Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal

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Entire home

**thinking of the perfect Instagram caption for this perfect selfie spot**

Grill out, hangout, sunrise, sunsets, fireworks, sunbathing, the list is endless

The front porch has plenty of seating - but keep scrolling, it gets better!!

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 9112.2 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Fireplace
Barbecue grill
Outdoor space

Explore the area

Surf City, NC

Surf City Pier
‪5 min drive‬
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
‪9 min drive‬
North Topsail Beach
‪11 min drive‬
Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
‪47 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Front

1 Queen Bed

Hall bedroom

1 Double Bed

Living Room

1 Single Bed

Main bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Front

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Hall

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Master

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

About this property

“Fat Matt’s” is a 1200 sf, 1 story soundside retreat originated in 1977 and has grown and been remodeled over the years. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, plus awesome outdoor shower off the large master bedroom. 8 sleep comfortably in beds plus 1 more on the sectional sofa. Screened back porch with outdoor fridge overlooks your private dock and unbelievable sunsets over the sound. Back porch morning coffee and evening cocktails with spectacular sunsets is our favorite place to be. Each year we see dolphins pass our dock!

Huge back patio for cornhole, oyster roasts, and sunbathing. Shallow ramp on site for jet skis or small boats. Put your larger boat in at the public tamp and drive to our own dock and tie up for the week. 10 minute boat ride to the Intracoastal Waterway or cruise the other 6 canals. 20 minute boat ride to Sears Landing or JM's on the Water where you can dock, eat, and drink like a local.

Our shack is 2 and 1/4 miles north of the Surf City Causeway. 1/4 mile walk to the Trailer Bar, less than 1/2 mile to the beach and park. Restaurants and bars less than 1 mile north and many others within 2 miles south, including the Surf City Pier.

Spacious Main bedroom (queen) has lots of windows sound side, a private 1/2 bath, A 50" smart TV and private entrance to the outdoor shower with hot water. Bedroom 2 (Queen) has a private door to the screen porch and window view of the sound as well. Bedroom 3 (full) is cozy and comfortable, and Bedroom 4 (Queen) has a 40" flat screen and private full bathroom with a shower.

Hall full bathroom was remodeled in 2024 with a new shower and custom vanity.

Laundry room is located off the kitchen and has most beach toys you'll need including floats, chairs, etc.

Living Room has a sectional sofa and a 50" smart TV. Front/side porch has swings and a bench for gathering, an outdoor fridge, table, and a propane grill. If propane runs out guests will need to provide their own.

Kitchen has everything you should need. Keurig coffee or regular brew pot, upgraded electric range/oven, upgraded range hood, side by side fridge with icemaker and filtered water on the door.

Property manager

Mike Fluharty

Languages

Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

The reservation guest must be at least 25 and pres

There are no parties allowed. This is a family h

This is our home. All guests are expected to care

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Surf City

Located in Holly Ridge, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Holly Shelter Game Land and Surf City Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Ohana Paddle Sports and Thomas Tackle and Seafood. Mia's Marketplace and The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Surf City, NC

What's nearby

Surf City Pier - 5 min drive - 3.9 km
Southside Park - 5 min drive - 4.1 km
Ohana Paddle Sports - 5 min drive - 4.2 km
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center - 9 min drive - 7.2 km
North Topsail Beach - 11 min drive - 11.3 km

Getting around

Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

‪Buddy's Crab House & Oyster Bar - ‬5 min drive
‪Salty Turtle Beer Company - ‬7 min drive
‪Sears Landing Grill & Boat Docks - ‬7 min drive
‪Shaka Taco - ‬5 min drive
‪The Trailer Bar - ‬8 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 0.5 mi (0.9 km) from Surf City Beach and within 3 miles (5 km) of Back in Touch Massage, Yoga, & Lomilomi and Permuda Island. Inis Spa and Escape Spa are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kaylyn M.

7 Aug 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Small slice of paradise

We absolutely loved everything about our stay! The outdoor shower was just one of our favorites! We loved the swings and dock so much too! Our neighbors were pretty amazing as well! House was stocked with everything you needed for a beach stay! Will definitely be back💕

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Ashley P.

23 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Very nice place but not for tall people

The check-in process was easy, the place was very clean, and our family really enjoyed spending time on the dock and using the outdoor shower. Our kids loved jumping off the swings into the sound, the hammocks were relaxing, and we enjoyed the kayaks and paddle boards provided. Communication from the host was great and we appreciated the restaurant recommendations. Beach chairs and an umbrella were provided but I would recommend bringing your own as the umbrella was small and could not withstand a windy day. The listing and the photos were accurate except that the listing did not mention that the ceilings are very low which made it feel quite small to our tall family. My husband is 6'3" and almost hit his head when walking through doorways. Even my 10-yr old daughter could reach up and touch the ceiling without standing on her toes. We likely would not have rented it had we known that. The ceiling was much higher in the master bedroom which is where we ended up spending a lot of our time. Future renters should also know this place appears to be a trailer or mobile home that was updated or renovated. It was not what we were expecting and is quite different than the other multi-level homes surrounding it. It was not a big deal but thought I should mention it here because it is something we would have liked to know ahead of time. Overall, we had a good time and the place had a lot of nice amenities. You can tell the owners have put a lot of time and care into the place.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy T.

8 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay cation

This property was overall a wonderful and relaxing experience. Very spacious, with lots of amenities available on site. So gracious of the owners to allow the renters access to kayaks, and body boards. Dock was easy to access with two boats.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael F.

21 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great waterfront vacation home!

The house was ideal for our stay, very nice outdoor dock and covered sitting area. Everything was provided to play in the Intercoastal or go to the beach. I really liked the setup of the outdoor shower as well. I brought my own boat and there was plenty of room to tie it up at the dock and still have room to fish and swim. We were even able to catch and eat some blue crabs right off the dock! We will definitely be back in the future!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chris K.

17 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Summer vacation perfection

Our family of 4 stayed here for a week. We are relatively local and live in a town close to another beach. So the beach itself is not a huge deal for us. We just wanted to be together since our son is almost finished with college and about to go into the real world and our daughter is finishing high school this year so this our last hurrah. We spent so much time on that back deck area. It was so comfortable and lovely. As far as the house - it was so well done for a relatively small space. You could tell the owners put a lot of love in to decorating and making it just perfect. Everything we needed was there. It was clean and cozy and very sweet. The outdoor shower was so awesome. I did hate the mirror I will admit but easy peasy to cover it with a towel. The kids enjoyed the kayak and paddle board and I even gave it a brief whirl. Our son’s girlfriend came down and it was great to have an extra room for her as well. The short walk to the beach was nice and the short ride to town was also convenient. We walked the high rise one night for an extra treat. We have always enjoyed TI and will definitely come back to Fat Matt’s. Highly recommended. Thank you so much for sharing your treasure with us!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amity M.

25 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic for Family and Fishing

Our stay was perfect! The house had everything we needed. A room full of fun items that we all enjoyed. My teenage boys who love fishing were in heaven. Floats, boards, chairs, nets, traps and much more. We fished every day from the dock and the kayaks. Learning to paddle board was fun. Enjoying time with family relaxing by the water was priceless. We enjoyed the house more than the beach. We loved the true beach house feel instead of the new rental cookie cutter homes that seem to pop up everywhere. We would definitely stay again and recommend to anyone.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

v m.

20 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Worth the stay

Our family had so much fun at this house! The views and sunset every evening was amazing. We enjoyed the dock area. So much room for friends and family. The house was stocked with boogie boards, kayaks, paddle boards, corn hole, beach umbrellas, beach chairs, games, inflatable tubes & so much more! The outdoor shower connected to the master bedroom was the best part. We were a little bummed we wasn’t able to use boat lift as listed in ad but no worries we just put our boat in across the way after making friends. We was able to put both our jet skies in at the dock beside the house, they fit under owners boat on lift perfect. Watch out for the not so nice neighbors, even if your on the path to the dock they still told us to stay off grass even on our property. They ran table saws at 7:00 am just about everyday. So hopefully they will be done with projects by the time new people come. They definitely don’t like renters lol, but we didn’t let that keep us from having fun. Our host kat and Matt were awesome. Just a text away if something happens. We had no trouble. You won’t regret renting this property. we took the boat out everyday and took trips to Lee island. Easy access to the beaches. The house was stocked with extra pillows blankets and so much more. It’s a must see! We hope to bring our family back to this house. Thanks so much for having us.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy J.

27 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

1st time in a canal house…

We loved everything about this house! So charming. Beautiful spot on the water- we fished and pulled the boat up to the dock. The beds were comfortable, tv was great (football time), house was clean, well appointed and close to everything we love on Topsail. Short walk to the beach- access is right next to the playground- you do have to cross the busy road but there are sidewalks all the way and a crosswalk. Kay was helpful and responsive. We loved it and we’ll be back for sure!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer A., Fredericksburg, VA

8 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to gather

Our family stayed for 2 nights prior to my son's wedding. There was plenty of room for the 6 of us and the amenities were great! The owner responds quickly and was great to deal with.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie M.

21 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!

This was exactly what my family wanted and needed as a getaway for my husband’s birthday. We’ve rented several places before that all claimed to have space and access for our 24’ boat and 30’ trailer, but none of them worked out like this one. We spent as much time outside and on our boat as possible and we wouldn’t have been able to without the amazing setup. If you’re a boater, this place is perfect. My young kids (1, 3, and 5) all had a blast playing on/in the water in the beautiful outdoor spaces and really enjoyed all the games inside. Definitely recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Crystal T.

2 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great vacation home.

Will definitely be back.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tonya W.

10 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome place

The house was well stocked and had everything we needed! My kids really enjoyed the Kayaks!! We had a great time on the deck!!! My favorite spot!!!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey Merreck W.

13 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect beach getaway

I think we were the first people to stay at this VRBO and I am so glad we did!! The house is so cute with comfy bedrooms, a nice living room to relax and watch tv, and a fully stocked kitchen for cooking. There are two porches and a dock on the canal with beautiful views of the inlets and you can watch the sunset from the swings and chairs on the dock. Beach is about a 5 minute walk to open access spots. Our favorite part was the private outdoor shower under the sun. relaxing and great vacation, we will definitely be back.

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mike Fluharty

We live a short drive away and are in town as much as possible. Our family and close friends live on and off the island. This house is our home away from home. We hope you will enjoy AND CARE FOR IT AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN!

Why they chose this property

This is a family neighborhood, not a party street. Permanent residents live all around the property.

What makes this property unique

Quiet street, family environment, but close to local restaurants and shopping.

Languages:

Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Norwegian, Romanian, Slovenian

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Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal

Photo gallery for Waterfront, Private Dock, Ramp, Topsail Island Canal

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 2

Front

Hall bedroom

Living Room

Main bedroom

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Front

Hall

Master

Spaces

About this property