Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga
Kowabunga is a great Dauphin Island Beach house with many amenities, including a small, private heated dipping pool, a Game Room, roof-top deck and great Gulf Beach location. No wonder it's one of our most popular Dauphin Island beach rentals!
This pet-friendly Gulf-side elevated beach house sits just one house back from the Gulf, and so it has tremendous views! The rooftop crow's nest offers a panoramic view of the island. This home also has a small Game Room, which is great for those times that the weather isn't cooperating! The game room is also the 4th bedroom that has a sleeper sofa and a bunk bed.
This elevated, two-story home has a Master Suite on the first level with a private full bath. There is also a half-bath off the kitchen. The Great Room is large, open, and has a flat-screen TV over the fireplace. The Second Level has three bedrooms, two of which share a ""Jack and Jill"" half bathroom with shower. There is a third, full bathroom on this level, and a Game Room (great for night time, or rainy days). The rooftop has a ""Crow's Nest"" which provides panoramic views of the Island.
This house may be Pet-friendly, with prior written permission.
As with all of our Dauphin Island homes, all linens and towels are provided, WIFI, along with a fully-outfitted kitchen. Everything you need for a great beach vacation is here. Pool is heated October 15 thru April.
Pool Heating Note: Pool temperature can vary during cooler months, as the system relies on outdoor air temperatures. In colder conditions (around 50°F), heating may be less effective or temporarily unavailable (45°F and below), and it can take up to 24 hours to reach the desired temperature when weather allows.
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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
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Dauphin Island
Located in Dauphin Island, this holiday home is on the beach. Fort Morgan is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium - 15 min drive - 10.8 km
Fort Morgan Beach - 56 min drive - 18.1 km
Fort Morgan - 56 min drive - 18.1 km
Getting around
Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 51 min drive
Restaurants
Circle K - 12 min drive
Chevron - 12 min drive
Pelican Pub - 12 min drive
Pirate's Bar & Grill - 13 min drive
Capt'n Snappers - 13 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga?
As of 31 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga on 1 May 2026 start from AU$680, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Private dipping Pool, a Game Room, roof-top Crow's Nest - Kowabunga located?
Nestled on the beach, this Dauphin Island holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Dauphin Island Beaches and West End Beach. Dauphin Island Public Beach is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) away.
Reviews
7.2
Good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Stay was amazing great views beautiful place for a family vacation.Ice maker didn’t work and pool heater didn’t work and a few broken tiles in the house need fixed by the stairs but very lovely place to stay highly recommended
David C.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Delores M.
26 Aug 2024
Liked: Check-in, location
Family Vacation 2024
Our family had a great vacation.
Delores M.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified
4/10 Poor
Jennifer W.
11 Oct 2025
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Home was unsafe. Tile floor grout was coming loose in chunks, pregnant woman tripped on it, baby almost ate it. No working baby gates, nails sticking up on the porch and loose rail slats. Fridge drawers were broken.
Jennifer W.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Patty H.
8 Sept 2025
The tile was broken in living room i tripped over n it serval time as did others that was unsafe
Our family had a great time! Prefect spot on the beach and the pool was amazing! The beds were comfortable and they had plenty of extras for our big family! The game room was a huge added bonus! Only downfalls I would say would be the living room tiles were very cracked and most of the doors to the outside were very difficult to open and shut. Other than those things we had a wonderful stay!
COURTNEY A.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Sept 2023
Thank you for the review and the feedback. We will see what we can do about the doors and the tiles. We hope you get back to the island soon~DIBR
Verified
6/10 Okay
Kendra L.
6 Dec 2023
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Great Location Home Needs Attention
The location of this home on Dauphin Island is very good. It's a great place to relax and enjoy the beach. The view from the crow's nest is amazing. However, the home is definitely in need of attention and updates. It is overpriced for the condition it is in.
Kendra L.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jan 2024
Hi Kendra, I apologize that the property did not meet your expectations. I will check the home to see what may need to be done so we may get it back to where it should be~DIBR
Very easy. Liked the house. Not very clean. Needs some updates.
Ruthie N.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Aug 2022
Please be aware if a property is not up to your standard to call our office and we will send the cleaner back out to rectify any cleaning issue. Thank you for choosing Dauphin Island Beach Rentals~DIBR
The house was great. It had plenty of room and the view was unbelievable. The house is right on the water and the beach was amazing. With Covid, recent storm damage to the area (nothing noticeable on the house), and it being the offseason, there were a limited number of things to do on the island. We expected that, and had a great time hanging out at the house. I wish we would have had one more day to relax and enjoy this wonderful property.
jon s.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Dec 2020
So glad you enjoyed Kowabunga! The island is quiet this time of year. :) Thank you for the review and safe travels! ~Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
Beautiful home and beautiful location. If this home had just the basic needs repaired, I would stay here again. The decking behind the pool steps is dangerously rotten. Several side railings were missing. A child could easily pushed between them. The broken tile on the den floor would cut a foot.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The property was accurately listed, and the location was amazing! Only two minor complaints. The dishwasher didn’t work and dishes weren’t all clean. Also the heated pool didn’t really feel heated the majority of the time. Otherwise we had a great time and enjoyed our stay.
Ryan L.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Sept 2022
So glad you enjoyed this wonderful home. We hope you come back to the island soon. Thank you for choosing Dauphin Island Beach Rentals~DIBR
You couldn't ask for a better location, we had never stayed on Dauphin Island and we are now hooked! The kids loved that every morning they could just walk down the stairs to the beach, no hiking over dunes or down piers carrying all our stuff!
The house was nice, rooms were as described, few minor things that could be updated, but I know that's not always easy with rental properties. Pool was great to have for the kids (it is small, but perfect for kids) there were a few spots on the deck where nails were coming up, so just be aware.
Overall loved our stay and already looking to book again next year!
Sarah R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept 2021
Thank you so much for staying with us and really appreciate your feedback. Best Regards, Dauphin Island Beach Rentals (DIBR)
Verified
4/10 Poor
Kaann R.
2 Aug 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Very dirty and unsafe
Cat was amazing! She truly was a lifesaver! We got to the house and was very unsatisfied. The house was very dirty and unsafe. The deck had spindles missing all throughout! We have 3 children ages 9 and under and thats very unsafe for the high-rise housing. My personal opinion is the house shouldn't even be listed for rent until they get it fixed and cleaned up. So needless to say we werent there but 10 mins before calling Cat. She was so great to have found us a new location that was absolutely amazing. She was very kind and helpful. I also understood that somethings are out of the property management hands. Just so grateful she was able to help us out and give us a great vacation spot. We will definitely book thru Cat again. Just not this one.
Kaann R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified
4/10 Poor
Cheryl M.
17 July 2022
Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Beautiful View
The view was great and the so was the dipping pool. The house is not kept up.
Broken blinds, broken screens, wood not nailed on the deck or porch chairs. Very outdated furniture, bedding, and a broken kitchen chair. Would not rent again
Cheryl M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2022
I'm sorry you did not enjoy the vacation home you rented. I will send the list to the approriate parties and see what we can do to make the property better for our guest.~DIBR
We adore DI and this was our first time at this rental but 5th time renting on the island. We love the beach, surf fishing and location. As per prior reviews we would urge the home owners to put just a little TLC into this home. There are hardly any spoons in a home supposed to be for over a dozen people, no hot pads to be able to take things out of the oven safely, and we had to not use one of the doors onto the deck for fear that it's rusty hinges were going to stop supporting the door. There were no clean kitchen towels or was cloths....i had to do a load of laundry (with my own detergent as none is provided) in order to be able to use them. The downstairs AC stopped working but was repaired in 2 days thankfully. Despite all of above, we DID have a lovely time with family. The kids loved the little pool. We love to surf fish and the location is great for that. The sunrise and sunsets on the island were heavenly as always. I would urge DIBR to communicate with the owner about the above concerns noted by myself and prior renters.
Sarah T.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Nov 2022
Thank you for your review, Carole, we are happy to hear you overall had an enjoyable experience. I am going to let the owner know your concerns so we can get it taken care of. Thank you for choosing DIBR~DIBR
Verified
4/10 Poor
Paul L.
7 Apr 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Stay somewhere else!!!
This house is in a nice location but the condition of this home is not represented well at all in the pictures. We read the prior poor reviews of this property before booking and thought it wouldn’t be that bad… we were wrong. We rented this house because it has a heated pool and we have small kids. Needless to say the pool filter doesn’t work they just fill it from a garden hose and let it sit. No chlorine or anything. We had to wash all the bedding before using it. The beds were just made not changed out from the previous guests. There are so many broken tiles and missing grout that we worried about kids cutting their feet. Two of the three doors on the first floor don’t work and have to remain dead bolted so they don’t blow open in the wind. The staircase from the back of the deck down to the beach is actually missing. The landing for the steps is there but the steps are gone. All of the windows are screwed closed which seems extremely dangerous. If there was a fire the upstairs bedrooms would be impossible to get out of without breaking the glass out of the window frame. We talked with Adam from Dauphin Island Beach Rentals. He is very nice and gave us a $350 refund for the pool not working. He has many other beach properties to choose from. We recommend staying at one of his other properties. The pictures of this home are many years old and do not represent the condition of this property
Paul L.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback Paul. We are sad to hear your stay was not to the level of quality that we want all of our guests to enjoy. I have passed along all your notes to our team so we can work to improve the house for future guests. I was told that the missing steps you mentioned were removed as a safety precaution for guests.
We hope to have you back and provide you with a better experience on Dauphin Island in the future.
The house size, bedroom and bathroom layout, and proximity to the beach was perfect for our family vacation. We also loved the nearby restaurants and seafood market.
The house was generally clean though there was some mildew/mold issues on the walls and ceiling of the upstairs bathroom and the middle bedroom.
We were very disappointed that the pool was not heated as we made our house choice based off the small pool for the kids to play in. Apparently they don’t start heating until Oct. 15th, but the vacation listing did not specify that.
All-in-all, the house was a good fit for our family, and we would definitely consider the property for future vacations.
Bethany C.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Oct 2020
Thank you for the review and very sorry about pool confusion. We have updated our listing. We would have just taken care of it for you, but on this pool, the heating element is replaced every year and the tech was from out of town. Glad you enjoyed the house otherwise though and wish you the best on your future travels. Best Regards, Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
We had a great stay here and enjoyed the local shops and food!
Susan D.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar 2020
So glad you enjoyed Kowabunga and enjoyed Dauphin Island! Hope to see you again! Best Regards, Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Raymond H.
30 Sept 2019
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Old and out dated inside
The house was nice outside but that is where it stopped.The furniture was old the hand rails and around cabinet doors looked as tho it had not been cleaned.We where afraid to sleep in beds we ask management to move us to another house they did we packed and left never stayed their
Raymond H.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar 2020
We're sorry you were dissatisfied with Kowabunga and glad that we could accommodate your requests in a prompt manner. We work hard to meet the needs of our guests, clean and inspect every property twice before arrival. We very much appreciate all feedback and will take this an opportunity to assess the property thoroughly. We do have many repeat guests at this property and would not want to jeopardize any good will. Sincerely, Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
First time for Dauphin Island and first time taking my children and grandchildren! We loved Kowabunga! It was perfect. Adam was great to work with! The location was awesome. We all really enjoyed the pool especially the children.
Everything was so peaceful and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back!
Peggy H.
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar 2020
Thank you for the kind review! So glad you had a nice time and look forward to seeing you again! Adam, Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
Kowabunga was excellent! It was everything that was advertised. The rental company was very attentive to all of our needs. Pool was great and the location to the beach was perfect! Only drawback was the parking. Driveway is enough for two vehicles . 5 stars for sure!
Jerry C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar 2020
So glad you had a nice time! Thanks for the review and hope to see you again! Adam
Verified
8/10 Good
angela k.
25 June 2018
Beautiful spot for a family vacation!
Loved how close you were to the gulf. House and rooms were nice size. The only drawback we had was the parking. The views from all the decks were amazing.
angela k.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Verified
6/10 Okay
rick w.
1 Apr 2018
Really needs some work.
The house was ok but with some caveat. It was generally clean but some things were not done well. For example the grill was totally disgusting, like it had not been cleaned in months. The middle burner control would not even turn. The whole place needed a deep cleaning. It also needs some maintenance work done
I had to fix the bathroom door latch to make it close in the master bedroom. One toilet off the kitchen would not flush with out taking the lid off and physically pulling up the flap valve to flush it.If you want pictures I have them. We did enjoy the pool and game room as well as the Crow's nest.
rick w.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018
Archival
6/10 Okay
Kyle U.
26 Oct 2016
Overall good time, could definitely use some work.
We had a great time at this house, but there are definitely some areas that could be improved. There are quite a few areas where paint has been rubbed off and small holes in walls. The bottom bunk of one of the bunk beds upstairs is being supported by a wooden block where it had been broken. The TV in that room was broken and not hooked up to the Direct TV. The TV in the main room is very nice, and that is plenty, but if you are going to have a TV in a bedroom, make sure it works. Overall, we actually really enjoyed our stay here....most of the areas that could be improved were just cosmetic.......just needs a little updating and touching up.
Kyle U.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2016
Archival
6/10 Okay
DOUG H.
25 Aug 2016
pictures can be decieving
overall our stay was very injoyable the house was very roomy the view was lovely and the beach was right there had issues with the tv not working and not getting fixed til thursday and an issue with bugs. the deck on the house has is going to need some care soon after staying for the week and the shape of the property i feel that it is a little over priced
DOUG H.
About the host
Hosted by Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
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