Entire home

Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!!

Beachfront holiday home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!!

Texas Court House - Your Home at the Bay!!!
The View is Breathtaking at The Texas Court House!!!
NEW Lighted Pier rebuilt since Harvey!
View from the Pier. A Wonderful Place for a Vacation at The Texas Court House!
View out the Front Windows!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 20297.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

View map
Port Lavaca, TX
  • Place, Lighthouse Beach
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Place, Fishing Pier Park
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Place, Matagorda Bay
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Bunk Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!!

PLEASE read the entire listing. There is a lot of information here.

NOTE -- Please give us an ACCURATE number of Adults and Children in your group. Our Listing states that we sleep 20. That assumes some children in your group. Limit of beds for adults (and older teens) is about 14 including blow up and bottom bunk. If you bring more adults, you may have to provide additional bedding. Beds includes top bunks, cots, couches and/or fold-outs for kids.

Our houses are not run by a property management company, but is a family business. We live close by on the Texas Coast and equip our houses with everything we want for when we stay there. No cast off or "hand me down" mattresses. All are good quality for when we and our friends and family stay there.

Whether you are interested in Dolphin watching, birding, swimming, boating, fishing or simply watching the sun set, The Texas Court House has it! We have even seen Dolphins right off the end of the pier!

We are KID and PET FRIENDLY!!! We have 5 kids of our own and have tried to include all the things to keep the kids entertained.

When you are there, if feels like you are a million miles from civilization, but you are in a great community and only 15 minutes to a Super Walmart! You drive through a lot of ranch land and then, suddenly, you emerge in a Jewel of a place with stilt houses on a wonderful bay.

The Texas Court House is a 5 bedroom house located on Caranchua Bay near Port Lavaca, Texas. Located about halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi on the Texas Coast, Caranchua Bay is convenient to all major cities in Texas.

This house is not a canal home but a BAY home and fully equipped with EVERYTHING you might need for your stay. You need only bring you self, food and clothes. We provide everything else including all linens, towels, pans, dishes, etc. There are not 5 cups, glasses and plates here. There is PLENTY of good plate, pans and utensils. If something necessary is missing, let us know.

The Texas Court House is a luxurious two story house covered in Texas Hill-Country Limestone for a unique design not found on any other vacation rental on the Texas Coast. It has two full kitchens - one upstairs and one downstairs! It has two full Master Suites upstairs with an oversized tiled shower and large Jacuzzi tub in EACH Master Bath. The three bedrooms downstairs are good sized and you can enjoy a movie on the big screen HDTV and Blu Ray DVD player using our collection of DVDs. For the little ones, we have a play set out back.

Right out the front door is Caranchua Bay and your own NEW 6 foot wide and 200 foot long lighted pier with direct access to the water. Caranchua Bay is full of redfish, shark, trout, flounder, pompano, gafftops, whiting, croakers, sheepheads and drum. There is no commercial fishing in the Bay so fishing is GOOD! Kayaks and basic fishing gear provided as well as bright fishing lights on the pier. Don't forget to look for the dolphins!

Bring your boat! There is a boat launch nearby, and you can tie it up to our pier. Also, with your boat, you have easy access to Matagorda Bay, considered by all to have some of the best fishing on the Texas Coast!

For the wildlife enthusiast, there is an abundance of wildlife in the area. You can see deer, raccoon, possum, turkey and other wild animals.

For the birding enthusiast, this area is teaming with a large variety of bird species including Black-necked Stilts, Ibis, Rosette Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, Gull and Tern species, Least Turns, Rails and Snipe, wintering Geese, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Hawks. You might even see endangered Pereghrine Falcons, Wood Storks or Brown Pelicans. A loop of the Great Texas Birding Trail goes right down the street the house is on. There are a number of birding sites within a few miles of the house.

Port Lavaca is a short drive away with a sandy beach, museums, shopping, and antiques.

Always send an Inquiry. On-line rate is usually accurate but may not be on occasion. Multi-day discounts may not show up in on-line quoted rate.


Add $200 Cleaning Fee to all Rentals

$50.00 Pet fee per Pet

Sadly, VRBO adds their own fees. Can't do anything about that.

Add 6% Tax to all Rentals. Can't fight Uncle Sam.

Keywords: House

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 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

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Port Lavaca

Located in Port Lavaca, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Fishing Pier Park and Lighthouse Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Serendumpity Marina and The Treasure Chest. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Port Lavaca, TX

What's nearby

  • Lighthouse Beach - 34 min drive - 31.6 km
  • Fishing Pier Park - 35 min drive - 32.7 km
  • Tilley Park - 39 min drive - 36.4 km
  • Matagorda Bay - 39 min drive - 36.5 km
  • Palacios Bay Beach - 47 min drive - 48.3 km

Getting around

  • Victoria, TX (VCT-Victoria Regional) - 60 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shell - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Fishville Trading Post, LLC - ‬28 min drive
  • ‪Carancahua Bay Cafe - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Caracnahua - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Fishville Trading Post - ‬28 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Dolphins, Fishing & Fun w/ LIGHTED PIER!!! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Port Lavaca holiday home is within 20 mi (32 km) of Fishing Pier Park, Lighthouse Beach and Matagorda Bay. Serendumpity Marina and Palacios Golf Course are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 159 out of 169 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 169 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 169 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 169 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 169 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kim H.

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

Great place

We loved this house. The listing doesn’t do it justice. It was perfect for our large family celebration. Would stay again
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laren K.

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

Nice place

Cool layout and view of the bay
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff A.

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

Beautiful House

House was beautiful and was exactly what we needed for our trip.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Morgan R.

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

Fun weekend

We had a fun weekend! Very relaxing and good time fishing!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aaron c.

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

Amazing fishing retreat

The fishing pier is in need of repair but we were able to use it and had so much fun this house was a blast!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha V.

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

100% recommend!

We enjoyed every minute! Awesome location the house was great and roomy. We overall enjoyed our trip.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shelia C.

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

Great place for family gatherings!

Beautiful property on the water! Initially we thought the water and the pier was behind the house but it is actually across the street in front of the house.. Either way we had a great time together at this beautiful home. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Juan A.

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

Amazing family property

We were able to comfortably fit multiple families for a spring break getaway. The large rooms, multiple beds, and dual kitchens made it extremely spacious. We spent hours everynight fishing off the dock and days grilling and playing volleyball in the large yard. I highly recommend this beautiful property and look forward to returning.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd A.

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

Awesome

Awesome property. As advertised. Perfect for large number of people. Great location. Owner was very friendly and helpful. Also very easy to contact as needed. Overall amazing property and place.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Debbie E., Humble USA

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

The Court House

We were at the house the week after Christmas, 2022. We were very comfortable with 6 adults and 4 teenagers. Thank you so much forthe wonderful family time. This place is better than advertised!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deborah H.

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

This house is beautiful,

The house is great, the layout is very smart the furniture was nice. If I had a complaint I would say the cooking pans were a bit rough. We had a great time with family the weather wasn’t great cool and windy, would like to come back later in the year Pleasant to work with. Thank you very much
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrea R.

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

Beautiful Home

We had a large group and this house was perfect for us! Communication with property managers was great as we did have a couple of minor issues (no fault of property owners) while we were there due to large amounts of rain :( No complaints with the property other then the pier needs some repair which I communicated to the property owner.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Cathy V.

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

Very happy!

Family and extended family of 17 people stayed for 5 nights. The house was perfect for us with 2 full kitchens and living areas. Perfect for the kids to have their own space. We spent most of our days fishing off the pier and really enjoyed ourselves. The neighborhood seems very welcoming and friendly. Mosquitos were a bit of a nuisance but that is south Texas- just pack some bug spray! I would recommend this house to anyone and we will rent again sometime.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jon J., College Station, TX

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

Perfect Family Getaway

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The home is more beautiful than displayed in the pictures. We found all we needed in the house for our three day getaway with our family. The view of the bay from the house is amazing. Our kids (ages 12-23) loved kayaking around the pier. We did not do any fishing. However, we saw plenty of fish and some small crabs from the pier. We had a great day trip to Magnolia Beach and spent the other day playing football and baseball in the oversized “backyard”. We will definitely try to come here again another year.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Melissa S., Alaska

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

Peace and tranquility by the bay

Just left this lovely place after a family reunion for Christmas. 14 of us comfortably stayed in the home and the fact there were two complete kitchens was PERFECT for all the holiday baking and cooking we did all week. This is a great place for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle. There isn’t much to do other than enjoy each other’s company, play games and go fishing off the dock. We were quite successful catching speckled trout and that was pretty awesome....using just lures too! If you want a place with easy access to city amenities and sight seeing .... this isn’t for you. If you want to slow down, take a breather and just relish in stunning sunrises and sunsets from the multiple decks, than this is THE place. The owners were excellent with their responses to our concerns about trash can issues. Really good communicators. The only “negative” was some of the photos and info online needs to be updated. There isn’t a pull out couch nor a fooseball table. May be helpful to have a list of what’s available in the kitchen although I imagine that changes if people “accidentally” walk away with things, We truly enjoyed our stay and are grateful for the family memories we made.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2019

8/10 Good

Christene B.

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

Beautiful House to get away completely

The house was big, clean and beautiful. Great layout for multiple families. Pier is great. My husband stayed out most of the trip fishing. I really enjoyed the front balcony with my dogs. Beds, Towels, water pressure and hot water were excellent. Sounds like small things, but too often these are overlooked in rentals. There were a few repairs needed - nothing that stopped us from enjoying the house, but still needed to be addressed. They replied very promptly to those inquiries and had mowing down immediately. The owners did reply that there weren't aware of all the repairs needed so glad for us to let them know. It may be helpful to get a property manager so renters aren't the ones that have to notify you of repairs and take pictures for you. Or your book says you visit between every renter which in that case some of this should have been caught. If that's not accurate - I get it, but maybe update the book. I do feel that the rental cost is comparable to places with property managers and its reasonable to expect owners to check for needed repairs. There were a few outdated things in the book that you ask everyone to read - and it was a great bunch of information - but have to keep it updated. I'd still give this a 4 because really enjoyed the vacation, but I do hope that the third shower and 2nd couch upstairs is usable for next renter and the foot pump is repaired. And maybe some new non scratched up larger skillets. With a house for so many you need big cookware. The other repairs were minor. But communication was prompt and that is a big kudos to you all.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was a beautiful place to stay! Very clean and view from the porch this morning watching the sun come up was awesome! Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennie R.

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

Excellent place to hang out with extended family

We had an amazing stay at Court House, it was very accommodating, everyone had plenty of space, beds were comfy and the location was perfect for us. We loved the fishing pier and were out on it a lot. All in all a great Thanksgiving was enjoyed by all. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

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

Fishing Trip

Had a great time again staying at this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

justin c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Family vacation

Overall it was a great trip, we were able to get our whole family together for the first time in awhile. Will say though the peir and childrens playhouse that are in the listing were destroyed by the last huricane that came through and unusable.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracey B.

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

Texas Courthouse

We enjoyed our stay at the Texas Courthouse. The home is beautiful. It had everything we needed for our stay. We were able to fish off the pier. We used the crab traps and caught enough blue crabs for a crab boil. We had an issue with a toilet and the owner was very responsive. We would definitely stay there again.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Connie B.

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

Great vacation for families

We ALL loved staying here!!! Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate and rained more than we wanted which prevented us from doing outdoor activities . Our time here was very relaxing and allowed our family to reconnect. There was plenty of room , beds were comfortable and we loved waking up to the views.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

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

Had a great time

Nice place—- really shallow water tho
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda N.

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

New Year with Family

What a great place We had a wonderful time
Stayed 11 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura J.

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

Family Time

We have a larger immediate family and were able to all be under one roof!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Tim & Rosa Raub / Beverly Raub Tompary

Host profile image
Timothy & Rosa Raub have five children and three grand children (as well as a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law!). We live nearby on the Texas coast. Tim has a full time job and Rosa is the one who takes care of most of the property issues. You will also hear from our daughter, Beverly, a stay at home mom. You are not dealing with a big property management company but, rather, the actual owners. The Texas Court House is our house. We have equipped it the way we want it for our enjoyment and want you to enjoy it as much as we do!

Why they chose this property

The Texas Court House is in a GEM of a location. The location in Port Alto, Texas is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest place on the Texas Coast for getting away from it all. No Big Hotels, no houses squeezed together on top of one another. Water out the front door and pasture land out the back door. No street lights at night. Enjoy gazing at the stars in this unique location.

Languages:

English, Spanish