The Equestrian Hotel at World Equestrian Center, Ocala
248 rooms and suites at 8510 NW 17th Lane, Ocala, FL 34482, many overlooking the Grand Arena, with Stirrups steakhouse, Calluna Spa, a zero-entry pool and a 24-hour fitness center. No pets in guest rooms.
By Darrin DeTorres, Only In Ocala · Published October 29, 2026 · Checked against the hotel's pages on World Equestrian Center's website, its posted policies and its front-desk fact sheet
What Is The Equestrian Hotel at WEC Ocala?
The Equestrian Hotel is the main hotel at World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Marion County, with many rooms overlooking the open-air Grand Arena. According to the hotel's page on World Equestrian Center's website, the grand lobby is anchored by a 20-foot floor-to-ceiling fireplace crowned with crystal chandeliers, and the design is European-inspired.
World Equestrian Center calls it the only AAA Four Diamond resort in Ocala, and cites a 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards listing among Florida's best resorts and a #8 ranking among Florida hotels in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. Those are WEC's own statements of the awards. The hotel serves horse-show exhibitors and spectators, and it also takes leisure guests who come for the restaurants, the spa and the campus shops.
Two other names are easy to confuse with it. The Riding Academy Hotel is a separate, pet-friendly WEC hotel, and The Equestrian Manor is an event and dining venue, not a hotel; the comparison table below sets the three side by side. For a wider look at lodging near the campus, see our WEC Ocala hotels guide.
Address & Contact
Check-in 4 PM. Check-out 11 AM. Guests must be 21 or older to check in.
Rooms and Suites at The Equestrian Hotel
The hotel lists 248 guest rooms and suites with mahogany furnishings and European linens. Guests can request a Grand Arena view for a window onto the arena during horse shows. The rooms page groups the room types as below; rates are not published there and change with the date and the event calendar, so the hotel's booking engine is the only place to see a current price.
| Category | Room types listed by the hotel |
|---|---|
| Suites | Double King Suite, One Bedroom King Suite, One Bedroom Arena View Accessible King Suite, Double King Suite Accessible, Presidential Suite, Vice Presidential Suite |
| King rooms | Standard King, Double King, Arena View King |
| Queen rooms | Standard Double Queen, Double Queen Accessible |
| Accessible rooms | King Accessible, Double Queen Accessible, Double King Suite Accessible, One Bedroom Arena View Accessible King Suite |
What Is in the Rooms
- Premium bedding, blackout curtains and soundproofing.
- A bathroom with designer toiletries, plush towels and a bathtub or shower.
- A 65-inch TV with premium channels, high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary local and long-distance calls.
- Daily housekeeping, an in-room coffee maker, bottled water and a secure safe.
The one-bedroom arena view king suite adds a separate bedroom with a pillowtop king bed, a living area with a queen-size pullout couch, a dry bar with a Sub-Zero beverage center and two bathrooms, according to the rooms page. Current promotions on the hotel's offers page include AAA member, senior AARP, and military and first responder rates, plus stay-and-dine, romance, spa escape and golf cart packages; availability and terms are set by the hotel.
Restaurants and Bars in the Hotel
The hotel's front-desk fact sheet lists three restaurants for guests, and WEC's dining page also places the seasonal Horse to Water Pool & Bar at the hotel pool.
| Venue | What it serves | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stirrups Restaurant | Southern-inspired steakhouse serving dinner and weekend brunch; the WEC dining page lists prime steaks, seafood and a terrace over the Grand Outdoor Arena | Reservations recommended |
| Yellow Pony Pub & Garden | Pub with craft beer, cocktails and elevated pub fare for lunch, dinner and late-night bites; live music on select nights | Reservations not accepted |
| Emma's Patisserie | Pastries, French macarons, coffee and grab-and-go items, with breakfast, lunch and dinner service | A second location is at The Equestrian Manor |
| Horse to Water Pool & Bar | Cocktails and light bites beside the hotel pool | Open seasonally |
| In-room dining | Menu ordered by dialing 0 from the room phone | 6:30 AM to 10 PM daily |
Filo's Mexican Cantina, Viola & Dot's Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria, Ralph's Burger & Sandwich Shop and Miss Tilly's Lollipops are other WEC restaurants on the campus. Hours and menus for every venue are in our WEC Ocala dining guide. Dogs are not allowed inside any indoor dining room, but leashed dogs may sit on open outdoor terraces and patios, per the hotel's policies.
Spa, Pool, Fitness and Other Amenities
These details come from the hotel's April 2026 front-desk fact sheet and the amenities listed on its rooms page. Hours can change, so the front desk at (352) 414-7900 is the place to confirm anything time-sensitive. More on the spa is on our Calluna Spa page, and on the pool at Horse to Water Pool & Bar.
| Amenity | Details |
|---|---|
| Zero-entry outdoor pool | Open 8 AM to 10 PM; room key required for access; no glass or outside food on the pool deck |
| Fitness center | Second floor, open 24 hours a day; room key required |
| Calluna Spa & Salon | 7,000-square-foot spa and salon on the second floor, open to hotel guests and the public; appointments at (352) 414-7862 |
| Movement classes | Complimentary for hotel guests Thursday through Sunday; reservations at (352) 414-7862 |
| Pool-side activities | Sand volleyball court and ping pong tables by the pool; equipment through the front desk |
| Business centers | Computer and printer in the third-floor lobby; computer only in the fifth-floor lobby |
| Wi-Fi | Complimentary on the "Equestrian Guest" network; enhanced internet is available for an extra cost |
| Dry cleaning | Laundry received by 9 AM is returned by 5 PM the next day; a 24-hour laundromat is at the General Store |
| Luxury retail | Shops for fashion, beauty, toys, gifts and decor on the first floor; hours vary |
| Golf cart rental | Carts for getting around the campus are rented through wecgolfcarts.com or the front desk |
The campus is large enough that many guests rent a cart; see our WEC golf cart rental guide and the WEC campus map.
Check-In, Fees, Parking and Pet Policy
The table summarizes the hotel's posted policies, which the hotel marked as updated Sept. 4, 2026. Group bookings and special-event dates can carry different terms.
| Topic | Policy |
|---|---|
| Check-in / check-out | 4 PM check-in and 11 AM check-out; early check-in and late check-out depend on availability |
| Minimum age | Guests must be 21 or older to check in |
| Resort fee | $39 per room, per night, plus tax, for stay dates on or after Jan. 1, 2027; group reservations may differ |
| Parking | General parking is complimentary; overnight valet is $30 per night plus tax |
| Taxes | The hotel lists 6% state, 1.5% county and 4% tourism development tax |
| Deposit | One night's room and tax is charged at booking and applied at check-in; the hotel also authorizes $100 per night for incidentals at check-in |
| Cancellation | Individual reservations cancelled by 4 PM Eastern at least 72 hours before arrival get the deposit back; later cancellations and no-shows forfeit it |
| Pets | No pets or non-working dogs in guest rooms or suites; registered service animals are allowed throughout |
| Smoking | Non-smoking hotel; a $500 cleaning fee applies to violations |
| Scooters and hoverboards | Not allowed inside the hotel; mobility devices for guests with disabilities are permitted |
Travelers with dogs who want to stay on the campus are directed by WEC to The Riding Academy Hotel; our Riding Academy Hotel page covers it.
The Equestrian Hotel vs. The Riding Academy Hotel vs. The Equestrian Manor
WEC's lodging page describes the campus properties as follows.
| Property | What it is | Pets | Notable features |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Equestrian Hotel | 248 rooms and suites, many overlooking the Grand Arena | No pets in rooms | Stirrups, Yellow Pony Pub & Garden, Emma's Patisserie, Calluna Spa, zero-entry pool |
| The Riding Academy Hotel | 390 pet-friendly studios and suites | Pet-friendly, with a dog park | Grab-and-go market, dual fitness centers, outdoor fireplace, pool and splash pad |
| The Equestrian Manor | Event and dining venue, not a hotel | Not applicable | Genievieve's, The White Willow, The Polo Pony and a second Emma's Patisserie |
Getting to The Equestrian Hotel
WEC lists Ocala International Airport (OCF) as 4 miles from the campus, Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) as 46 miles, Orlando International (MCO) as 92 miles and Tampa International (TPA) as 101 miles. Private aviation and helicopter charter services are listed on its lodging page. Parking at the hotel is complimentary, with valet available for a fee.
Also Nearby
For other upscale options in town, see luxury hotels in Ocala, or browse all hotels in Ocala.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Equestrian Hotel
Where is The Equestrian Hotel in Ocala?
The Equestrian Hotel is at 8510 NW 17th Lane, Ocala, FL 34482, in the heart of the World Equestrian Center campus. The front desk number is (352) 414-7900 and reservations are taken at (866) 478-9267.
How many rooms does The Equestrian Hotel have?
The hotel lists 248 guest rooms and suites. They include standard king and double queen rooms, arena view king rooms, one-bedroom and double king suites, accessible rooms, and Presidential and Vice Presidential suites.
Is The Equestrian Hotel AAA Four Diamond?
World Equestrian Center describes The Equestrian Hotel as the only AAA Four Diamond resort in Ocala. Its website also cites a 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards listing among Florida's best resorts and a #8 ranking among Florida hotels in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. Those ratings come from WEC, not from an independent check by this site.
What time is check-in and check-out at The Equestrian Hotel?
Check-in is at 4 PM and check-out is at 11 AM. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance. Guests must be 21 or older to check in.
Are pets allowed at The Equestrian Hotel?
No. The hotel does not allow pets or non-working dogs of any size in guest rooms or suites. Leashed dogs may pass through the lobby, and registered service animals are allowed throughout. WEC points pet owners to The Riding Academy Hotel, which it lists as pet-friendly.
How much is parking at The Equestrian Hotel?
General parking is complimentary. Overnight valet parking is $30 per night plus tax, according to the hotel's posted policies.
Is there a resort fee at The Equestrian Hotel?
The hotel's policies page lists a $39 per room, per night resort fee, plus tax, for stay dates beginning Jan. 1, 2027. It states that the fee may differ for group reservations. Nightly rates change by date and event, so current prices are shown only in the hotel's booking engine.
Which restaurants are inside The Equestrian Hotel?
Stirrups Restaurant, Yellow Pony Pub & Garden and Emma's Patisserie are the hotel's three dining venues, and Horse to Water Pool & Bar opens seasonally beside the pool. In-room dining runs from 6:30 AM to 10 PM. Other WEC restaurants, including Filo's Mexican Cantina and Viola & Dot's Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria, are elsewhere on the campus.
Is Calluna Spa open to people who are not hotel guests?
Yes. WEC states that Calluna Spa & Salon, a 7,000-square-foot spa on the second floor of The Equestrian Hotel, is open to hotel guests and the general public. Appointments are made by calling (352) 414-7862.
What is the difference between The Equestrian Hotel, The Riding Academy Hotel and The Equestrian Manor?
The Equestrian Hotel is the 248-room resort hotel with the spa and steakhouse. The Riding Academy Hotel is a separate WEC property with 390 pet-friendly studios and suites. The Equestrian Manor is an event and dining venue next to The Riding Academy Hotel, with restaurants of its own, and is not a hotel.
How We Checked This Page
The address, phone numbers, room count, room types and in-room amenities come from the hotel's pages on World Equestrian Center's website. Check-in and check-out times, parking, pool, fitness center and business-center details come from the hotel's front-desk fact sheet; the resort fee, deposit, cancellation, tax and pet terms from its policies page; and restaurant and spa details from WEC's dining and spa pages. The hotel's name and location were also confirmed as a listing on Google Maps. All were checked on Oct. 29, 2026. Awards are reported as WEC states them.
AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. Questions or corrections? Contact our team or read our editorial guidelines.
The Equestrian Hotel en Ocala: habitaciones, restaurantes y políticas
The Equestrian Hotel es un hotel resort con 248 habitaciones y suites en 8510 NW 17th Lane, Ocala, FL 34482, dentro del campus de World Equestrian Center, en el Condado de Marion; el teléfono de recepción es (352) 414-7900. La hora de entrada es a las 4 p.m. y la de salida a las 11 a.m., y los huéspedes deben tener 21 años o más para registrarse. Dentro del hotel hay tres restaurantes (Stirrups, Yellow Pony Pub & Garden y Emma's Patisserie), el spa Calluna, una piscina de entrada gradual y un gimnasio abierto las 24 horas. El estacionamiento general es gratis, el servicio de valet cuesta $30 por noche más impuestos, y no se permiten mascotas en las habitaciones; el hotel remite a quienes viajan con perros a The Riding Academy Hotel, que sí admite mascotas.