Entire home

Our Happy Place

Photo gallery for Our Happy Place

Exterior
Exterior
Living area
Living area
Private kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6105.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Gulf Shores, AL
  • Fort Morgan Beach
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Kiva Dunes Golf Course
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Fort Morgan
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Gulf Shores, AL (GUF-Jack Edwards)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Kids Bedroom

1 Single Bunk Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Shared Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Our Happy Place

Our beach cottage is located at the Rookery. The Rookery is a coastal cottage community located on the Fort Morgan peninsula. It was designed to be a natural and quiet resort and is located adjacent to the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

Fort Morgan is a hidden gem, and less crowded than the bigger beach towns in the area. We absolutely love the secluded and relaxed location. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, if you want to be close to stores and entertainment, this property is probably not for you.

Our cottage is 1 of 6 standalone units at the Rookery (the others are doubles units). It has a south facing porch and is the only cottage with two additional windows added on the north side during the original build. The windows on the north side have gorgeous views of the wetland area. We love the abundance of wildlife that live there, and those that come to visit, including a mama alligator!

For years and years we dreamed about owning a place at the beach. When we saw the cottage, we fell in love and bought it unfurnished. We spent more than a year (weekends & vacations) painting, creating, building furniture, installing shiplap, and making décor. With a lot of elbow grease and a ton of love our dream slowly came alive. We go as often as we can, and when we are there, it's really hard to leave.

The Rookery has a really nice zero entry community pool, hot tub and tennis courts. At night, we love to spend hours playing cards and board games on the large dining table.

Something not to miss is a sunset on an Alabama beach! It's breathtakingly beautiful. You can also rent a kayak to explore the waterways. Pick up a trail map at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Interpretive Center - so you can see where to go. The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is great for birdwatching and photography.

There are also walking trails, the ferry to Dauphin Island, the Fort Morgan State Historical site, and the Fort Morgan Fishing Pier. It's open after 8 years of remodeling! You can visit the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and visit the historic Fort Gaines. Our favorite restaurants on the Fort Morgan peninsula are Sassy Bass and Tacky Jacks.

On the Alabama coast you can take a dolphin cruise, charter a boat for fishing further offshore, or rent bikes and ride on the biking trails. They are awesome!

We do not use a property management company to rent our cottage. For us, it is not just a business. It is our home. When you rent our cottage, we are opening the doors of our home to you. We hope you will love it and care for it as much as we do.

Non-negotiable at our cottage:
Six guest maximum.
No pets allowed. (Not just our rule, also a COA rule. No renters are allowed to have pets at the Rookery.)
No smoking in or around the unit.

Property manager

Vic & Rita Dippenaar
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Maximum 3 children allowed
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No clothing or towels shall be hung outside the units or draped over exterior porch railings
No loud music or parties, which disturb the inhabitants of other units, shall be allowed at any time.
The use of all Rookery 1 and 2 amenities are limited to Rookery 1 and 2 owners and guests only.

Important information

You need to know

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Gulf Shores

Located in Gulf Shores, this cottage is near the beach. Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Fort Morgan Beach and Gulf Shores Beach.
Map
Gulf Shores, AL

What's nearby

  • Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Fort Morgan Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Kiva Dunes Golf Course - 4 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Fort Morgan - 12 min drive - 11.1 km
  • Gulf Shores Beach - 29 min drive - 30.0 km

Getting around

  • Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 88 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sassy Bass Market Place - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Tacky Jacks - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Village Hideaway - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fort Morgan Pizza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Gulfside Bar and Grill - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Our Happy Place have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Our Happy Place pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Our Happy Place?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Our Happy Place?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Our Happy Place located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Fort Morgan Beach. Bon Secour Bay and Kiva Dunes Golf Course are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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. 34 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kathy V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serenity

Peace and quiet was what we were hoping for- and that’s exactly what we had! The property was exactly as described: beds were comfy, kitchen stocked, and away from the hustle and bustle of Gulf Shores. Would definitely stay again:)
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Blizzard w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Snowbirds

It was just what we wanted minus the once in a hundred year blizzard. Close enough to everything but yet far enough away. Can't wait to return next year!!
Stayed 55 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect bungalow

We enjoyed our stay here so much! Close enough to restaurants and activities without being in the middle of the chaos. Beach was an easy walk; a must for me. This bungalow is very spacious and decorated so cute. We felt right at home. Everything was clean when we arrived and all in working order. Good communication with the host and easy entry. There was a nice community pool. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephannie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway!

The rental is in quiet location, close to public beach parking with short drive to local food and fun!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Third Visit; won’t be the last

Wonderful hosts. Great communication and welcoming environment.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

Cute, clean place. Close to the beach. Quiet in Fort Morgan. Takes 30 minutes to drive anywhere else
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bethanie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect space for us

My son plays travel baseball. We were traveling from Pennsylvania to gulf shores to be in perfect game tournament. This place was perfect for us. It was so clean and the owners were amazing to us!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Frankie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place for a family!

We had a wonderful time exploring the Rookery, Fort Morgan down the road, and of course the beach! Perfect place for a family!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karlie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We LOVED this place!

Rita was very quick with her responses to my many questions. The property was clean and so cute. The location is great. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rachel B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy cottage

Everything was clean and comfortable. Would love to spend time here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Courtney W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful beach cottage

Beautiful clean beach cottage!! Owners were great and easy to get ahold for anything we needed. Would come here again for sure!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Terry Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

T&T Stay

Clean and quiet. The beach is just across Ft. Morgan Rd. Because we were here in February, we weren't able to take advantage of the onsite pool.
Stayed 29 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chuck Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun & Usable Space!

Comfortable space with lots of natural light! Was a great place for our family of 4 girls under 10. The zero entry pool was a great resource and we loved our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation

My two boys, husband and I had a wonderful stay in the Rookery. We loved the pool and being so close to the beach. Owner communication was great and looking out the back window every morning to see if we could spot a gator was something the boys and I couldn’t miss. I would recommend staying here for any family who wants to enjoy the beach and have a great little community feeling away from home.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway!’

We loved our stay for Spring break and enjoyed Fort Morgan!! A lot quieter and less busy!! The pool was nice and everyone was so friendly! Felt like a neighborhood instead of a high rise community!’
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

We had a great time and loved staying here! Quiet and out from the busy of town, but still not far for a quick trip in. Short trip to public beach. Plenty of room for us, clean, had everything we needed. Message from owners gave all the info and we didn't have any issues or need to contact with questions. Would absolutely recommend!! 😊
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicole S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Adorable Neighborhood and House! LOVE ❤️

Loved staying at the Rookery. It has a pool and tennis/pickle ball courts and is a 2 min drive to the beach! Ft. Forgan is lovely and so is this neighborhood of adorable beach bungalow houses. This house is totally redone and adorable and the owners were perfect to work with. We'll be coming back! 5 stars.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary H., Selmer, TN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect hosts; perfect home.

Tucked back in the welcoming Rookery I,II enclave, this charming, well-appointed gem will not disappoint. Pride-of-ownership is obvious as is their commitment to providing their guest(s) with a clean and well-maintained vacation environment. The owners are wonderful to work with, communicating well and often. My return visit is already planned. Do not hesitate to book; you will be more than pleased.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Alecia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Rookery

Beautiful place , needs more pots pans and serving dishes and a blender 😊
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jackie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

We have been coming to the area for three years for our annual friends and family vacation.This was the best stay we have ever had! The house was immaculate and well designed. The Beach theme furnishings were So clever and there were interesting quotes on all the walls, some of which went into my daily diary. Rita was a wonderful host. She responded to any questions we had and she made sure that we had clear directions for all the things we would need to know about in the house. It was so much fun having a cabinet full of family board games to play and several interesting puzzles to work on. We will definitely stay there again as indeed it is now our happy place too!
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Comfy Cottage

We loved the quiet area to relax. We missed being able to access local TV, as Pensacola or Mobile. That might bother anyone else as they would probably be on the beach. The cottage is well decorated and very comfortable. Beds are very comfortable. We would certainly rent again or easily recommend to others. Landlords easy to work with. Hope they were pleased with how we left the cottage.
Stayed 58 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

ROOKERY VACAY

Everything was great, just as described. Clean, comfy and well equipped. We cooked a lot of meals there since we were there for a month, but visited Sassy Bass and Tacky Jacks too. Running into town for supplies at Rouses and Walmart was close enough. We were there for spring break time, so a bit busy with groups coming and going. Rita was very friendly and easy to work with. The only complaint i have about the area is no bathroom facilities at the beach access, and there could be more parking available. Highly recommend this cottage!
Stayed 30 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

R B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Vacation!

We had the best time at Our Happy Place! The home was absolutely beautiful and even better than the pictures. The beach access is a very short 3 minute drive away. The walkway to the sand is short and you’re right on the water - no having to traverse deep sand for a couple hundred yards like in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. It’s also much less crowded! The pool at the Rookery was amazing and perfect for our family. It’s just a short 15 minute drive to the heart of Gulf Shores, so we felt the location was perfect. Quieter, less crowded, but still close to attractions and restaurants. You won’t be disappointed if you choose this amazing home!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sara S., Bloomington

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay

We had a great time in the Fort Morgan area. The house was just as pictured—plenty of space inside, as well as cooking supplies for cooking some basics at “home.” The outside was not even a block from the pool or tennis court. The beach is not far, either—but with the July heat and carrying what we wanted for the day, we opted to drive instead. Parking there was limited after 11AM but we always did find a spot. We liked being a drive from the hustle bustle of Orange Beach. If you want to be in the middle of the action, then this house isn’t for you, but we loved it. Listening to the frogs cute croaking at night and not hearing partying or traffic around us was much appreciated! Would highly recommend. Rita was always quick to respond, though we really didn’t need anything because it was well communicated. Thanks for the lovely stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany B., Avilla, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage

Perfect cottage for us. We had our 18 and 20 yo "kids" with us for a summer vacation. We all had plenty of room to be apart (especially after 8hrs in the car). The location is a bit far out of GS, which we knew and were fine with. But as stated in the listing info if you want to be in the thick of things maybe don't book here. It was a nice quiet place for a break. We drove to the beach because you never know when there will be a pop up storm. Wish we could have stayed longer than 5 nights, but glad we chose this cute cottage.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Vic & Rita Dippenaar

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests