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Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt

Photo gallery for Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt

2 Slip boathouse on deep water
Sunroom's comfy gathering area
Green light to attract fish at night for fishing or viewing
Welcome to Barney's Bluff!
2022 22-ft Sun Tracker pontoon boat. Only available for rent to Barney's guests!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 9246.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
Crane Hill, AL
  • Lewis Smith Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Smith Lake Park
    ‪44 min drive‬
  • Houston Historic Jail
    ‪60 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt

Updated single story modern lake home w/2 slip boathouse/swim dock with new pontoon boat available for rent to Barney's guests only. Nestled in calm, clear, deep-water cove, this home is packed with extras for family and friends to gather and enjoy the lake. Swim, kayak, paddleboard, fish, boat, grill. Enjoy the amazing deck with panoramic views and the spacious sunroom atop the bluff. Wifi/Roku, games, parking, pet-friendly w/fenced yard. Highly sought after lake location with clean water and little boat traffic. Great for families w/kids.

Barney's Bluff is a renovated (2022) single story home with all new furniture, flooring, bathroom cabinets and fixtures, paint and accessories. We named this house after our beloved pooch, Barney, who loves to sit on the rocks along the bluff overlooking the lake. The featured sunroom is another favorite spot of his, so when it gets hot outside, he can keep a comfortable eye on all the lake activities.

This home has a large master bedroom with king bed, attached bathroom with shower, jetted tub and walk-in closet. The master suite includes a Roku TV, dressers, night stands, comfortable reading chair, and large shuttered windows which flood the room with light.

The well-stocked kitchen has plenty of counter space including a center island with vegetable sink. The dining room and coffee station are attached to the kitchen and these three areas can be closed off from the adjacent living room via sliding glass pocket doors in the dining room wall. The large dining room table can accommodate 8 people and the kitchen bar area has two padded stools. Adjacent to the dining room you will also find a very functional laundry/mud room with large capacity washer/dryer and a convenient sink.

The spacious living room has plenty of comfortable seating with a reclining couch and three reclining swivel chairs. Cabinets are full of books and games for all ages and there is even a large computer desk with great views for those who have to get some work done.

One guest bedroom has a queen bed, dresser, night stands, closet, Roku TV and locking privacy door. Another guest bedroom has two bunk beds, dresser, closet and locking privacy door. This room is ideal for kids. The guest bathroom is located between the two guest bedrooms and adjacent to the living room. This bathroom has a shower/tub combo, twin vanities with sinks and medicine cabinets, a toilet and a linen closet.

The featured space in the home is the sunroom, which is surrounded by glass doors and has panoramic views of the lake. This room has a bar (no sink) with most cocktail accessories, a 60-inch Roku TV, large gathering/game table with 8 chairs, comfortable padded patio furniture, cornhole boards, a poker set and other goodies.

The sunroom opens to the huge new composite deck with a spacious table and chairs for eating, drinking and lounging. There's a new propane gas grill with padded patio chairs under a sunshade, as well as a firepit area overlooking the bluff that seats 8 people (wood provided). The deck is gated so you can set some boundaries for the kids or pets as needed.

Wood stairs lead from the deck down to the boat/swim dock. There are 44 steps (which includes two landing/resting areas with chairs) between the deck and the ramp to the dock. The dock will have another flight of stairs between the ramp and the platform on the water. You will likely find a paddleboard, tandem kayak and a variety of other water toys at the dock, including a NEW 24-foot Sun Tracker pontoon boat with 150 HP motor! This immaculate boat is only available for rent (additional fees apply) to Barney's guests along with an optional 3-person towable tube (comes with a 60-ft rope and rope performance ball). The boat features 4 swivel fishing chairs, live well cushy leather loungers and of course an adjustable Captain's chair. Stay cool under the shade of the electronic Bimini cover and enjoy ample additional amenities that is sure to enhance your boating adventure. Contact Tim via email for more boat rental information.

You are welcome to play, swim, or fish from the dock deck. But there is absolutely no jumping from the walkway or from the top of the dock. If this happens and there are damages, you will be charged for those damages. 

A 5-foot high gated fence encloses one side of the house so that your furry companions can enjoy the deck, dock and water by your side without worrying that they will wander off or mingle with the other local critters. There is a convenient pet "clean-up" station and other pet amenities in this area as well.

Barney's front parking area has room for three standard to large sized vehicles. There is a large sloped gravel/dirt parking area behind the detached garage (garage is not accessible for Guests) that is available as well. This area is great for larger vehicles turning around, especially if you brought a boat or trailer because the turning radius for vehicles with trailers is limited in the front area. The larger side parking area can prove difficult when the ground is wet due to muddy/slippery conditions along the slope.

All TV’s are set up to stream at 70 MB (maximum download) with many free channels including 75+ live Roku channels. You can also login with your own streaming account. Steaming has been reported to slow down to 15 MB (download) when there are many devices streaming or the weather is bad and sometimes for no known reason.

Property manager

Tim Morgen
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 4 total
The pet fee is accessed per week (7 nights)
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
If your pet causes damage to the home/property/furniture you may be charged up to $1000.00 for cleaning/repairs/replacement of damaged items.
Checkout is strictly 10:00am. Late checkouts will be charged $50.00 per hour including any portion of an hour. Minimum late checkout fee is $50.00
No diving allowed from the boat dock ramp or boat house roof.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 15
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Crane Hill

Located in Crane Hill, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The Lily Pond an Art Gallery & Tea Room and Crooked Creek Civil War Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include WildWater Cullman and Funzone. Consider Stone Bridge Farms for a night out or Sportsman Lake Park if you're travelling with kids. With kayaking, waterskiing and water tubing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
Map
Crane Hill, AL

What's nearby

  • Lewis Smith Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • WildWater Cullman - 42 min drive - 39.5 km
  • Cullman Downtown Commercial Historic District - 43 min drive - 43.7 km
  • Smith Lake Park - 44 min drive - 30.8 km
  • Houston Historic Jail - 60 min drive - 38.4 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Cold Springs Grill - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Butterbeans - ‬53 min drive
  • ‪Kat Daddy's BBQ & Grill Co. - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Simply Southern Catering - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪The Grille - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total).

What time is check-in at Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Barney's Bluff pet-friendly reserve + pontoon opt located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is steps from Lewis Smith Lake and 8.5 mi (13.7 km) from Dowling Memorial Park. Stoney Lonesome OHV Park and Tiger Field are also within 20 miles (32 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. 20 out of 20 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sujata D.

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

Fantastic Stay

We loved our stay at Barney’s Bluff! Wonderful location on the lake. Very kid and pet friendly. Looking forward to going back in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary F.

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

Perfect

This is exactly the perfect place to spend a week with the family!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew B.

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

Favorite House On The Lake!

Barney’s Bluff has become not just our favorite house on the lake, but our favorite vacation spot. Karen and Tim go out of their way to make sure your stay is comfortable and that any issues are addressed immediately. They are some of the most accommodating hosts we’ve ever had when staying at a VRBO. I only give five stars because VRBO won’t let me give 10!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie B.

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

Perfect family getaway!

This property was absolutely perfect for a short weekend getaway! The house was very clean and comfortable. The hosts have gone way above and beyond to make sure that you have just about anything you could possibly need or want during your stay. It was honestly like going to stay at a home away home. Communication was great and everything far exceeded my expectations!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Martha M.

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

Weekday getaway

We decided to spend the week days at this lovely location. Very quiet and peaceful. Barney’s Bluff is everything and more than advertised. We also decided to rent the pontoon for a couple days to check some land for sale on the water. It was great to do this from the water versus the street. The convienence of just being able to walk on down and go was great! Having an home where we were able to bring our fur babies and have a safe fenced in area and deck was a huge bonus! We even caught a small mouth bass fishing from the dock and casting towards the horse line.we highly recommend this place!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Casey M.

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

Baby Shower

Beautiful place with a fantastic view. Held a co-ed baby shower and the property had something for everyone to enjoy. Fully stocked so nothing was missed. Felt like home for the weekend. Loved it all!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ila P.

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

Barney’s Bluff Great Experience

We loved our stay at Barney’s bluff. The house and property was well maintained and clean. The owners went above and beyond to make you feel welcome. The house was well stocked, and the layout was perfect. We especially loved the sunroom and porches. Our children had a wonderful time swimming, riding the kayak and paddle board, and fishing. The dock had nice shade and was great to stay at throughout the day. It was a relaxing vacation, and we highly recommend the property.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald S.

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

Beautiful

In our 10 years of staying in vacation rentals, Barney’s Bluff was by far our favorite. Loved the details, like the comfy bedding, coffee bar, bright and colorful decor and furnishings, robes, games, and the snacks with welcome note. That 4 seasons room! Didn’t want to leave it. Just wish the screens on the sliding doors were repaired so we could enjoy the fresh air while sitting there. And the fire pit wood was too wet to attempt a fire. Was there kindling because we couldn’t find it. But those still didn’t take away from our pure enjoyment of this place. Thank u for allowing a teacher and her husband a relaxing Spring Break!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew B., madison, usa

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

Perfect lake house with all the amenities l!

You really can’t ask for more than what Barney’s Bluff has to offer. While we always come prepared with everything we need to enjoy the lake, at Barney’s you can almost leave everything at home except your wallet, tooth brush, food, swimsuit and a change of clothes and Barney’s provides everything else you need to have a great time on Smith Lake. Floats, life jackets, dog life vests, kayak, paddle board, pontoon available for rent, fully equipped kitchen, extra swim towels, lounge chairs, rocking chairs, gas grill, fire pit, board games, books, internet, smart tvs, washer & dryer, fenced area for pets, etc. The home and all amenities were well taken care of as well. One word of caution: if you trailer your boat, once you get to the last turn (right before you turn onto CR 187) pull over and walk the short distance down the gravel road to make sure your trailer backing skills are sufficient to get turned around. We loved our stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tom C.

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

Barney Is The Man!

We really enjoyed our stay at Barney’s Bluff! All the comforts of home and absolutely every detail thought of. Would highly recommend this property to anyone. Great location and the boat is fantastic. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Frances L.

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

Barney's bluff was great!

We enjoyed a long weekend with our dogs at Barney's bluff. Great location for sitting on the dock, swimming in the lake, paddle boarding and boating! House was great - very well stocked with everything you might need. Owners were very responsive and engaged. Highly recommended for those looking for a relaxing time away from home.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brooke S., Columbia, US

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

Awesome property, gracious host!

Awesome working with the owner. First class information and process
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jackie M.

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

Amazing

The house is whimsical, comfortable and just perfect for family and fur babies. Everything anyone could need was there, even a coffee bar for the girls and a fenced yard for the dogs. The dock with paddle board, a first for our girls, was fun and the water was great. We all loved it!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steven R.

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

Great stay

One of the cleanest i’ve ever rented, As far as as function. The very best of what i’ve seen. Would recommend to anyone
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda S.

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

Perfect Lake Get Away, Very Clean, Prt Friendly!

The house is just as you see in the pictures. It’s so nice and clean! On the lake with a boat slip and lift! Super pet friendly! The gates to keep the dogs on the porch while giving them access to the side yard (grass) and not having to worry about them running off was great! Also, the toys at the lake included everything to keep our 13, 17, and 19 year old busy while not on the boat! They swam, kayaked, paddle boarded, and used the water saddles! 100% recommend Barney’s Bluff!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jaime B.

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

Awesome Getaway!

We chose Barney’s Bluff to celebrate our Nana turning 60 and this place did not disappoint! Everything was super clean and the host was very friendly and easy to work with. Already looking at dates for our next stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tonya C., Fairview, USA

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

Great views!

Wonderful views and all the amenities needed for a great stay on the lake with our fur babies!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Challice W.

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

No detail overlooked!

Beautiful house with everything you could possibly need. The owners were very responsive and check in/out was a breeze. Would 100% recommend and will stay there again!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelli W., Meridian, MS

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

Amazing stay at Barney’s Bluff

Our family of 6 (plus dog) truly enjoyed our stay here. The owners have everything you need upon arrival. We ran to the Country Mall and grabbed some hot dogs to grill the first night and picked up groceries in Cullman the next day via Walmart pick up order. The owners have thought out of everything from lots of games to play inside to water saddles to enjoy in the water. The kids loved the kayak and paddleboard. We enjoyed sitting on the dock in the comfy adorandack chairs down on the dock. The view of the lake doesn’t get any better. It’s beautiful! I did not want to leave but we definitely hope to return soon!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robin B.

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

A perfect lake property

We spent a wonderful weekend in this beautiful and well appointed lake home. Fabulous views, perfect location that’s easily accessible and has deep water in a wide cove, comfortable sunroom and massive deck with many seating options for relaxation and spending time with family. These owners thought of everything you might want or need, from the kitchen to the bathrooms to the outdoor areas, and lots supplied for both indoor and outdoor recreation. I almost hate to write this review because it’s a new listing that I know will get many great reviews and will have a full calendar of bookings going forward, which means less opportunity for us to return!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

About the host

Hosted by Tim Morgen

Host profile image
I like to fish. One of my lifelong dreams has been to own a lake home so I could walk out my back door and bass fish or perhaps hop in my boat or jet ski and take off for an afternoon cruise. So, I purchased a bungalow and a lakeside retreat on Smith Lake. Most of the time I live at the “farm” in Colorado Springs, CO with my wife Karen. We have two dogs, Allie and Tigua, along with three cats and about 20 chickens. Barney is no longer with us as he succumbed to aggressive bone cancer too early in his short life. (He is the big pooch on the right side of the photo with Karen). However, Barney will always live in our hearts and remain an icon in his namesake home, Barney's Bluff.
I have owned and run my own structural engineering business since 2001 and Karen does the books for our company. We decided to pursue other interests now that we have a few grandkids and engineering can get both stressful and mundane after 25 years. Living on a beautiful, pristine lake part time and sharing it with others who have a similar passion for fishing and watersports just made sense. I think if you come as our guest to “Allie’s on the Rocks”, “Barney’s Bluff” or our newest place, "Tigua's Sunrise", you will find them as amazing and enjoyable as we have. And feel free to bring your four-legged pals with you.

Why they chose this property

Wide open and quiet location with access to boats and jet skis on deep water cove.

What makes this property unique

Perfect combination of solitude, lake views and access to clean water area.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests