Chateau on Colony Cove

Summary:
The Chateau on Colony Cove is your dream destination for waterfront vacationing on the Alabama Gulf Coast. At 4,500 square feet, the largest home on the East End of the island, this 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom home with a brand new pool is the leading luxury rental that offers families and groups alike a vacation experience unmatched on Dauphin Island.

The Space:
This three-story island getaway sits on more than 130 feet of waterfront property, giving guests unobstructed, panoramic views of the famed Colony Cove, which leads into the beautiful waters of Mobile Bay. It was purchased in the summer of 2020, breaking records for the most expensive home sale on the island to date, and has since undergone a complete renovation that reimagined the home to appeal to the highest standards of guests.

On the first floor, guests have access to a large storage shed that houses a fishing kayak, life jackets, beach toys, floats, beach chairs and a variety of other beach necessities. Brand new pool just completed in December 2022. A large patio offers guests the ideal place to grill and lounge and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets and every minute in between.

The home's three private docks create ample space for boat parking, and the Killerdock fish cleaning station located boat-side gives anglers a convenient spot to clean their fresh catch when they come off the water. There is also a retractable platform on the dock that lowers into the water for easier loading onto kayaks and paddleboards. Colony Cove is the top swimming hole on the island, so guests can use the swim ladder (or take a running jump!) to access the warm, calm waters of the cove.

There is an elevator to access all three floors, so you can easily unload groceries from your car to the kitchen, and your luggage straight into your bedroom suite. On the second floor of the home, which serves as the main living area, you'll find a two-story living room with 35-foot ceilings and three sets of French doors that lead out to a covered patio overlooking the cove. The patio rocking chairs offer guests a relaxing spot for watching the boats go by rain or shine, and a large outdoor table for dining day and night. A large flat screen TV, a kids reading nook with beanbags, and a custom-designed powder room with a glass shower is also located on the main floor.

Next to the living room is a farmhouse dining room table that seats 10 and a chefs kitchen complete with a wet bar and coffee bar, a custom sink in the shape of an oyster and a 12-foot island that sits eight. A neighboring laundry room includes a large capacity GE front loader washer and dryer, an industrial stainless steel sink and ample storage for groceries.

The 1,000 square-foot master bedroom is located just off the living room and offers a 3-room luxury suite complete with a king bedroom overlooking the cove with a sitting area and double doors that lead onto the second floor patio; a custom bathroom with his and her sinks, a double walk-in shower with two rainfall shower heads and a large soaker tub, all with designer finishes and fixtures to create a spa-like feel; and a custom walk-in closet with two walls of hanging racks and a built-in shoe rack with vanity mirror.

Upstairs on the third floor, there is a second living room and kitchenette that provides extra space for guests to play games and watch TV, drink coffee and wine, and watch the sunset from the wall of windows with water-facing views. There is a suspended walkway that wraps around the top floor where guests can enjoy towering views of the cove, and on both sides of the walkway are two French doors that lead onto two separate patios that offer picturesque, 180-degree views of the island.

There are two mini master suites located on the opposite ends of the home — each mini master contains a king bed, large window seats, with one having views of the east and one with views of the west, a seating area to enjoy watching TV or reading, large walk-in closets, and an ensuite bathroom with a shower and tub combo and a charming pedestal sink.

There are also two bunk rooms located off the waterfront side of the home, which include two sets of bunk beds in each room, a small siting area and small closet. The bunk beds are custom built in the space to give each guest the feel of having their own private retreat thanks to the built-in partition, a reading light, electrical outlet and USB outlet in each bunk. The bunk rooms share a full bathroom located off the upstairs living room area that contains an oversized, 6-foot soaker tub and shower combo, a large double vanity and a large linen closet.

The attention to detail when redesigning this custom home is unmatched by any other property on Dauphin Island. The offerings and amenities, including a high-end entertainment system that can play music in every room inside and out, make this home the ultimate entertaining space for vacationers looking to escape to the beautiful beaches of Dauphin Island.

Guest Access:
Guests have private access to all areas of the interior and exterior of the home.

The Neighborhood:
The 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary is less than a 15-minute walk (.6 miles) from the steps of Chateau on Colony Cove located on Audubon Drive. The sanctuary is a well-known destination for birdwatchers in search of one of the hundreds of species that live in and migrate through the sanctuary year-round, such as herons and pelicans. Visitors can take a walking tour though the palmetto palms where they can experience the birds in the lush native flora and fauna of the island.

The Mobile Bay Ferry is located just around the corner from the bird sanctuary, just a 3-minute drive (.9 miles). The ferry, which departs every hour and a half during the day, transports passengers to the historic Fort Morgan located in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Just past the ferry is a popular boat launch on the island, where anglers launch their boats sunrise to sundown. Boat trailer parking for the boat launch can be tricky, especially during summer months, so the home's close proximity to the launch makes it an ideal location for anglers because of the extended boat parking offered to guests at the home. Guests are only a 5 minute boat ride from the launch through Billy Goat Hole to their own private dock at Audubon.

The Dauphin Island Estuarium, an aquarium that is home to more than 100 different species of native Alabama marine life, and the historic Fort Gaines, where you can find guided tours of the 1821 fort that protected Mobile Bay during the Civil War, are both located within two miles of the property as well. There are three public beaches on Dauphin Island — the East End Public Beach, Bienville Beach and the West End Public Beach. The closest beach access to Audubon is the East End Beach, which a little more than a mile away past Fort Gaines (a 6-minute drive).

With the almost dozen restaurants and snack bars on the island, there’s no shortage of local fare and fresh seafood. Almost every menu on the island serves up the freshest seafood in the South, including freshly caught snapper, grouper, oysters and crab. During the summer there are outdoor movies shown on the West End of the island, and the Dauphin Island Fishing Rodeo during July brings more than 75,000 spectators to the island for a weekend of fun and sports fishing.

Even though the island is small (it’s only 14 miles long and less than 2 miles wide or less, in some areas), it offers an endless amount of activities for vacationers, including an 18-hole golf course and endless water activities. Boat, jet ski, stand-up-paddleboard and kayak rentals are available, as well as sunset cruises and beach access to most of the 17 miles of powder, white sand beaches that wrap around the island. These offerings, in addition to deep-sea fishing and diving, make this Gulf Coast sanctuary one of the top destinations for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the gulf.

We hope you enjoy your stay at Audubon and enjoy exploring the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast during your visit!

Getting Around:
Because of the ideal location of the property on the East End, guests can take a quick drive or easily bike or walk to nearby attractions and restaurants. Although there is no public transportation, there are miles of walking and biking trails around the island that makes getting around a breeze.

Other Things to Note:
Pets: No cats allowed! Dogs are allowed with a $125 fee per dog. There is a maximum of two dogs no larger than 75 pounds each. Dogs who are categorized as "dangerous" or "aggressive" according the ASPCA are not allowed. Please let us know if you're bringing your furry friend so we can add the appropriate pet fee, as the Airbnb website does not have a spot for us to add the fee. The fee will be added to the cost of your nightly charge. Guests must keep dogs on a leash when outdoors, and clean up after their pets. Guests who bring a dog without notification could face penalty.

Interaction with Guests:
If you have any questions or concerns reach out to us through the booking site and either Karin or Meg will be available to help you!