in question received the vaccinations, name of the vaccines and date of vaccine administration.  A letter from the veterinarian on official letterhead with the name of the horse (or horses), name of the vaccines and date of vaccine administration and signed by the veterinarian is acceptable documentation.

In the case of vaccines administered by a person other than a veterinarian, the guest, must provide a receipt of the vaccine purchase which is signed by the owner, or agent with care, custody, and control of the horse; name, serial number and expiration date of the vaccine; and date of vaccine administration.

In the case of a horse that is unable to receive either of the vaccinations due to a history of adverse reactions, the guest, must provide a letter from the veterinarian on official letterhead stating that the horse in question cannot be vaccinated due to medical concerns and a log of temperatures taken twice daily for the seven days prior to entering the  grounds. These horses must also have their temperature taken and logged twice daily while on the grounds. The log of temperatures should be provided to the office.

Goethe State Forest Passes

If you wish to visit the Goethe during your stay at Black Prong, please make sure you have a pass with you while in the forest. Passes to the Goethe are available on a per-day basis or as an annual pass. All horses must also have proof of negative Coggins with them while in the Goethe.

Short Term Guests: Please purchase a forest pass prior to entering the Goethe and bring it with you. The Day Use Pass only applies to the day it is purchased, so plan on purchasing your pass before you leave Black Prong on the day you visit the Goethe. The Florida State Forest Annual Pass is valid for one year of unlimited visits and allows six people entry into any Florida state forest where a fee is routinely required.

Long Term Guests: We have a limited number of Florida State Forest Annual Passes that we will provide to our long-term guests. These passes must be carried with you while visiting the Goethe and must be returned to the Black Prong office when you check out of your stay.