When I first saw this house it took me back to the Gulf Shores of my childhood. I could almost hear 'She wore an itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini...' coming from the jukebox at the Hangout! In the 60's there were not so many houses on the beach and when this one was built it was probably one of the largest. It was a time of huge great rooms and large bedrooms; bathrooms were still somewhat small and located on the hall. When its owners decided to build a new home many years later this house was cut in half and moved to its current location on the north side of Little Lagoon, about 4 miles down Ft. Morgan Rd. Perched high on pilings the home's two big, new, elevated decks, accessible from each bedroom and the living area, make it easy to sun in private (One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore...) They are a great place to relax and watch an incredible sunrise or sunset.
Furnished with both the old and the new, the home is a mixture of updated furnishings and older vintage pieces like the 70s entertainment cabinet. The once stylish paneled walls have been painted. A large and very colorful kitchen (the old cabinets have been painted in vibrant orange, bright green, yellow and turquoise) has matching Fiesta ware dishes and a blender waiting on you.. A wet bar divides the kitchen from the living area There you will find a pool table, dining table, children's table and sofas where you can sit and look out over the lagoon. The huge six-window bay that stretches all the way across the end of the great room still holds magnificent views across Little Lagoon and all the way to West Beach. On a 'big surf' day you can even see the breakers rolling in (and you can hear them too!)
The split floor plan is perfect for large families or couples sharing a vacation. The east side of the house holds three bedrooms and a bath on the hall. The west wing has two bedrooms and another hall bathroom. Each side has sleeping room for five people. There are three TVs and DVD players (one in master, one in the great room and one downstairs); rent a 60's surfing movie to really step back in time! Cable and Internet/WIFI access is free.
This home has a charcoal grill, a patio, screened porch, and covered parking. The downstairs area was a do-it-yourself project. It has tile floors and a large bathroom with a shower. It is a great place to come in from the beach, clean up and not have to worry about tracking sand onto the upstairs carpets; the kids can run in and out without a worry. Also downstairs is a twin daybed, sofa, and table for dining or playing games. The room also has a television and DVD player. This rumpus room can be accessed from the carport and interior stairs lead up to the kitchen area (good if you have to unload in the rain!) Two sets of French doors open to a screened lanai.
The house sits back off the road on a huge lot that is somewhat secluded making it a great place to get away from it all. The home is not visible from the road. The land to the east is vacant wetlands and to the west is a single family home with full time residents. Vacationing in this house is a great way to experience life like you lived in Gulf Shores full time. It is away from it all yet still close to everything.
Just up the road, the city of Gulf Shores has all the family entertainment you'd expect in a beach town from seafood restaurants to souvenir shops and from goofy golf to a waterpark. Parasailing, dolphin cruises and deep sea fishing excursions are close by. On the main public beach is a boardwalk, the new Hangout (good family place to eat), beach volleyball and the original Pink Pony Pub, oh, and the wonderful Gulf of Mexico washing up on super white sand. Teens still cruise the beach road every night and wonder the boardwalk looking for new friends.
If you are missing your gym back home or needing to work out because you ate too much fried seafood, a nice recreation center with daily, weekly, or monthly rates is near the city center. It features an indoor/ourdoor, temperature controlled (in winter) swimming pool, basketball courts, fitness room, indoor track, ping pong and pool tables, water aerobics, yoga and other fitness classes. In the winter the city's Special Events Department sponsors an outstanding series of performances in the city's Civic Center. A quaint museum is located across from the library in one of the old cottages and is a great way to take a glance into the past.
If you head down Ft Morgan Road to the west you will find the Bon Secour National Wildlife Preserve. It has a nice hiking trail, Gater Lake, and down at the end of Mobile St. a very nice, somewhat secluded, public beach with free parking. Another 11 miles west you will find historic Ft Morgan and the Dauphin Island Ferry.
Golfers Paradise: Who could ask for more than waterfront and a top of the line golf course! The Peninsula Golf Club is located just across the street. It features 18 holes, a pro shop, and restaurant. In addition you will find tennis courts and a swim fitness center. If you want to change things up a bit try the 36 holes of Pure Palmer Golf at Craft Farms, Cotton Creek, and Cypress Bend just a 10 minute drive away. Want more? Play Kiva Dunes or the Golf Club of the Wharf; both are just five miles away.
Shop till you drop: When you tire of all the shops in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach you can shop over 120 brand name outlets on Hwy 59 in Foley!! Brooks Brothers, Gap, Polo, Ann Taylor and more draw shoppers from miles around. From housewares, to clothing, to home furnishing, there is something for everyone at the Tanger Outlet mall just 10 miles north in Foley. Antique shops also abound in the Foley area.
Perfect for snowbirds: If you are thinking of wintering in Gulf Shores, this retreat is the ideal place. The split floor plan makes it a perfect home for two couples to share. Each side has two bedrooms, one bath and each bedroom has a set of French doors to one of the home's two huge new decks. The great room in the center of the house contains a huge kitchen, comfortable seating and a large dining area where you can share good times with family and friends.
