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

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Entire home

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!

A view from the private dock...magical spot.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6120.8 sq m

Popular amenities

Air conditioning
Dryer
Washer
Pet-friendly
Parking available
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Gulf shores, AL

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
‪8 min walk‬
Gulf Shores Beach
‪22 min drive‬
West Beach
‪23 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

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Outdoor shower

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Looking for some privacy and isolation yet on the water? No Our Bay Cottage is perfect for you.. You can spend your days fishing from the private pier, kayaking 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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Similar properties

Quiet spot on Mobile Bay has covered dock

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

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 indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property

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 Fort Morgan Beach and Gulf Shores Beach 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.

View more Cottages in Gulf Shores

Gulf shores, AL

What's nearby

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
Kiva Dunes Golf Course - 7 min drive - 7.5 km
Gulf State Park - 13 min drive - 14.9 km
Gulf Shores Beach - 22 min drive - 19.5 km
West Beach - 23 min drive - 20.9 km

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
‪Gulfside Bar 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.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Sriparna B.

5 Apr 2025

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

Spent our week outside of the hustle and bustle of the beach, with our own bay view to enjoy!

Loved the week that we spent at Maggie & Mark’s cottage! Maggie and Mark have been amazing hosts. They made the check in/ check out process so easy and promptly responded to any questions that we had.We loved the screened porch and the sunroom. Almost spent our whole day there! This place is excellent for a private, romantic getaway or if you’re looking for a break from a busy life trying to relax! We will definitely recommend this place!

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patti S.

16 Mar 2025

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

Peaceful getaway

My husband, doggo, and I had a wonderful stay. Many thanks to Maggie who is an incredibly thoughtful host.The warm weather, so much wildlife, and beautiful night skies have been our favorite parts of our stay. Having the pier right there at the cottage was a dream! And the cottage itself was so cute and just perfect. I work remotely so I worked a bit while my husband and doggo enjoyed just relaxing and reading on the pier.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

MARK D.

3 Mar 2025

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

QUICK GETAWAY

We had a great 3 night stay here. We really enjoyed being able to fish from our own private pier and also the privacy you have. Mark and Maggie are great hosts and are more than happy to make your stay special. We hope to be able to go back real soon!!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeff L.

18 Feb 2025

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

Cozy with great views

It’s a very peaceful stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs down the long driveway and felt secluded. Our teenagers really enjoyed spending time out on the dock. Weather wasn’t great so we didn’t get to fish like we wanted but I hear it’s really good in that area.

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ann S.

13 Feb 2025

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

Nice winter break

A cozy cottage very peaceful with lots of privacy. The owls hooting at night was nice when watching the stars . Very enjoyable vacation from the cold weather.

Stayed 13 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurie N.

27 Jan 2025

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

Short sojourn in the sun

We loved the cottage-nice layout, yard & pier. Sadly, we only received two days of sunshine. After that, rain, then howling winds and snow.

Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

4 Dec 2024

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

Peaceful location

We enjoyed the area very much. Dolphin watching. Charter fishing. Private pier fishing and just relaxing Glass blowing Ceramic's at the art center was fun! Lots to do and see in the area. Great place to come back to in the evening and relax.

Stayed 11 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shena S.

14 Oct 2024

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.

7 Oct 2024

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.

19 Sept 2024

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.

8 Sept 2024

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.

26 Aug 2024

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.

20 Aug 2024

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

Awesome

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jackie S.

10 Aug 2024

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

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

29 July 2024

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.

15 July 2024

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.

17 June 2024

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.

7 May 2024

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.

22 Apr 2024

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.

19 Apr 2024

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.

22 Mar 2024

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.

9 Mar 2024

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.

15 Nov 2023

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.

14 Oct 2023

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.

1 Oct 2023

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

Nice place to restore yourself

:-)

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Maggie Johnston

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

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

sunroom

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Outdoor shower

Spaces

About this property