Crabby Cove – Private Retreat on a Quiet Dead-End Road, Sleeps 5, Pets OK

Welcome to Crabby Cove

Kick off your shoes and feel the salt air the moment you arrive. Crabby Cove is a charming coastal retreat perched up on stilts on the quiet, rural east end of the Bolivar Peninsula — a peaceful, affordable escape that`s perfect for a couple or a small family looking to unwind.

The Space
The home comfortably sleeps 5. The king bedroom is a private, restful escape, while the bright living area offers flexible sleeping with a daybed, trundle, and a fold-out ottoman — plus a comfortable couch for a bonus spot — keeping everyone close and the good times rolling. The kitchen has a full-size electric range, granite counters, and everything you need to cook up your fresh catch or whip up a family feast.

The Outdoors
Twenty-eight steps lead up to the front deck — sunrise coffee, afternoon shade from the house, and star-filled skies at night. At ground level there`s a fully fenced side yard with a latching gate and the stairs enclosed inside it, a shaded patio with table and chairs, and a charcoal grill (bring your own charcoal). There is room for up to 4 vehicles, or 3 plus a trailer. Please do not park on the street.

Comfort Year-Round
Stay cool in summer and cozy in winter with the mini-split system, plus a dehumidifier for the coastal humidity. Hot water comes from a large tankless propane water heater. Fast Wi-Fi and Roku TVs, too.

Wide-Open Views & World-Class Birding
From the deck you`ll take in wide-open views of the Gulf, Galveston Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway — sunrise coffee, afternoon shade, and star-filled skies at night. The Bolivar Peninsula sits right on the Central Flyway, one of the world`s premier bird-migration paths, with Bolivar Flats and the rookeries of High Island just up the road. Pelicans, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, and countless shorebirds make Crabby Cove a bird watcher`s dream.

The Location
Situated on the beautiful Bolivar Peninsula, this is the Gulf Coast stretch that Texans keep coming back to. Drive right onto 27 miles of uncrowded beach, cast a line from the surf, hunt for shells and sea glass, or just settle into your beach chair and let the waves do the rest. Crystal Beach shops are a short drive up Highway 87, and The Big Store is there too with groceries, beach gear, and just about anything you need.

Day trip to Galveston on the free ferry — and we`ll let you in on our favorite little trick for skipping the ferry line once you are settled in. Grab fresh Gulf seafood at Stingaree, watch dolphins play in the surf at sunrise, or catch one of the legendary Bolivar Peninsula sunsets from the deck. There`s always something to do — or nothing at all, if that`s your style.

Sister Property
Our sister property, Fish Fantasy, sits right next door and may have its own guests during your stay.

Please Note
The home is elevated on stilts — 28 steps lead up to the front deck and entrance — so please keep that in mind for anyone with mobility limitations. We provide starter coffee, hand soap, bar soap, toilet paper and paper towels, plus 2 loads of laundry detergent, 2 dryer sheets and dishwasher soap for 2 loads; beyond that, please plan to bring your own groceries, condiments, and toiletries.

Hunting
The peninsula is a good base for a winter hunting trip. The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, which most people still call Anahuac, is inland in Chambers County, and you can reach it without taking a ferry. Permits, seasons and limits are set by the refuge and by Texas Parks and Wildlife, so please check their current rules before you go. At Crabby Cove there is room for three vehicles plus a trailer, room-darkening shades in the bedroom, contactless check-in for an early start, and a washer and dryer for muddy clothes.

Come experience the laid-back magic of the Bolivar Peninsula — Crabby Cove is ready and waiting for you!
Guest Requirements
The guest who books must be 25 or older and stay for the entire reservation. They are responsible for their group and any visitors for the full stay. Only registered guests are allowed unless approved in advance.

Parties & Behavior
No parties or events without prior approval. Please respect our neighbors at all times — excessive noise that disturbs them may result in removal. Any disruptive, unsafe, or illegal behavior may result in immediate removal with no refund. The guest who booked is responsible for all damage and issues during the stay.

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 fully fenced with a latching gate, and the stairs to the entrance door are enclosed inside it, so pets can move between the deck and the yard. Pets must stay off all furniture and beds - please bring your own sheets or blankets to cover any furniture a 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 cleaning 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. Service animals must be house-broken and kept under the handler`s control, and guests are responsible for any damage.

Smoking
No smoking or vaping inside the home. If you smoke outside, stay well away from doors and windows so no smoke drifts in, and dispose of butts in the outdoor trash. Any evidence of smoking or vaping inside results in a $300 fee.

Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM. No amplified outdoor music after quiet hours.

Doors & Windows
Please keep exterior doors closed at all times — not propped open. Our coastal humidity is hard on the home and open doors drive up cooling costs, and it keeps the mini-split near the door from sweating onto the floor.

Care of the Home
Please don`t move or rearrange the furniture, and treat our home as you would your mother`s. Leave sandy shoes and beach gear on the patio or under the stairs, and brush off excess sand before coming inside.

Parking
Please keep all vehicles on the parking pad and circle drive. No street parking at any time. Trailers by prior approval.

Safety
Follow all safety guidelines and supervise children on the deck and stairs. Your code opens the top lockbox — return the key to the top lockbox whenever you leave.

Trash & Cleanliness
Bag all trash and place it in the outdoor bins. If the outdoor cans are full, leave tied bags inside the house so critters don`t get into them.

Maintenance
Please let us know right away if anything stops working or any lights are out, so we can take care of it.

Checkout
Before you leave: start a load of towels, run the dishwasher if there are dirty dishes, empty the refrigerator of all food, bag and remove trash, tidy up, and gather all personal items. Leave the AC, dehumidifier, and ceiling fans running, lock all doors and windows, turn off the lights, and return the key to the top lockbox (re-scramble the code).