Historic Tugboat on St.Andrews Bay - Secluded Dock

Houseboat in Panama City, Florida

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bath
Hosted by Marianne
  1. 3 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 1% of homes

This home is one of the highest ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.

Exceptional check-in experience

Recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.

Beautiful area

This home is in a scenic location.
Enjoy nature aboard this 1946 tugboat on a 400 ft. private dock in St. Andrews Bay.

Watch as the sun sets over the bay, enjoying a glass of wine on the padded teak lounge chairs at the stern of the boat.

You might see dolphins feet away from the dock, herons, ospreys, seagulls and pelicans diving for a meal. You might even spot one of our resident bald eagles or the occasional manatee.

Walk, bike or drive to the heart of vibrant St. Andrews and its renowned restaurants, many with live music.

The space
The Big Bee was commissioned in 1946 at the Arnold V. Walker Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  She's 58 feet long, weighs 38 tons and is powered by twin Cummings CTA6 diesel engines. She was a working tug till the 90’s when she was converted to a houseboat. She sits at the end of our 400 ft private dock.

The Big Bee has a galley (kitchen) equipped with a refrigerator, sink, air fryer, coffee maker, tea kettle, plates, cups and cutlery.
Dining is available in the galley area or outside on the veranda.

The veranda is our living room as well.

Below, on the stern of the ship, sip a glass of wine on the padded teak lounge chairs while you bask in the sun and nature.

The air-conditioned stateroom with a queen bed is on the lower deck with an attached private bathroom with a full shower.  Taller guests will need to be mindful of low beams in the head (bathroom).

Also Available:
2 Bicycles (free)
2 sit-on-top kayaks ($25 fee each)
Snorkeling masks (free)
Fire pit on the private beach for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows

Guest access
We ask the guests for safety reasons to stay out of the engine room and not to touch the controls in the captain’s bridge.

Other things to note
Our insurance asks for a liability waiver for each guest to sign. We also have a safety checklist to go over on the walk through.

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Bay view
Marina view
Private beach access – Beachfront
Kitchen
Wifi
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

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Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 34 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is in the top 1% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Panama City, Florida, United States

Neighborhood highlights

Walk, bike or drive to the heart of vibrant St. Andrews and its renowned restaurants, many with live music. Stop en route to visit Oaks by the Bay Park. There are two popular downtowns. The Marina area off Beck Ave. (walking distance) and the marina area around vintage downtown Harrison Ave. (biking distance). Lots of local eateries and pubs in these two neighborhoods.

Book a Shell Island excursion on the Big Bee with Captain and First Mate departing from the dock. You can find out more about this tour under experiences on Airbnb.

You can also rent a pontoon boat from a local vendor to explore the bay on your own. We don’t allow fishing from the dock but we do know professional fishing boats we can put you in contact with.

Away from the crowds of Panama City Beach, the white sand beaches of St. Andrew State Park are a 20-minute drive by car. The park has a short nature trail to Gator Pond, where you'll see a multitude of birds and, of course, alligators. Whitetail deer are seen throughout the park. In the very early morning, it's not unusual to see deer walking along the shoreline.

Meet your host

Host
47 reviews
5.0 out of 5 average rating
3 years of hosting
Where I went to school: FSU
My work: Retired art teacher
I am all about soaking in new adventures. I taught Elementary Art for ten years. I love beauty, nature, antiques, people, quirky things and peace after a long day. My husband and I have an old tugboat that we adore.

Co-hosts

  • Rory

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
2 guests maximum
No pets
Quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 8:00 AM
Safety & property
Exterior security cameras on property
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
Heights without rails or protection