The Peace River crested above 16 feet Thursday night, and in Arcadia that meant water pushing into places it doesn’t belong. The Hidden Oak Hideaway Treehouse, a glamping property built on wooded land just over a year ago, ended up completely underwater. Owner Jessica Dobbins says water reached as high as two feet in some spots, the highest she’s ever seen there, and it moved items around the yard before it finally started to recede.
What makes this especially hard is the timing. It’s the second time in a month that flooding has forced Dobbins to stop taking Airbnb reservations. The property has been her only source of income for five years, and right now the cleanup can’t even begin. The ground has to dry first, and only after that can anyone figure out how much damage there is. Her estimate is a couple of weeks, maybe a month before she has real answers.
This is the side of Florida weather that doesn’t show up on a hurricane tracker. Small, weather-dependent businesses take the hit quietly, and the recovery timeline is measured in lost bookings, not just repairs. If you’ve been thinking about a local getaway, keep an eye on the river levels and support the small hosts who stick it out. Have you ever had to recover from flood damage at your home or business? Share your story in the comments.
