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Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet!

Photo gallery for Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet!

Pup friendly pier!
Fishing from the private pier ...what a joy!
Screened in porch overlooking Mobile Bay
Front of cottage surrounded by live oaks, a picket fence and a 4 acre lot!
The open plan provides a view of the Bay from almost anywhere in the house.

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6120.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Dryer
    Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Gulf shores, AL
  • Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
    8 min walk
  • Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club
    5 min drive
  • Fort Morgan Beach
    5 min drive
  • Gulf Shores, AL (GUF-Jack Edwards)
    15 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

sunroom

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Outdoor shower

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet!

Looking for some privacy and isolation yet on the water? Our Bay Cottage is perfect for you.. You can spend your days fishing from the private pier, canoeing Mobile Bay, crabbing, laying out in the sun on your private “beach“, sitting on the screen porch with a good book, watching movies on the smart TV, or taking naps! Here you can forget about all the problems of the world and relax in paradise.

We have looked for the perfect beach house for many years! We finally found it in the summer of 2014. This vintage cottage originally built in the 1920s, but modernized 😉, sits on a secluded 4 acre lot surrounded by live oaks and huge pines! You can enjoy the sunrise and sunsets overlooking Mobile Bay while sitting on your screen porch or on your shoreside deck. Bringing along a canoe or small boat, you have your own small boat launch from the yard.

Our property is a Birder's Heaven. Not only can you sit on the screen porch and watch Great Blue Herons, Osprey and Pelicans fly by and fish for a meal around the dock, but the neotropical migrants are amazing. We enjoy the hummingbirds also!

This cottage is one of a kind! The interior is a classic with heart pine floors, walls and ceilings. The cottage has 3 bedrooms, with the master suite having its own bath. The other two bedrooms share a lovely bath. There is a laundry room with washer and dryer. The kitchen includes a full stove and oven, dishwasher, and all the necessary cooking supplies to make it possible to prepare your own meals. Or you may drive just a few miles to enjoy fine cuisine at a number of restaurants at the Beach Club or in Gulf Shores.

Mobile Bay is a fisherman's paradise! You can fish from the shore, catch live crab with one of the traps on site, or put your boat in and enjoy the bay. Mark catches redfish, flounder and specks.

If you enjoy the beach side of Ft Morgan, the Mobile St public beach is a short drive (or bicycle) away. I love to walk or run the Pine Beach Trail across highway 180 through Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. See photos to see the beauty! If you like to ride bicycles, there is a nice bike trail just down the road that goes all the way into Gulf Shores. The cottage is only about 8 miles from Gulf Shores, close enough to run to town for groceries!

Property manager

Maggie Johnston
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 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
DOGS ONLY! LIMIT 2 Most of our rules can be found in our rental agreement.

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 indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Gulf Shores

Located in Gulf Shores, this cottage is on the beach. While the natural beauty of Gulf Shores Beach and Gulf State Park can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore The Wharf. Travelling with kids? Consider Zooland Mini Golf and Waterville USA. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Gulf shores, AL

What's nearby

  • Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - 8 min walk
  • Fort Morgan Beach - 5 min drive
  • Kiva Dunes Golf Course - 7 min drive
  • Gulf Shores Beach - 21 min drive
  • West Beach - 23 min drive

Getting around

  • Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 81 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sassy Bass Market Place - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Village Hideaway - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Fort Morgan Pizza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fresh Seafood Market - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Beach Club Village Market and Grill - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Bayfront Cottage. Private pier! Sunsets! Sunrises! 4 acres of peace and quiet! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Gulf Shores cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Bon Secour Bay and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Fort Morgan Beach is 2 mi (3.3 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 174 out of 183 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 183 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 183 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 183 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 183 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shena S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love Staying at Bay Cottage
We so love staying at Bay Cottage! VERY quiet and peaceful! Love that you can walk out the back door onto the dock and fish whenever you want. Love the screened in porch and relaxing and listening to the bay. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this is your place!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Maggie's Bay Cottage
Wonderful stay in charming, vintage cottage with comfortable beds, well-stocked kitchen (even has cast iron pans and spices) and large screened porch with plenty of rocking chairs. Quiet and private. Clean, clean, clean! Great air conditioner. Beautiful original heart pine floors are satiny smooth for bare feet. Gorgeous live oaks and natural plants lead to an unobstructed view of the bay. Spent many hours enjoying the porch, the dock and walking the long drive full of natural magnolia, and flowering lantana. Heron and pelican put on a real show at the end of the dock in the evenings! A Dollar General is only a couple of miles away and has absolutely everything, even fresh vegetables. Loved taking our Blue Heeler to a dog friendly beach about four miles away. She also enjoyed exploring and cooling off in the bay water using the gently sloped boat launch area to the right of the pier. The cottage has a dog bowl, leash, toys and treats in case you need them. Owners give great directions and communication. Such a peaceful place!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stacey P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Bay cottage
Bay Cottage was warm and inviting. We really enjoyed our short stay there. I will definitely look to returning hopefully next year
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Angela S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable and unique stay on the bay
We’ve chosen to take our annual vacation in Fort Morgan for many years. We have always had a large dog(s) which we like to bring along. We’ve stayed on the gulf side, the lagoon, and now the bayside! This was a first. I really appreciated this unique home (it truly feels like a home, not a rental. It had everything we needed and more. There was even a pet basket where some of the cottage’s supplies for your pets were easily accessible! I’m an artist so the decor and interesting touches throughout the home was a bonus for me. So many interesting things and I loved the eclectic style! The location was great because it’s secluded without being completely isolated. Pier was awesome and we kayaked from the boat ramp (use your bug spray when you’re adventuring in a forest, for goodness sakes!) I rode my bike up and down the long drive and felt like I was in a whole different place. Muscadines and beauty berries were out in all of their splendor. Herons and pelicans galore to watch throughout the day. We did see dolphins as well. I can’t say enough about the large screened porch - we had many days of rain and weren’t in the mood for sand and whatnot… the porch was fantastic and you can even have lunch or dinner around the table out there! We would stay here again the next time we want a bayside vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Blair W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute cottage among the trees by the water.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed a week at Maggie's Cottage. My husband (and dog) had a great time fishing off the dock. I read and relaxed in the air conditioning. Had a wonderful meal at Jesse's By the Bay, just down the road. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome
Awesome
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jackie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful!!
Great location, short drive for beach access, privacy. Wonderful fishing from pier, got to see dolphins too. Highly recommend!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely perfect
This beautiful home is exactly like it is represented here. Maggie the owner was a delight to deal with! She made sure that we had everything we could ever need or want. The home has enough room for everyone to have their space while also making it easy to share family time. Fishing off the pier was so much fun. We caught catfish, crabs, croakers etc... It was also the perfect place to watch the dolphins! The cottage is also in the perfect location to go out and about just about everything was close by.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Teresa H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Annual Family Vacation
Bay Cottage was amazing. Comfortably accommodated our family of 6 adults; had plenty of room. Fished daily off the dock and caught multiple fish. 2 days spent on the beaches were perfect. The breeze off the Gulf kept the body temperature perfect. Went to the beach in Gulf State Park one day, and to the Public Beach at the end of Mobile Street (half mile from cottage) the other day. Both beaches were great. Recommend both of them. Hiked the full 5 mile Pine Beach trail and around Gator Lake. Beautiful trail that starts across street from cottage driveway. Greatly enjoyed, but recommend you do early morning before heat sets in. The best were the evenings spent on the screened porch after watching sun sets and the daily temps subside. Sharing laughs and stories after a day of fun. Bay Cottage is a special place, especially for our daughter, as she became ENGAGED while in this magical setting. Thank you Maggie and Mark for sharing your home with us! And...shout out to property manager Martha for making the planning of the trip so seamless.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonna L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful weekend
We loved the location near the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge and their secluded beach. The cottage is so charming and the waterfront dock can’t be beat. We saw dolphins and birds galore. We rented kayaks From Fort Morgan rentals and had a very close Dolphin encounter one afternoon. It was thrilling!!! We will be back to this gem!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Karen V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and peaceful getaway
We found it difficult to find the cottage, the sign needs to be more visible and updated. It was all faded. Overall, we were satisfied with the country cabin charm. Loved the porch!! Enjoyed watching the dolphins from the pier, along with seeing eagles and blue herons.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leigh S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great For Families!
I chose this place because of its privacy and dog friendly accommodations. My husband and I were asked to keep our four month old granddaughter while my daughter and her husband attended a wedding in Gulf Shores. It was perfect for our needs. The property has very comfortable beds and the kitchen is well stocked with things you may have forgotten! There is a big porch that is so nice to sit on and watch the water. I recommend this property!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sherri A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spring break away from the crowds
This was our second year in a row staying at the bay cottage and will definitely be back again. Easy access to beaches, trails and gulf shores but we mostly enjoyed staying at the property. Fishing, kayaking, reading, grilling out. Saw dolphins from the dock and the peacock paid a visit. Another relaxing spring break.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing and beautiful
My husband and two Goldendoodles had a fabulous time at Bayfront Cottage. Although the weather didn’t cooperate, there were plenty of things to do within minutes of the cottage. There were also several dog friendly places to go including Ft. Morgan beach, Ft Morgan, and The ferry to Dauphin Island. The cottage had everything we needed and the views were beautiful. We plan on returning soon!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harold B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fall Bay retreat
This property is a rare gem. It is an old cabin that has been beautifully restored while retaining the vintage charm. The floors, walls, and ceilings are all wood. The house was clean and well furnished. Very private and quiet. Far enough from the pavement to escape traffic noise. Expansive views of Mobile Bay and the long pier is great for viewing fabulous sunsets and sunrises or for casting a fishing lure if you like. Located approximately halfway between Gulf Shores and the Dauphin Island ferry which was convenient since we visited both during our 7 night stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shena S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Need Peace and Quiet? This is the Place!
Had a wonderful stay at Bay Cottage! Would definitely stay again! It’s very quite and peaceful there. Got to see a peacock and had a very regular seagull guest we lovingly named Ernie. There’s a very long driveway back to the house that’s excellent to walk up and back in the mornings if that’s something that interests you. A dock in the backyard right on the bay for fishing and a very short drive to a public beach access on the Gulf which was never crowded. Also a great restaurant called Jesse’s that’s also on the bay and a very short drive to. Maggie is a great owner who is very responsive to your needs. We had a great stay and would stay there again.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mel C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice place to restore yourself
:-)
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brandi P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Getaway
My husband and I visit Gulf Shores nearly every year and love to stay on the bay. This was our first time staying at the Bay Cottage, and we would definitely stay again. The house sits in the perfect location - close enough to all the action but far enough away that it’s private and quiet. The private pier is perfect for fishing and crabbing, and for catching those beautiful sunsets over the water. Kenny the peacock came to visit every evening like clockwork and was a welcome delight. We enjoyed a seafood boil while there, and the kitchen had most everything we needed to cook with. The new Dollar General towards Fort Morgan was clean and well-stocked, and kept us from having to go into town for anything we ended up needing quickly. The house was clean and very welcoming, the bed comfortable. Our Yorkie had a blast going for walks on the pier to watch the birds and check the crab pots. I think he’s bored now that we’re home. Thanks for sharing your home with us, and we hope to come back again someday! Thank you to both Maggie and Martha for great communication and responding quickly when I had questions, and especially Martha for helping when I realized I had left something behind.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dawn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Summer vacation
Great veiws, very clean, it is quite and relaxing, will recommend. Owners check on to make sure everything was going good.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Gathering
Great, perfect for a family that does not want the madness of the beach front but wants to be close.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lance R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Restful vacation spot!
The Bay Cottage is a perfect place for your family vacation! It is far enough away from town to enjoy some quiet time on the screened porch but close enough to town to go for dinner. The Peacock (Kenny) visited a couple times and is awesome. We used the beach access off the end of Mobile St which is part of the refuge and it is nice. We also enjoyed fishing off the pier and watching sunsets. The owner and manager are both very helpful. Would love to stay again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rick B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome Cabin by the Bay!
Relaxing and private cottage on the bay side of Ft Morgan in Gulf Shores. Screen in porch overlooking the water, shade trees are abundant, and a awesome location overall. We loved staying here and will do it again if we return.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family vacation
Awesome quiet place to stay very close to all activities
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Derek T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The amazing house on the Bay!!!
I took my family (Two Seniors, a 1-year-old, and my wife) down the Gulf for some R&R; this house and the host were outstanding. We fished and crabbed from the dock, visited the local beaches, and walked on the Pine trail. As a bonus (and to my son's great delight), the local peacock checked in on us to ensure everything was fine. Maggie was a great host, and I wish I could give her and the home 10 stars!!!!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Maggie Johnston

Host profile image
Maggie recently retired from the Executive Director of Wild Alabama...www.wildal.org. For 16 + years she ran the Educational Programs at Camp McDowell.
Mark retired from 26 years as the Executive Director of Camp McDowell, near Jasper, Alabama. He is enjoying retirement but still doing renovation of houses, building a new vacation cabin in the forest, and keeping up our acreage and cabins.

Why they chose this property

Amazing and unique! You'll love it. Such a quiet, private home right on the water of Mobile Bay...while still being so near the beach. We love the quarter mile driveway.

What makes this property unique

4 acres of peace and quiet on the water. Bird watching paradise. Fish from the dock or put in a canoe and paddle around the bay. Sitting on the huge screen porch watching the dolphin dance and fish...and pelicans and Great Blue Herons fish as well.

Languages:

English

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