Imagine for a moment waking up one day in a bedroom with a wall of windows, out each could be found a view worthy of a picture frame. On the adjacent wall, in front of the king-sized bed frame, were French doors leading to comfortable screened in porch. If you breached that doorway in the evening a sunset would be waiting for you on clear nights and on Saturday mornings you would likely see fishing boats loaded with tackle heading to to a secret redfish hole or perhaps to fish an oil rig for red snapper just beyond Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. Lounging under the porch fans watching the tide bring the water up the river is good for sipping coffee but when the sun rises above the clouds, it’s time to fire up the outdoor kitchen and cool off in your private pool with a chilly cocktail.
What I have just described is just a taste of what awaits the new owners of 14206 River Oaks Drive, located on the east side of Fish River from Fairhope, Alabama. Our sellers will tell you that they fell in love with the house before they even got within earshot of the sights and sounds of the river. They experienced the house separately but they both found themselves falling in love with home standing in the kitchen, with its exposed brick walls and gleaming split-brick floors. I believe they submitted an offer that day and have no regrets. Since then the house has truly been a gift, proving to be their refuge from the everyday stresses of life and creating what perhaps may prove to be the most sentimental time of their married life together. They will always smile when they think about the many nights gathering with friends around the outdoor fireplace, sneaking “just one more log” on the fire as the full moon illuminated the gentle movement of the water around them or how the sound of the rain on the skylights left them longing to climb into bed and draw the blackout curtains for a deep afternoon slumber.
The classic question a potential buyer will always is ask is “Why are they selling?” For our sellers, Joni and Van, the answer is a bitter pill to swallow but one they have made peace with over the last couple of years. Joni injured her back in such a way, that made impromptu boat rides across the bay to Tacky Jack’s for a bushwhacker or working pridefully in her yard, that rivals Bellingrath Gardens, an impossibility. Having a pristine waterfront property with a resort style atmosphere and knowing that you can only be little more than a spectator, is now her reality. So for our sellers, it is time to move their retirement plans to a smaller lot in Fairhope and turn over the keys to new owners, who will keep the party going for many summers and football seasons to come.
For those of you reading this article, who may not be as familiar with life on the water, it is time to enlighten you on the facts that make 14206 River Oaks Drive one of the most unique waterfront properties in Baldwin County. The home is located at the mouth of a canal leading to one of the widest parts of Fish River, offering a protected path of water away from the barrage of abusive boat wakes on the weekends. This adds to the luster of the property by offering a more quiet privacy but also means more practical luxuries, like being able to navigate your vessel in an out of your boat house with little concern for the traffic speeding up and down the river. The boathouse is 25 feet from the house, so it makes loading and unloading your gear much more manageable, especially after a long day in the sun. Joni would add, “What man does not want to sleep 25 feet from his boat?” The lot sits high above the edge of the canal and has never flooded, nor is flood insurance required for the home. The wide river location makes stormy weather much less of an event, as even raised homes can be in harms way after a heavy rain, with no place for the water to go but up. Joni eloquently describes the location as a “much more gentle waterfront living experience, than you will find on Mobile Bay”, where the salty elements are a constant source of maintenance and gust from an afternoon shower moving across the bay can cause you to seek refuge indoors.
Our listing is also located on the river mail route and is one of the last remaining places in North America where mail is delivered by water. You are only 20 minutes to downtown Foley or Fairhope, a short drive to fine dining at Jesse’s or an easy nighttime boat cruise to Big Daddy’s. Van, raves about the fireworks show put on by the neighbors on July 4th and I think Joni summed up their life here best, stating that “The house has never disappointed us. It lives life as full as we thought it would and then some!” After all, there are only 7 days in a week to enjoy yourself, might as well choose a spot that is always open for business, rain or shine.
For a private tour of 14205 River Oaks Drive, contact the Listing Agent, Jason Will, direct on his cell at 251-583-9728 or send him an email to jasonwill@southalabamaliving.com.