LIVING THE WATERFRONT DREAM ON ONO ISLAND IN ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Ono Island Lifestyle Waterfront Boating Ole River


Luxury waterfront homes on Ono Island along Ole River in Orange Beach, Alabama, capture stunning sunset views with private docks and boathouses — one of the Gulf Coast’s most exclusive lifestyles.

 

When I look at this view of Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama, I’m reminded why so many luxury buyers fall in love with this community. The homes you see here line Ole River, one of the most sought-after waterfront settings on the Gulf Coast. Each home has its own distinct architecture, but together they create a serene,…

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ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) Homes on the Gulf Coast: My Top 20 Q&As for Orange Beach & Ono Island


By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Ono Island ICF Insulated Concrete Form Homes Construction. Waterfront homes on Ole River at sunset in Orange Beach, Alabama, featuring luxury architecture, private boathouses, and Gulf Coast coastal living.

I love helping clients build smarter on the coast. On Ono Island and around Orange Beach, ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) has moved from “niche” to “expected” on many custom homes. Below are the twenty questions I hear most—asked by both builders and consumers—plus straight answers from my experience walking sites, reading reports, and living with coastal realities (wind, salt, flood, and insurance).

Looking at coastal building more broadly? Start here: New Construction on the Gulf Coast.

1) What…

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WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT BATS ON ONO ISLAND AND THE GULF COAST

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Ono Island Orange Beach Alabama Homes For Sale

When I first moved onto Ono Island  in Orange Beach, Alabama , I was surprised to learn how many bats live here. To be honest, like most people, my first reaction was a little uneasy. I had always pictured bats as something spooky. But living on the Gulf Coast has completely changed my perspective. Today, I appreciate them as one of the most valuable — and least understood — parts of our ecosystem.

Why Bats Are an Advantage for Coastal Living

Here’s a fact that still amazes me: a single bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitos in just…

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THE INVINCIBLE 36 OPEN FISHERMAN: A PERFECT MATCH FOR GULF COAST LIVING

By Meredith Folger Amon

When I see an Invincible 36 Open Fisherman cruising through the waters around Orange Beach and Ono Island, I can’t help but stop and admire it. This boat represents everything I love about our Gulf Coast lifestyle—strength, elegance, and the ability to transition seamlessly from serious offshore fishing to a leisurely day on the water with family and friends.

Invincible 36 Fisherman Boat Orange Beach Alabama

The Invincible brand has long been respected for its offshore performance, and the 36 Open Fisherman is one of its most versatile models. At 36 feet 10 inches in overall length, with a beam of 10 feet, it strikes a perfect balance—large enough to handle long offshore runs into the Gulf, yet…

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New Vendor Spotlight: Waters Edge Marine Construction LLP (Boathouses, Piers & Bulkheads)


By Meredith Folger Amon — Gulf Coast Real Estate Advisor, licensed in Alabama & Florida

Waters Edge Marine Construction LLP

I received a note through my website introducing Waters Edge Marine Construction LLP—a shoreline contractor focusing on boathouses, piers/docks, and bulkheads. Their crews previously worked with Bay Area Marine and Edgewater Marine Construction (both now retired), and they partner with Eco Solutions LLC to coordinate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permits, which can save homeowners time and back-and-forth during approvals.

Contact

  • Phone: (334) 737-8436

  • Email: daredeas1@gmail.com

Why I’m sharing this

On the Alabama Gulf…

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PERDIDO PASS IN LATE SEPTEMBER: “THE WATCHERS ON THE WALL”

By Meredith Folger Amon — Orange Beach, Alabama

Coastal birds on the seawall at Perdido Pass with The Gulf restaurant and the bridge in the background.

I made this photograph at the end of September, standing along the seawall at Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama. The day had that clean, post-summer light I love on the Gulf—blue on blue—and a soft northeast breeze that kept the surface groomed. Fishing boats and a few yachts slid in and out of the pass beyond the frame. To my left, the white umbrellas and palms of The Gulf restaurant fluttered like little signals of shore life; ahead, the Perdido Pass Bridge arced across the water, carrying the day’s traffic toward Ono Island and back again.

But the subject here isn’t the bridge, the boats, or the restaurant. It’s the coastal birds…

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Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama: Pass Conditions, Sandbar Shifts & What It Means for Small vs. Deep-Draft Boats


By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Perdido Pass is the gateway between our back bays and the Gulf. Living and working in Orange Beach and around Ono Island, I run this pass often and help clients plan for its changing conditions. Channels are marked, but bars and shoals migrate—especially after strong fronts or tropical systems. Below is a practical, boat-owner’s guide to what typically shifts, how storms reshape things, and how small craft versus deeper-draft boats and yachts can plan a safer, smoother run.

Perdido Pass Storm Changes Orange Beach Alabama

For…

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1031 Exchanges and Capital Gains Taxes on the Gulf Coast

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges Gulf Coast

Introduction: Why This Matters to Gulf Coast Investors

Over the years, I’ve worked with many investors along the Gulf Coast, and one of the biggest questions I get is: How do I minimize my tax liability when buying and selling property? The answer often comes down to one strategy — the 1031 tax deferred exchange.

If you’re investing in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Ono Island, or crossing into Florida markets like Destin, 30A, or Pensacola, understanding how capital gains taxes differ between Alabama and Florida can make a major impact on…

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NAVIGATING BOATS AROUND ORANGE BEACH & PERDIDO PASS: A LOCAL GUIDE

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

I run these waters constantly—Orange Beach, Ono Island, Perdido Pass, and the back bays—and I keep a running list of notes to help friends and clients make confident, courteous runs. Below is my first-person guide to reading the water, understanding markers and wake zones, and knowing where extra caution pays off across Perdido Pass, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Ole River, Bayou St. John, Terry Cove, Cotton Bayou, the canals, and the open Gulf.

Boating Orange Beach Alabama

Heads-up: Conditions change with tide, wind, and storms. This guidance is local…

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Muck, Sea Grass, and Barnacle Cycles on Lifts & Seawalls (Orange Beach & Ono Island)

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Living and working on the water in Orange Beach and along Ono Island, I see the same seasonal story play out on boat lifts and seawalls: spring warmth wakes up growth, summer accelerates it, fall storms push wrack into corners, and winter finally gives us a breather. Below is how I set expectations with buyers and owners—and the simple, realistic maintenance cadence I use myself—so small messes don’t become big repairs.

For on slip layouts, lifts, and canal living, see my boating guide: Boating Amenities on the Gulf…

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