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Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat

Photo gallery for Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat

Property grounds
Living area
Living area
Interior
Living area

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Highlights

  • Top rated beach location
    Discover paradise at this top rated beach location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Crystal Beach
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dogs and cats allowed
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Internet access

Explore the area

View in a map
Bolivar Peninsula, TX
  • Place, Crystal Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Gilchrist Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Port Bolivar Beaches
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Living Room 1

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Number of living rooms

About this property

Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat

Welcome to Fish Fantasy, a peaceful coastal retreat offering beautiful water views from every angle. This elevated 1BR home sits in a quiet, laid‑back neighborhood where guests enjoy sunrise from the front deck, sunset from the rear deck, and sweeping views of both the Intracoastal Waterway with passing barges and the ocean from both decks. It’s the perfect spot for morning coffee, evening breezes, and relaxing days on the peninsula.

Inside, the home is comfortable and thoughtfully arranged, with a cozy living area, fully equipped kitchen, and a restful master bedroom. Light movement can be felt when walking inside, as is normal for elevated coastal homes. WiFi is reliable for everyday use, though speeds may vary during storms or high‑traffic weekends.

Guests have full access to the entire home, both decks, the fenced yard, and the ground‑level gathering area with seating and a charcoal grill. Parking is available in the driveway or under the house. At the top of the stairs by the door, you’ll find two lockboxes — the top one is for guests, and we send your code just before check‑in.

The neighborhood is friendly and relaxed, with easy access to the beach, local restaurants, and shops. Most guests drive around the peninsula, and golf carts are popular for exploring.

Checkout is simple: basic tidying only — gather towels and start a load, and load and run the dishwasher if there are any dishes. No heavy cleaning required.

Fish Fantasea is ideal for couples, small families, or anyone looking for a calm, scenic getaway with beautiful views and a peaceful coastal atmosphere.
Must be 25+ to book (no booking for someone else). Pets must be okay`d by owners prior to stay. There is a pet fee. Please include your pets when you book. Initial Pet Fee is for up to 2 pets, additional pets require an additional fee. Respect your neighbors. Noise ordinance after 10:30. Smoking allowed outside ONLY, and all cigarette butts must be put in provided butt cans. Any butts on the ground will result in additional cleaning fee. EV charging is not permitted. See our Rental Agreement for other rules.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 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: dogs and cats less than 99 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pets must be ok'd by the owner prior to stay.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Must be 25+ to book (no booking for someone else). Pets must be okay`d by owners prior to stay. There is a pet fee. Please include your pets when you

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4756281vb
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

About the area

Port Bolivar

Located in Port Bolivar, this holiday home is near a water park. Crystal Beach and Gilchrist Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary and Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing, kayaking and waterskiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting.
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Map
Bolivar Peninsula, TX

What's nearby

  • Crystal Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Gilchrist Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Port Bolivar Beaches - 42 min drive - 40.0 km
  • Fort Travis Seashore Park - 42 min drive - 40.8 km
  • Larry's Old Time Trade Days - 45 min drive - 54.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Fanta Sea BBQ & Grill - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Jayla’s Bar & Grill - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Gulfway Grill - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Mamma Mia’s Italian Bistro - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 99 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Fish Fantasy – Sunrise & Sunset Water‑View Retreat located?

Situated in Port Bolivar, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Gilchrist Beach and Crystal Beach. High Island Beach and Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

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. 11 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 16 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

2.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cristian C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had fun
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Herbert L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice place , as listed. Recomendations for local places was great. Fishing was great did not do anything beach but it looked nice and not to busy.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house was perfect for the two of us and our dog. Easily the cleanest rental we have had and not a single bug inside, which is hard to do at the beach. Very peaceful street with almost no traffic. Views from the front deck of the beach, bay, and intercostal. The lightning bugs put on quite a show at night and we even had a blue crab pass through the yard on his way to parts unknown!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Alma C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice house
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My third stay, which sums up my opinion.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Omar S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
All items and house were clean and neat. Well taken care of space. Would recommend to others.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My second stay was as good as the first. The surrounding houses are sparse and mostly distant, so the view feels spacious. The big deck gives decent view of the ocean and a great view of the sunrise on side, the ship channel and ships passing by on another side, and a small deck in back to watch the sunsets.No complaints. Will stay again.Bolivar is not the prettiest beach, Sunrises
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved this place, perfect spot. Beach and bay views, close to beach. Landlords were great to work with, place was very clean and ready. Perfect with dogs or kids with fenced in yard. Love it, would love to come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stacey T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very happy, best value around, will be back
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place (Fish Fantasy) is a perfect writer's retreat, especially in Winter. No sound but the ocean breeze, and a peaceful view with a large deck on the sunrise side, plus a small deck with two cocktail chairs on the sunset side.The worst problems: It's not on the beach, and mosquitos come out at night, as they do throughout this region. I had trouble with the key box (it's the one WITHOUT a visible combination) but the host answered my message within two minutes and straightened me out.It's basic construction, relatively new, sized for one couple, clean and with more amenities than I expected (plates, towels, kitchen gadgets, charcoal grill, etc.) No gotchas and no complaints.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Matt H.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy
The hiuse was clean. The actual fenced yard area was clean. Was trash all in ditches and in front of property. They have absolutely nothing in the house with exception of the couple towels and wash cloth. No dish towels, not even salt and pepper. Allow one roll of paper towels. No remotes and the one for the fan didnt work. Not close to amything either.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Oct, 2025
We send a list of what we provide & what you you might want to bring. We do not provide condiments for sanitary reasons. We send you information on how to use your phone for a remote. We found it impossible to keep remotes with batteries in them because of theft.
Verified

4/10 Poor

jeff f.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
The air conditioners are so loud that you couldnt hardly hear anything else, however they did keep it cool in the house . We couldnt figure the tv out , there was no remote to turn it on, the instructions left were not very clear but somehow you had to use your phone as the remote. I discovered as i was cooking , that the bowls were all dirty in the cabinet , gross. Had a nice outside area upstairs but mosquitos were horrible. No vent above stove so when cooking the smoke alarm kept going off, the oven smokes horribly like someone spilled something before our stay and didnt clean it up. We left a day early needless to say
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Stacey L

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
When I arrived at 4:30, the code I was given did not work. I called the local property manager several times and finally decided to go eat dinner while waiting for an email from the owner or a call from the PM. Got a call with another code. Went back to house after dinner and while trying the 2nd code, I was getting eaten by mosquitoes trying to get through to the PM. Finally, got a text with another code and got in. We were sitting in the car because of the mosquitoes. We bring everything inside, sit down and notice a german cockroach crawling from behind the blinds on a window. And then another, we get up to kill them, then another and another and another. I found some spray and started spraying them, all around the house, on the walls, floors and ceilings. And then I notice there are 10's of roaches coming in around the door. We didn't know what to do and kept killing them, at least 60 when we got through to VRBO. I sent photos but the videos would not load. There were hundreds of cockroaches in the house when we left and just as many outside the front door and the front window. We left stunned and in disbelief. The PM said the bugs were bad this year. The owner said they spray. I cannot tell you how awful of an experience this was. In our next two places, we kept thinking we were seeing cockroaches on the floor. Thankfully, we were not.
This is the initial pile that kept getting bigger as we killed roaches
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My fifth stay here. That covers everything important.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Darrell M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was fine, clean and the neighborhood was quite. Small fenced yard with a place for a child to play. The bed was the most uncomfortable I have ever slept on! I know a person can always find something they want to complain about and that only real complaint of the property. The cleanliness of the house was great and that means a lot. It doesn't smell like anyone has ever smoked in the house.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026

About the host

Hosted by Jean Walz

Host profile image
We’re a small, three‑generation family of homebuilders who have lived and worked along the Texas Gulf Coast for decades. Building homes has been part of our family since 1974, and today it’s still just us — Mike and Jean, our kids Steve and Amy, and even our grandson Alex learning the ropes. We don’t run a big management company or handle dozens of rentals. We simply take care of the homes we built ourselves, the same way we always have: with pride, honesty, and attention to the details that make a stay feel comfortable.

Fish Fantasea is a home we enjoy just as much as our guests do. The open surroundings, wildlife, and world‑class bird‑watching on the Bolivar Peninsula are part of what makes this place special to our family. We love the sunrise from the front deck, sunset from the rear deck, and the peaceful views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. When something needs improving, we fix it. When we find a way to make a stay easier or more enjoyable, we add it. Every update comes from real time spent here as a family.

We’re grateful for every guest who chooses to stay with us. Our hope is simple: that you feel welcome, relaxed, and at home — and that you leave with the same appreciation for this quiet coastal community that our family has carried for generations.

Why they chose this property

We chose this neighborhood because it captures the quiet, open coastal atmosphere our family has always loved. This part of the Bolivar Peninsula has wide, natural surroundings with plenty of space between homes, making it easy to relax and enjoy the views. The area is known worldwide for bird watching, and the open land around Fish Fantasea gives guests a front‑row seat to wildlife, coastal birds, and the natural beauty of the peninsula.

The location offers something special you don’t find everywhere: sunrise views from the front deck, sunset views from the rear deck, and beautiful views of both the Intracoastal Waterway with passing barges and the ocean from both decks. It’s peaceful, breezy, and never feels crowded, even on busy weekends.

We also appreciate the balance this spot provides. You’re close to the beach, restaurants, and shops in Crystal Beach, but the neighborhood itself stays calm and laid‑back. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, watch the wildlife, enjoy the water views, and experience the coast the way it used to be.

That’s why we chose this neighborhood for Fish Fantasea — it reflects the quiet, scenic, easygoing coastal lifestyle our family enjoys and is a place we’re proud to share with guests who appreciate the same things.

What makes this property unique

Fish Fantasea stands out for its rare combination of sunrise, sunset, ocean, and Intracoastal Waterway views — all from a single home. Guests can watch the sun rise over the water from the front deck, unwind with sunset colors from the rear deck, and enjoy both ocean views and barge traffic on the ICW throughout the day.

The home sits in one of the most open, natural areas of the Bolivar Peninsula, giving guests a level of privacy, wildlife viewing, and wide‑open scenery that’s hard to find elsewhere. Bolivar is known as one of the top bird‑watching destinations in the world, and the open land surrounding Fish Fantasea offers a front‑row seat to coastal birds and local wildlife.

The neighborhood stays peaceful even during busy weekends, making it easy to relax, enjoy the breeze, and take in the views. Combined with simple check‑in, easy parking, and a comfortable layout, Fish Fantasea offers a calm, scenic coastal experience that feels both private and connected to nature.
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