Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets
Welcome to Fish Fantasy - it`s always a great day to be at the beach!
Fish Fantasy is the little one everybody remembers - 600 square feet built for two, sitting high on a quiet dead-end street in Gilchrist, Texas, at the eastern end of the Bolivar Peninsula, with water in both directions: the Gulf off the covered sunrise deck in the morning, and the bay and Intracoastal Waterway off the sunset deck in the evening.
Be clear on this before you book: Fish Fantasy has one bedroom and sleeps four. Guests three and four sleep in the open living space.
Inside is one bright open room - kitchen, dining and living all together, windows on three sides, and green marsh running out to the horizon. The king bedroom has its own glass door onto the sunset deck, so you can carry your coffee out and watch the sun go down without leaving the room. A daybed with a trundle in the main room sleeps two more, and there are room-darkening shades throughout.
The kitchen has a full-size electric range, an over-range microwave, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a blender, a toaster, and both a drip coffee maker and a single-cup pod coffee maker. There is a full bathroom and an apartment-size stackable washer and dryer, plus an iron and a vacuum. For health reasons we do not provide food, condiments or spices, but we do furnish a starter pack of coffee to get you going.
The covered sunrise deck is the reason people come back: a table and four chairs, two loungers, shade all day, and the Gulf out in front of you. It has no stairs off it at all - the only way on or off is through the house door, so a dog or a small child cannot get away from you out there. It was built that way on purpose. The sunset deck off the bedroom looks over the bay, the Intracoastal Waterway and the barge traffic.
Under the house the whole ground level is yours: covered parking for three vehicles, or a vehicle plus a trailer plus another vehicle, a table with four chairs, a charcoal grill, and an outdoor shower with hot and cold water for rinsing the sand off. The side yard is fully fenced on all sides with a latching gate, so you can let the dogs out the door and they cannot get away from you, and there is a swing for the kids.
Adult pets are welcome with prior approval - no pets under a year, house-broken only, up to four. Crabby Cove, our sister house, is right next door on the same street.
Remember, it`s always a great day to be at the beach! - The Walz Family, Bolivar Peninsula Rentals Fish Fantasy is a small house on a quiet dead-end street, and these rules keep it that way for you and for the neighbors.
WHO STAYS: The guest who books must be 25 or older and must stay for the entire reservation. Only registered guests may stay overnight. If extra family will be in the house within the maximum, just tell us so we can supply towels.
HOW MANY: Fish Fantasy sleeps 4 - a king bedroom, plus a daybed and trundle in the open living room. The number on your reservation governs sleeping and towels.
EVENTS: Any gathering must be approved in advance. With approval, the event maximum at Fish Fantasy is 10 people. The event count and the sleeping count are separate. No prom, graduation, bachelor or bachelorette parties. Noise that disturbs the neighbors ends the stay.
QUIET: Please keep it down after 10 PM and be mindful that the houses out here are close together.
PETS: Adult pets are welcome with prior approval - no pets under a year, and pets must be house-broken. Dogs of any size are welcome. Maximum 4 adult pets. The pet fee is $100 per stay for up to 2 pets, plus $50 per pet for up to 2 more. The side yard is fenced on all sides with a latching gate, so your dog can go out the door and into the yard. Pets stay off all furniture and beds - please bring your own sheets or blankets to cover anything your pet will be on. Clean up after your pets inside and out, and keep them supervised. Undisclosed pets will result in additional fees, and a $150 fee applies if the pet rules are not followed. Trained service animals as defined by the ADA are exempt from the pet fee; emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals are treated the same as pets.
SMOKING: No smoking or vaping inside the house. If you smoke outside, stay well away from doors and windows and put butts in the outdoor trash. Evidence of smoking or vaping inside results in a $300 fee.
GRILLING: No grills on any deck. All grilling is done at ground level in the designated area, where the charcoal grill is.
RVs AND EV CHARGING: No RV may hook up to the house, and no EV may be charged at the house. Either one means additional charges will apply.
CHILDREN AND DECKS: Please supervise children on the stairs and at ground level. The covered sunrise deck has no stairs off it, so nothing can get down from there except back through the house door.
LOCKING UP: The entry door you come in through at check-in is the one with the deadbolt. Please lock it and the windows whenever you leave.
IF SOMETHING BREAKS: Tell us right away through the messaging system on the platform you booked through, so we can get it fixed while you are still here. In any emergency, call 911 first.
BEFORE CHECKOUT: Start a load of towels, run the dishwasher if dishes were used, empty the refrigerator, bag the trash and take it to the outdoor cans, and gather your things. Leave the AC and ceiling fan running, turn off the lights, lock up, and return the key to the top lockbox and re-scramble the code. No other cleaning is required.
We provide laundry detergent for 2 loads, 2 dryer sheets, and dishwasher soap for 2 loads.
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Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets
Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 453 kg per pet (limit 4 pets total)
Adult pets are allowed with prior approval.
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Fish Fantasy is a small house on a quiet dead-end street, and these rules keep it that way for you and for the neighbors.
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 10
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Port Bolivar
Located in Port Bolivar, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Gilchrist Beach and Crystal 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 and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and hunting.
Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary - 14 min drive - 16.6 km
Port Bolivar Beaches - 42 min drive - 40.0 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 Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 4 total) with a maximum weight of up to 453 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets?
As of 24 Sept, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets on 4 Jan, 2027 start from S$335, 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.
How much is parking at Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Fish Fantasy-Sunrise & Sunset Decks, Fully Fenced Side Yard, Walk to Beach, Pets located?
This family-friendly Port Bolivar holiday home is located near the beach, within a 10-minute walk of Gilchrist Beach and Crystal Beach. Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary and Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
House nice and clean good location ,pet friendly,easy access to beach ,no complaints ,but could use new beds ,were not comfortable at all ,that is only thing about whole place
Very cute house on a very quiet street. Perfect for a couple! The location is perfect for a beach getaway or easy fishing. The house was stocked with whatever we needed, it was extremely clean and was a great last minute (literally) quick booking for a long weekend. The AC in the bedroom works great just a little noisy for us but the home stayed perfectly cool with just LR cooling. We would rent this facility again and appreciated all the information provided by the owner. Will likely rent again with family on one of their larger houses. Thanks for being so accommodating.
Mr. and Ms. Walz (the property owners) promptly and thoroughly communicated with me, alleviating my pre-visit jitters and fielding my questions about the area's fishing opportunities after "settling in" a little while at Fishing Fantasy. I've resided in the Galveston Bay region for over 70 years and have spent many happy days and nights in area beach houses.Fishing Fantasy will be my favorite beach house rental on the Upper Texas Coast in the future !
When we arrived the house had not been cleaned BUT.. the cleaning lady arrived shortly and was VERY nice and apologetic!The air conditioner in the bedroom was not cooling but within minutes the maintenance guy was there and a new air conditioner was installed the following morning.The air conditioner in the living room did the job until then. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience!
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!
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.
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
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.
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 review
4/10 Poor
jeff f.
31 Oct, 2025
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 review
2/10 Terrible
Stacey L
29 Sept, 2025
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.
EXCELLENT place to stay! I would recommend this property to anyone needing a clean and comfortable place to stay. Perfect for a couple! The fenced in yard was the icing on the cake for bringing our dogs. Host communication was amazing and fast. The bed was quite comfortable as well. The balcony’s were perfect for watching 4th of July fireworks.
The house was nice for a beach area with dogs. Minimally stocked. No shower gel or soap, or shampoo only hand soap. In the kitchen there was a coffee maker but no coffee; not even for one day. No can opener. The air conditioners were horrible. There were 2 units one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Both very noisy. The living room was freezing and the bedroom would not get cold. It is about 10-15 minute drive to the main town area and not very walkable. The road where the house is has construction. The yard was nice for the dogs as well as the decks. The host communicated quickly but with too much information.
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
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Jacob B.
5 Sept, 2026
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
About the host
Hosted by Michael, Jean, Amy, or Alex
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 large management company or handle dozens of rentals. We simply care for the homes we built ourselves, and we take pride in keeping them clean, comfortable, and welcoming for every guest.
Fish Fantasy is a home our family enjoys 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 us. We love the sunrise from the front deck, the sunset from the rear deck, and the peaceful views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf. 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 Fantasy gives guests a front-row seat to wildlife, coastal birds, and the natural beauty of the peninsula.
The location offers something special you do not find everywhere. Guests enjoy 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 Gulf from both decks. It is peaceful, breezy, and never feels crowded, even on busy weekends.
We also appreciate the balance this spot provides. You are close to the beach, restaurants, and shops in Crystal Beach, but the neighborhood itself stays calm and laid-back. It is 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 is why we chose this neighborhood for Fish Fantasy. It reflects the quiet, scenic, easygoing coastal lifestyle our family enjoys, and it is a place we are proud to share with guests who appreciate the same things.
What makes this property unique
Fish Fantasy stands out for its rare combination of sunrise, sunset, Gulf, 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 Gulf views and barge traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway throughout the day. Very few homes on the Bolivar Peninsula offer this full spectrum of water views, and it is the feature guests talk about the most.
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 is hard to find elsewhere. Bolivar is known as one of the top bird-watching destinations in the world, and the open land surrounding Fish Fantasy provides a front-row seat to coastal birds, wildlife, and the peaceful coastal environment our family has always loved.
The neighborhood stays calm even during busy weekends, making it easy to relax, enjoy the breeze, and take in the views. The quiet surroundings, the open space between homes, and the constant connection to the water create a coastal experience that feels both private and close to nature. Combined with simple check-in, easy parking, and a comfortable layout, Fish Fantasy offers a peaceful, scenic retreat that feels like a true escape.