Osprey at the New Ono Island Boat Launch: Nature, Water & Island Life

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on June 27th, 2026

Osprey at the New Ono Island Boat Launch: A Small Moment That Says So Much About Island Life

There are certain moments on Ono Island that stop me in my tracks.

A couple of days ago, I was at the newly improved Ono Island boat launch when I looked up and saw this osprey nest — active, alive, and beautifully positioned above one of the places that means so much to our boating community. With wings stretched wide against that brilliant blue Gulf Coast sky, this osprey seemed to capture exactly what I love about living here: strength, instinct, water, wilderness, and home.

“Ono Island has a way of reminding me that luxury is not always about what is built. Sometimes, it is about what is preserved.”

As a homeowner on Ono Island and…

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Why 40-Foot Deep-V Fishing Boats Are Popular in Orange Beach & Ono Island

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on June 15th, 2026

Why Deep-V Monohull Fishing Boats Around 40 Feet Are So Popular in Orange Beach & Ono Island

Yesterday, I took these images near Perdido Pass, and they immediately reminded me why deep-V monohull fishing boats around 40 feet are so incredibly popular in Orange Beach, Alabama and around Ono Island.

There is a certain look to these boats when they are running through the Pass — confident, purposeful, capable. They are not simply “pretty boats.” They are built for our water, our fishing culture, our Gulf conditions, and the way so many of us live here.

As an Ono Island homeowner and local real estate advisor, I see the connection every day between the boat someone owns — or wants to own — and the waterfront property that truly fits…

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Gulf Coast Real Estate Market Update | Why Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on June 12th, 2026

Gulf Coast Real Estate Market Update: Why Strategy Matters More Than Ever

A More Selective Market Can Be a Strong Market

The Gulf Coast real estate market has changed, but that does not mean sellers should be discouraged.

What I am seeing across Orange Beach, Ono Island, Gulf Shores, and the surrounding Baldwin County market is a more selective environment. Buyers have more choices today than they did during the ultra-competitive years, and inventory has increased across many sectors. But that does not tell the whole story.

The Gulf Coast market is increasingly becoming a market of micro-markets. While buyers may have more choices overall, properties with unique locations, boating amenities, new construction features, or limited…

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Composite Pilings vs. Wood Pilings on the Gulf Coast | Ono Island Waterfront Guide

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on June 11th, 2026

Composite-Style Pilings vs. Wood Pilings on the Gulf Coast: What Ono Island Buyers & Waterfront Homeowners Should Know

When I walk docks on Ono Island, tour waterfront homes in Orange Beach, or talk with buyers who dream about keeping a Freeman, Invincible, Caymas, Grady-White, Viking, Hatteras, Yellowfin, or Sea Hunt behind the house, one of the most overlooked details is often one of the most important: the pilings.

To me, pilings are the quiet foundation of waterfront living. They hold docks, boathouses, boat lifts, piers, launch structures, and sometimes the entire lifestyle that brings people to the Gulf Coast in the first place.

“A dock may be where the boat rests, but the pilings are where the story begins.”

On Ono…

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Ono Island Homes for Sale | Waterfront Living on the Alabama Gulf Coast

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 27th, 2026

Ono Island: Where Simplicity Becomes the Ultimate Luxury

There is a moment on Ono Island when the water seems to stop — and then move again. It is subtle, almost like the island is asking you to breathe deeper, slow down, and reconnect with what matters most.

To me, that is the beauty of Ono Island.

“Simplicity is the ultimate luxury — and on Ono Island, luxury is often found in the quiet rhythm of the water, the shade of the oaks, and the textures of the Gulf Coast.”

Here, life is not defined by excess. It is defined by privacy, space, water, light, and connection. Expansive glass framing the bay. A boat resting beneath the boathouse. Morning coffee overlooking Bayou St. John. A sunset cruise toward Orange Beach. The sound of water…

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Dock Permitting in Orange Beach, Ono Island & Gulf Shores

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 24th, 2026

Dock Permitting in Orange Beach, Ono Island & Gulf Shores

There are few things more beautiful to me than a waterfront home that lives the way it should. A dock at the end of the lawn. A boat lift ready for an early run. A quiet cup of coffee before the marina wakes up. The possibility of a Viking, Hatteras, Freeman, Caymas, Invincible, Yellowfin, or Contender sitting behind the house like it belongs there.

But on the Gulf Coast, a dock is never just a dock. It is access. It is lifestyle. It is value. And it is also something buyers should understand before they purchase waterfront property in Orange Beach, Ono Island, Gulf Shores, or anywhere along our back bays, canals, bayous, and coastal waterways.

“A beautiful waterfront home…

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Ono Landing Boat Launch on Ono Island Reopens

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 20th, 2026

Ono Landing Reopens on Ono Island After New Construction

Today was a notable day on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama. Ono Landing, the island’s boat launch, has reopened after new construction was completed, and the finished result feels clean, practical, and beautifully coastal.

The new launch area immediately caught my eye. The fresh white pilings, wide floating docks, updated ramp access, shoreline stabilization, and bright blue water create the kind of first impression that reflects what so many people love about living on Ono Island. This is not just a place to launch a boat. It is part of the boating rhythm of the island.

On Ono Island, water access is not an afterthought. It is part of the way homeowners experience the…

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Boating on Ole River Near Ono Island and Orange Beach, Alabama

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 19th, 2026

Boating on Ole River: The Local Sand Bar Scene Between Ono Island and Orange Beach

Boats anchored in shallow turquoise water on Ole River near Ono Island and Orange Beach, Alabama, with private docks, boathouses, waterfront homes, and summer boating activity.

Ole River, Old River, and the Place Locals Love to Anchor

There are certain places along the Gulf Coast that do not need a sign, a schedule, or an invitation. You just know. Ole River, also called Old River, is one of those places.

Running along the southern and southwestern shoreline of Ono Island and across from Orange Beach, Alabama, Ole River is where many locals go when they are not anchored around Robinson Island. It has its own personality: turquoise water, soft…

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4 Things Buyers Should Look for in Gulf Coast Homes | Orange Beach and Ono Island Real Estate

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 19th, 2026

4 Things Buyers Should Look for When Purchasing a Home on the Gulf Coast, Orange Beach, and Ono Island

When I walk through a home with a buyer along the Gulf Coast, I am not just looking at pretty finishes. I am looking at how the home lives, how it handles our coastal environment, how efficiently it operates, and whether it fits the lifestyle that brought the buyer here in the first place.

That is especially true in Orange Beach, Ono Island, Gulf Shores, Perdido Key, and the surrounding waterfront communities. A beautiful home can make a wonderful first impression, but a well-built, well-positioned coastal home can offer comfort, confidence, and long-term value.

When I advise buyers on the Gulf Coast, I always look beyond the…

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Orange Beach Boating, Fishing, and Waterfront Real Estate Guide

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on May 12th, 2026

Orange Beach Boating, Fishing, and Waterfront Real Estate: A Gulf Coast Lifestyle Guide

There is something unforgettable about watching a sportfishing yacht ease through the water at sunrise along the Alabama Gulf Coast. The light changes by the minute, the water takes on that soft blue-gray reflection, and you can feel why so many people are drawn to Orange Beach, Ono Island, and the boating lifestyle that surrounds us.

I often tell buyers that waterfront real estate here is not only about the home. It is about how you want to live. Do you want a private dock behind the house? Quick access to Perdido Pass? A protected canal for your boat? A big-water view? A place close to marinas, fishing tournaments, waterfront dining, and the Gulf?…

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