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Beachfront Retreat | Screened Porch | Pet Friendly | West Beach

Photo gallery for Beachfront Retreat | Screened Porch | Pet Friendly | West Beach

On the beach
LCD TV
Terrace/patio
Interior
LCD TV

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 11142 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Gulf Shores, AL
  • Place, West Beach
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Gulf Shores Beach
    ‪6 min drive‬

Room options

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  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
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About the area

Gulf Shores

When you stay at this vacation home in Gulf Shores, you'll be on the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Gulf Shores Beach and Gulf State Park. .This beach vacation home is 7.7 mi (12.4 km) from Orange Beach Beaches and 11.9 mi (19.2 km) from The Wharf.
View more Holiday homes in Gulf ShoresOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • West Beach - 10 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Gulf Shores Beach - 6 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Fort Morgan Beach - 28 min drive - 37.0 km
  • Fort Morgan - 42 min drive - 56.2 km

Getting around

  • Pensacola Intl. Airport (PNS) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Catch - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪De Soto's Seafood Kitchen - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Sassy Bass - ‬31 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beachfront Retreat | Screened Porch | Pet Friendly | West Beach

Howard Ranch – Beachfront Retreat | Screened Porch | Pet Friendly | West Beach

Welcome to Howard Ranch, a unique coastal getaway with a touch of Texas charm, managed by Harris Vacations in the peaceful West Beach area of Gulf Shores. This four bedroom, four bathroom beachfront home offers stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and comfortable accommodations for up to 11 guests, making it an ideal retreat for families and small groups seeking a relaxing escape by the water.

With direct beach access, a spacious screened porch, and inviting indoor living spaces, Howard Ranch blends classic beach house comfort with laid back coastal living.

Outdoor Living
- Direct beachfront location with easy access to the sand and surf
- Screened porch perfect for enjoying Gulf breezes without the elements
- Sun deck for soaking up the sunshine and taking in the views
- Outdoor shower for rinsing off after a day at the beach
- Peaceful West Beach setting away from crowds

Indoor Comforts
Inside, Howard Ranch features a spacious ranch style layout with breathtaking Gulf views from the main living areas. The open concept living room is lined with wall to wall windows, filling the space with natural light and showcasing the beauty of the shoreline. Comfortable seating and a sleeper sofa provide plenty of room for relaxing or enjoying a movie night.

The kitchen is fully equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a large island with a built-in cooktop, making it easy to prepare meals for the group. The dining area offers seating for eight, with additional bar seating for casual dining or gathering. Each bedroom includes a television and water views, creating a comfortable and inviting retreat for every guest.

Sleeping Arrangements
- Primary Bedroom: King bed, private bathroom with walk in shower, lagoon views
- Bedroom 2: Two twin beds, shared hallway bathroom with tub and shower combination, Gulf views
- Bedroom 3: Queen bed plus twin, private bathroom with walk in shower
- Bedroom 4: Two twin beds, shared hallway bathroom with tub and shower combination
- Living Area: Sleeper sofa

Whether you are enjoying coffee on the screened porch, casting a line into the Gulf, or gathering with family after a day in the sun, Howard Ranch offers a warm and welcoming beachfront experience.

Book your stay with Harris Vacations and enjoy a peaceful coastal escape in Gulf Shores.

Rental Age Policy
We love people of all ages, and we want everyone to enjoy our homes. However, we do require that an adult 25 years or older reserve the home and be present at the home during your entire stay. We do not rent to anyone under the age of 25. We have no exception to this policy.

RISK
Guest acknowledges that beaches, bays, docks, piers, pools, and waterfront areas are inherently dangerous and assumes all related risks, known or unknown, when renting a vacation rental home. Guests agree to exercise extreme caution at all times; for more information, see the Terms and Conditions document.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private balcony. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and an LCD television is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free vacation home features sailing nearby.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 4 private bathrooms
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • LCD TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the ocean
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Golf
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Sailing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 1,533 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

71
Vrbo Property

Beachfront Retreat | Screened Porch | Pet Friendly | West Beach Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mark T.

Liked: Cleanliness
everything was excellent
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Todd S.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house was great. The dunes were a little tall too really see the beach and ocean. We have a toddler so a gate at the top of the stairs would have been nice.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Harri

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

pamela c.

Liked: Cleanliness
Howard’s Ranch was a great choice for four friends traveling together because we each had our own bedroom and bath. It was very clean and we loved having the covered porch. The kitchen was well-furnished. It truly felt like we had a private beach! We left feedback on a few issues we hope will be corrected (only 4 rolls of toilet paper, problems with water pressure and hot water, ants in the kitchen.)
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great house. Perfect secluded location on the beach. Memories made.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Les W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome family vacation!!

We loved our stay at Howard Ranch! The location was perfect…almost like a private beach! The rental was clean and organized…well stocked kitchen, and we loved the layout of bedrooms and bathrooms. We definitely will book this rental again next year. So thankful to have found the perfect place for our family vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

David C., Lenoir City, TN

Liked: Cleanliness

Love it!

Our family loves this property. It's quiet and private yet close enough to town if you want to venture out. The screened in porch is a plus. The only negatives are the twin mattresses are not very comfortable and we wish there was a board walk over to the beach. However, those things did not stop us from rebooking a 2nd time.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pam H.

Liked: Cleanliness

October at the beach 🏖️

Even though it was for a short 4 days and the weather wasn’t perfect ~ we had the best time! Just the right place to relax and enjoy the sounds and sights of the beach with our family. Our best trip to the beach in a very long time ♥️
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Keith M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Howard’s Ranch

Came with our three adult children and their spouses or significant others. Loved the location and the set up of the house. This was our third time visiting Gulf Shores and was our best vacation yet.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Week! Love the House!

Perfect week at the beach! House was just as advertised. Clean and well stocked. Location is great, we had so much beach all to ourselves! Family wants to come back to this same house again next year!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David C., Lenoir City, TN

Liked: Cleanliness

Loved it!

I loved the area. Far enough away from the crowds to have your own little quiet piece of beach. The house was very nice and the beds comfy. I got a very prompt reaponse when I had a question. The only thing I would change is adding a boardwalk to the beach. The dune is a little tough on old bones but we had a fabulous time. We'll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Connie C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect family space

Kitchen and dining table great for large family. Clean and homey! Loved having the four bathrooms for each bedroom! Would have loved a ramp/walkway from deck to at least get over the dune to the beach. But over all not that bad, we haves worse. Just a suggestion.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ethan S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place for Family

What a great location! We felt very much like we had a private beach! The house had everything we needed to enjoy our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tara P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Home away from home

This house was amazing. Had everything we needed and the things we did need was communicated to us. I do wish it had a dock that went out to the beach but that really wasn’t that big of a deal. It would have made the home an 11 out of 10 though! We would stay here again! Love love love the screened in porch for those rainy days too.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lori R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great location and beautiful home.

We stayed for a a week at Howard's Ranch and loved it! The location is a bit remote, but just minutes from restaurants and shopping which was perfect for us. The house is large and spacious and beautifully decorated. Having the screened in porch and a deck was perfect for the cooler days and just hanging out. The only thing I would say is that climbing the dune every day to get to the beach was difficult for my elderly mom. This isn't a good place to take someone that has limited mobility that wants to get on the beach. That said, we loved it and would definitely go there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

6/10 Okay

jason c., Kentucky

Great location

Great place , a few things could have been addressed to make it better but was really a nice place
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness

First time at Gulf Shored

We had a great time and the property was amazing! Having a screened in porch and another for sunbathing was a nice addition! I’m so glad we chose Howard’s Ranch! Thank you for the ease of check in and the texts during the week to check in on us!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

jay w., shreveport, louisiana

Liked: Cleanliness

Beach House

Excellent place to stay. Perfect balcony any house. Nice private beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sue L.

Liked: Cleanliness

A Great Stay at Howard’s Ranch

We had a great stay at Howard’s Ranch! Plenty of room for our family. Place was so cute and had a great cottage feel! Well stocked with all of the basics you need!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021