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NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole.

Photo gallery for NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole.

Blue Roof Manor at Rock Point, East Bear Branch Cove
Exterior
Aerial view
Exterior
Exterior detail

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

8 bedrooms6+ bathroomsSleeps 16501.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    Pool
  • Hot tub
    Hot tub
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Arley, AL
  • Lewis Smith Lake
    1 min walk
  • Tiger Field
    31 min drive
  • Smith Lake Park
    78 min drive

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Basement Bedroom 7

1 Single Bed

Basement Bedroom 8

1 Single Bed

Basement Bunk Room

4 Single Bunk Beds

Main Floor Front Corner Bedroom

1 King Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Second Floor Back Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Floor Corner Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Floor Front Center Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

6 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Basement Powder Room Bathroom

Soap · Toilet

First Floor Pool/Garage Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Main Floor Front Corner Bathroom

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

Master Bathroom

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

Second Floor Back Bathroom

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

Second Floor Corner Bathroom

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

Second Floor Front Center Bathroom

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

Second Floor Theater Room Powder Room

Soap · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole.

This is a new property, finished in 2022. It is simply the best. Stay at The Blue Marlin Inn once and you will come back every year. The Blue Marlin Inn contains top shelf comfort and style within an unbelievable setting and a most convenient central location on the lake. The pictures will tell the story. It has a dash of fantasy about it. The ambiance is eclectic and interesting. It is a cross between French country and seaside village with a tropical flair reminiscent of Rio or Tahiti. Some have said, it's like staying in a museum. There is something interesting around every corner and the sunset view as seen from the hot-tub is spectacular.
The house sits on the edge of a large rock peninsula, reaching out into the lake. In the summer the rock formation is submerged a few inches. In the winter it rises many feet above the lake, depending on the water level.
A private slough brings the deep water back into a grotto tucked under the forested shoreline. From the porch, you can actually see schools of keeper sized bass swimming and feeding in the slough. The estate sits on approximately 4 acres and has over 750 feet of shoreline.
The house is 12 easy steps down to the dock. Rent the 23’ Bennington Tritoon or pull your own boat or jet ski into the open slip beside it. Other rentals are available nearby.
Explore the deep water slough in your kayak and wash your face in the natural spring waterfalls filling the grotto at the back of the slough.
The property is often visited by deer, turkey and beaver that come down from the forest to drink. Bald Eagles are making a comeback at Smith Lake.
Fish for bluegill, crappie and bass along the very productive deep water shoreline or cast plugs along the dark banks of Bear Cove.
Gaze up into the dark and radiant night sky and behold the Milky Way in full splendor.
Stay safe under the steel covered patios and witness a fast moving Thunderstorm, shooting bolts of light, cracking and pounding the sky, while the downpour passes overhead.
For the finest accommodations, there are five in suite bedrooms, two kings and three queens each with it's own luxury bathroom. Three of the bedrooms have flat screen TVs. All showers have the standard wall faucet and also include a rinse wand for the hard to reach places. Single guests sleep in the basement bunkbeds and share a Powder-Room. There is a full bathroom by the pool in the garage.
Enjoy everyone's company in the great-room, open kitchen and open patio complex or turn the lights low and enjoy streaming movies in the Theater Room upstairs. The house is on fiber-optics WiFi service, so the flat screens have good performance and so will your cell phones.
Next to the Theater Room is the Game Room, a speakeasy style poker room made for gaming of all kinds and a Tiki bar for your Mai Tais and Margaritas. The Pool/Spa area is magical. After a hard day playing on the lake, relax and stay cool around the sparkling aqua pool. In the evening keep the party going when the waterfall and lights turn on. If heat is what you need, jump in the spa and drift off, looking up at the stars, while the waterfall plays its background serenade.
The boat dock has a large swim deck and those who want to take it slow can hang out there for a tan and a drink and a dip in the lake.
Get in touch with your inner chef. The kitchen features premium stainless Jenair appliances including a 6 burner gas stove top and two electric convection ovens, There is an under counter microwave and warming drawer, a toaster oven and a four slice toaster, twin dishwashers to clean everything at once and a large refrigerator/freezer, a wine chiller in the butler pantry, a full size refrigerator in the garage and a 80lb ice maker next to that, just to keep the pool party in ice all day long. Then there is a large stainless Blaze gas grill and griddle just outside the back French doors for the outdoor cooking enthusiast. It will be hard to find anything to match this culinary setup.
Then there is the lakeside bonfire pit to gather around and cook like a caveman: ribs, weenies and smores, or just stare into the mesmerizing flames and tell stories and joke around. If your lucky enough to be with your sweetheart, then trade romance and kisses. Bring your own firewood or order logs ahead of time.
There are so many sweet corners to hide in and around the house or down by the rocky shore. Even with a large group you can find privacy somewhere on the estate.
Duskin Point Marina is a mere 10 minutes by boat which, for this enormous lake, is right around the corner.
The Blue Marlin Inn is centrally located on Smith Lake. The lake is about an hour from Huntsville and an hour from Birmingham. Its about three hours from Nashville and three hours from Atlanta. GPS is a must have to find your way here and for boating navigation. It would take weeks to explore the 500 miles of Smith Lake shore, ranging from Goat Island at the extreme east to Bankhead National Forest at the far west end.
On your last night stay, you will begin to miss this place already.

Property manager

Mike Deihl

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 36
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Ask about children between ages 8 and 13 yrs old.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No diving or rough play in or around the pool area.
Do not use or keep glass containers in and around the pool area. Use the plastic containers provided.
No Parking on the street is allowed and do not park in owners parking spot.

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

About the area

Arley

Arley is home to this holiday home. Houston Historic Jail and Clarkson Covered Bridge are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lewis Smith Lake and Tiger Field. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Arley, AL

What's nearby

  • Lewis Smith Lake - 1 min walk
  • Houston Historic Jail - 41 min drive
  • Cullman Downtown Commercial Historic District - 67 min drive
  • Ave Maria Grotto - 70 min drive
  • Smith Lake Park - 78 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Jack's - ‬51 min drive
  • ‪Arley Coffee Shop - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Cujo's Pizza - ‬48 min drive
  • ‪La Plaza Bonita Mexican Restaurant - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪El Paso Mexican Restaurant - ‬51 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole. have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is NEW! Country Villa: Dock, Pool, Spa, Waterfall, Grotto, Firepit, Fishing hole. located?

Situated in Arley, this holiday home is steps from Lewis Smith Lake and 9.7 mi (15.6 km) from Tiger Field. Houston Historic Jail and Clarkson Covered Bridge are also within 32 miles (52 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 8 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 8 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 8 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 8 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 8 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Lake
Had a great time, plenty of rooms for everyone
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Vacation
Blue Marlin was perfect for our large family of 16. Plenty of space for everyone to spread out and be comfortable. This house checked all the boxes. Mike is an excellent host.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brooke E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Long lovely weekend at the lake!
This home was spectacular! I say home not house because that's what it felt like upon arrival, home. Not only was it beautiful and spacious but very well appointed. I could not have chosen a more lovely place to stay! Thank you Mike for taking care of us:)
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracey M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome house with great views!
Our extended family of 16 stayed a week at this “magical” house. The views were beautiful! The host, Mike, was so nice and was right there if anything was needed. Each bedroom had a bathroom and that was a plus for us. Our 7 year olds played in the pool everyday and loved watching the boats go by. ❤️
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Isaac W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
THE BEST
It was the best house we have rented on the lake. We plan to visit and stay here again next year! Accommodations were perfect! There is so much room in this house to meet everyone's needs. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful home!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lake Vacation
The property is amazing. The house is located in a very quiet and peaceful area but also close to the main areas of the lake. The views from the back area are wonderful. The kids spent their time swimming or fishing from the dock or hanging out in the pool. The house is very well equipped. There was nothing that we needed during our week long stay that was not there. Mike, the owner, was very helpful and easily accessible. We had a thunderstorm come through that knocked out power to the entire area but thankfully this house has a backup generator that kicked on within seconds so we hardly noticed. This property is a 10 out of 10 if you are looking for a relaxing retreat. I would highly recommend and we will be visiting again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Incredible House
Vacation was incredible. 8 adults with plenty of room. We have stayed in dozens of rentals and this was by far the best stocked one. Everything we needed was there and waiting. Mike was helpful and very friendly. He was close by if needed but other than our invitation to join us for a bit, you wouldn’t know he was on the property The house was exactly as advertised. The pictures don’t do it justice
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kane O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good Stay with good surrondings
Property located on a great part of the lake and tucked away. Owner was friendly and helpful
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

About the host

Hosted by Mike Deihl

Host profile image
Originally I'm from Los Angeles County, city of Glendora. My background is from 18 years in banking systems development (programing). More recently I worked in the hospitality industry as a general consultant. I bought the property in 2007, when it was bare land. I moved to Smith Lake a few years ago to focus on developing a unique and fun place to live. I built The Blue Marlin for that purpose. I will continue working to make it one of the special properties on Smith Lake. I love the lake and the region it's in and now I call it home. The property has the main house, by the lake, and a barn/ apartment that shares the same driveway but is 120 feet closer to the street. When the house is rented I live in the barn apartment. I make myself available for problems and basic maintenance. Also on a daily basis I look after the pool, boat and propane gas systems to insure guest safety and the health of the systems. I will never enter the main house unannounced and only when there is a risk of danger or damage that needs to be addressed.

Why they chose this property

Bear Branch Cove is in an ideal location on the lake. It is at the geographical center of the lake. By boat, it is about 10 minutes from Duskin Point Marina and 15 minutes from Dunkin Bridge Marina. It is 5 minutes from the main channel in a No-Wake zone. It is one of the deeper branches of the lake and known for its unusually good fishing spots. Arley with it's Coffee Shop and Son's of Arley Market is about 15 minutes away by car.

What makes this property unique

The pictures will tell the story. The property has a most unusual shoreline. It is surrounded by year round deep water. Sunset is directly across the channel creating many stunning nightfall panoramas. Even when the water drops 10 feet or more the shore stays where it is because the water simply recedes straight down the shore face exposing more of the underwater cliff. There is a large rock peninsula about 40 feet long. It pokes out of the lake most the year but sometimes becomes submerged when the lake is flooded in the spring. Adjoining the peninsula is a year-round water slew about 30 feet wide that makes up a long entrance to a grotto which is about 280 feet in from the main body of the lake. There are two waterfalls feeding and shaping the grotto, which flow nearly year-round. It is common to see white tail, ducks, geese, blue egret, turtles, sometimes beaver, bluegill, crappie and many types of bass.

Languages:

English
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