The Great Escape River House

The Great Escape River House Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ: River Fun? Fishing? Alligators? Boat Rentals? Charter Fishing? and more!

Since our vacation rentals sit right on a river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico, we get lots of questions about the waterways. I hope this message answers most of yours—but if not, just let me know! I’ll do my best to get you the info and may even add it to this message to help future guests.

FISHING IN THE BILOXI RIVER
(The river behind The Great Escape River House & the River Lookout)
Check out this YouTube video link below (#1) to see from cast to bringing the fish on shore someone catching a Largemouth Striped Bass in less than 4 minutes. This video was taken while fishing from shore, on the Biloxi River, about a 1/2 mile south of our 2 Biloxi River Houses. To see other Biloxi River fishing videos, search www.YouTube.com for: "Biloxi River Fishing"

Worth mentioning, I enjoy fishing, but am no expert. I've heard Bluegills, largemouth & smallmouth bass fishing is really good in the Biloxi River. A friend of mine, who fishes all the time, says the fishing in the Biloxi River is great. There are something like 170 freshwater fish in southern Mississippi. I would not be surprised if all of them were represented in the Biloxi River.

Past guests have told me they didn't have luck with Shrimp; my fishing friend said something like "use live bait, crickets, worms, or a lurer that moves like it's alive... If they aren't biting with a cork, lose the cork and fish the bottom...." He actually said much more, but that's what I remember. I think something about the tides. Below I've included 2 links (#2 & #3) for our local tides.

Below you'll find a link (#4) to a photo of a large Catfish, caught in the Biloxi River... I've seen quite a few of these giants come out of the Biloxi River .... and Boy do they put up a good fight!

CONSIDER BRINGING

Your Fishing Equipment
After years of providing this type of equipment for it to either go missing or find it a tangled mess, we had to give up on being able to keep our houses supplied with fishing equipment. We're sorry, but certain, whatever you bring with you to fish, will be 100 times better than what you would have found at the house.

Fishing License
Non-Mississippi Residents can purchase a Fishing License for less than $20, good for 3 days at our local Walmart or Academy.

A Boat / Canoe / Kayak
Certainly not a requirement to enjoy one of our River Houses, but if you've got one (or more) and want to bring it, you certainly can. Good idea on a large motorized boat to check with us on where to launch, how easy it is to get up river, make sure it's not too large for the river, etc.

Tubes for River Tubing
There is a spot up river (used as a neighborhood boat launch for small boats with over-sized tow vehicles) where if you're interested in some River Tubing in our lazy river, you can get into the river and float down to your river house. DEEP SEA FISHING

MY #1 RECOMMENDATION:
Would be with Captain Ron, 228.860.4308. In a past life he was with one of the local Marine patrols that worked the Back Bay and local rivers, including the Biloxi River. I'm thinking it was the Harrison County Sheriff's Department. He left law enforcement to pursue his true love, Charter Fishing... just as well, he was always having to turn a blind eye to some minor infraction one of us River Folk was committing. 😎

See (#5) link below for his website and to book a charter fishing trip.

Oh! you should tell Captain Ron, Grady of the Great Escape River House on the Biloxi River sent you. He's familiar with that house & associates us with it. Captain Ron used to actually live on the Biloxi River and has multiple Charter fishing boats. I'm not sure mentioning Grady will get you a discount, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't get you some special treatment and maybe a story or two. That said, neither Grady or I have gone on a Charter Fishing Trip (with anyone) and would appreciate, if you do choose to book with Captain Ron, please give us your feedback. In the past, we've had several past guests that have Charter fished with Captain Ron and the feedback has always been 5 stars.

CHARTER FISHING FOR LARGER GROUPS:
I can also recommend: Captain Jay Trochesset. Check out Jay's reviews, website, availability and rates links below (#6 & #7).

My recommendation of Jay Trochesset is based on I've heard he does trips for groups up to 45 people. His # is: 228-388-2209. My very good friend Jimmy Dale Pitts (who has since passed away) recommended that I refer guests to Jay. Jimmy Dale Pitts had an extensive career on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and before retiring was Vice-President of our International Airport. My friend used to host lots of offshore deep sea fishing trips and swears by Jay. Women also love his charters; I hear the Silver Dollar charter boat offers at least one air conditioned room and a private bathroom on board. A true luxury on a fishing trip.

ALLIGATORS?

Often when asked about fishing a follow-up question is about Alligators. In anticipation of Gator questions, let me say, we have a healthy river system that abounds with wildlife. I've been on the Biloxi River since 1996 and have seen live alligators all of two times. In both instances, the alligator was less than 5 feet long.

Every once in a while one of my retired neighbors will email that they saw one and by the time they got the camera it was gone. These rare sights are treated more the way folks might treat a unicorn sighting. "Wow, that was cool! Can you believe we saw that?"

Attached is a very detailed country wide report of alligator interaction with humans.

There are a lot of rumors and opinions on how dangerous alligators are. There are over 3 million of them in the United States today. Almost 40,000 in Mississippi.

The Alligator link (#8) will bring you to a report that has become the Go To document for information on Gator vs human encounters in the USA. Over 50% of all Gator attacks happen while someone is trying to capture or harm the Gator. The report breaks down every incident, prior to its publication, giving answers to probably more questions than you'd think to ask. One thing is very clear:

Mississippi has the most polite alligators.
No attacks, ever...not even a nimble.
Not even when they are being captured or harmed.

Which is not to say someday there won't be a misbehaving Gator or that If I was swimming and saw one in the water, I'd continue to stay in the water. I'm just the sort who believes "the trend is your friend" and "past performance IS indicative or future performance." Oh and if you see an alligator, please don't feed it. I suspect those swamp tours in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas have led some Gators to associate humans with an easy lunch.

MORE LINKS BELOW

Check out Boat Rental links (#9 & #10) and more Water Attractions on our website (Link #11) below.

I hope you found this helpful & please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions,

Sincerely,
Patricia Dalton
504.669.0548
(Text or calls work best... I'm bad about emails)
https://www.gulfportvacationhomes.com/

KEY LINKS
FISHING / TIDES LINKS:
# 1 Click here to Check out this YouTube video and see from cast to bringing the fish on shore someone catching a Largemouth Striped Bass in less than 4 minutes.

# 2 Click here for local tide information. This link will take you to tidal information on the Back Bay, which the Biloxi River Flows into. Both our River Houses are located on the Biloxi River.

# 3 Click Here For Information on the Tides for The Biloxi River / Back Bay area; also offers clickable areas and is more detailed than the first Tidal link above.

# 4 Click Here for a photo of a large Catfish, caught in the Biloxi River.

DEEP FISH LINKS:
# 5 Click here for Captain Ron's website and to book a charter fishing trip.

# 6 Click here for Jay Trochesset's website and reviews.

# 7 Click here for Jay's availability and rates.

ALLIGATOR LINK:
# 8 Click here for detailed Alligator PDF.

MORE INFORMATION:
# 9 Click Here for a pontoon boat rental option. They’re based in the Bay St. Louis area, so to justify the cost of transporting the boat to Gulfport, they typically require a multi-day rental—or guests should expect to pay a premium for shorter boat rental.

#10 Click Here for information on Rentals (at a great rate) available to Active & Retired Military of all Branches of the armed forces service through Keesler Airforce base.

#11 Clicking here to be taken to our website's Attraction Page offering even more information about the Mississippi Gulf Coast including information on boat ramps, additional fishing info, and more.

... And if you have any recommendations during your stay, we’d love to hear them! We’re especially looking to add reliable kayak rental services, more deep-sea fishing options, and other trusted providers to help future guests make the most of their visit.

Maximum Occupancy Policy

Base Rates & Guest Count
Our standard rates for the Great Escape River House include up to 18 guests. Additional guests are welcome with prior approval and will incur a per-person, per-night booked fee.

Booking Platforms & Capacity
For Booking Site platforms, such as Houfy, Airbnb, etc, that allow bookings for only up to 16 guests and will automatically calculate fees for the 15th and 16th person, The rates cap guest count to no more than 16 people on these Booking Sites. The Good news is — our home can accommodate up to 23 overnight guests! However, since some booking platforms do limit guest counts, please let us know your full group size in advance to avoid surprises and ensure accurate pricing, if your people count exceeds the number of people the site lets you enter..

Customized Quotes
We’re happy to provide a personalized quote based on your group size and needs.

Who Counts as a Guest
Guest count includes all overnight guests and visitors—adults and children alike.

Gatherings & Events
We’re glad to host larger gatherings with prior approval. Please share the total number of overnight guests and daytime visitors expected so we can plan accordingly, maintain a high-quality experience for all, and insure your choosen house is suitable for your stay..

Important Note
Exceeding the agreed-upon and paid-for guest count is a violation of our rental terms.

Parking

Parking is limited and must be planned accordingly:

~ 1 vehicle per 3–4 registered guests
~ No parking on the grass or in the street
~ All vehicles must be parked in designated areas on the property.

Pet Policy

We love pets—but have guidelines in place to protect the space and ensure comfort for all guests:

~ Dogs under 20 lbs are automatically pre-approved with payment of the standard pet fee.
~ Larger dogs, multiple dogs, or non-dog pets require pre-approval.
~ For multiple dogs, the first dog is full price, and the per-pet fee decreases for each additional dog.

Can We Bring or Use a Keg at the House?

No, the keg cooler at the bar is not available for guest use, and we do not provide kegs. While the cooler remains part of the bar setup, it is non-functional, and keg service is no longer offered.

Why Isn’t the Keg Cooler Available?

The keg cooler was originally installed as a centerpiece of the wet bar in 2017. For many years, we provided kegs as a convenience, handling delivery, CO₂ refills, and required maintenance. However, over time, this service became increasingly impractical for several reasons:

Frequent Malfunctions – The keg cooler required costly repairs in 2018 and broke again in 2021. Given the low demand, it was not worth the continued investment.
Minimal Usage – From 2018 to 2021, only two kegs were sold and delivered, making it unsustainable to maintain the cooler just for occasional use.
Guest Misuse & CO₂ Issues – Even when the system was operational, guests unfamiliar with keg systems frequently tampered with the taps, releasing CO₂ and rendering the keg useless.
Easier Alternatives Exist – With the installation of a passenger elevator in 2015, guests can now easily transport beer and beverages without needing a keg. Additionally, purchasing beer in cans or bottles is often more cost-effective than renting a keg.

Why Not Remove the Keg Cooler?

The bar was custom-built around the cooler, and removing it would leave a noticeable gap, impacting the aesthetics of the space. While it remains in place as a design feature, it is non-operational and not available for use.

Final Answer: No Kegs

We kindly ask guests not to bring kegs or assume the keg cooler is functional. If you're planning a gathering, we recommend bringing cans or bottled beverages instead. Thank you for understanding!

We’ve carefully studied booking trends to ensure our home is available to as many guests as possible while keeping costs fair for everyone. Here’s why we avoid Saturday check-ins and check-outs:

Optimizing Availability for Guests:
Because we cater to larger groups of people, who mostly have weekends off, our homes tends to book mostly weekends. Because of this, Friday & Saturday carry the highest rates for the week. To make sure that we don't just have the 2 weekend nights book, our rates are based on 4 or more nights being booked, with us counting on the weekend being booked to stay in the "black" financially. Most of our bookings tend to be 4-night weekends, such as Wednesday–Sunday or Thursday–Monday. A Saturday check-in or check-out disrupts this pattern, effectively leaving 50% of highest revenue generating weekend unbooked.
Discounted Weekly Rates:
Weekly stays are offered at a discounted rate, because we assume the booking will only impact one weekend. When a Saturday-to-Saturday booking blocks two weekends, it creates a huge financial loss; that we can't absorb nor would we want to pass on to other guests.
Our Team’s Schedule:
Saturdays are the one day our hardworking cleaning crew takes off. Since a Saturday check-out would leave the home unavailable for same-day check-ins, this limits availability and further increases costs for everyone. That said, based on years of experience with making the mistake of taking Saturday check-in or outs, we've also learned it is highly unlikely the Saturday would book.... but worth mentioning, it would be extremely difficult to turn any of the properties around on a Saturday without our full crew.
Lessons from Experience:
A few years ago, two Saturday-to-Saturday bookings in one April (a week apart from each other) resulted in not a single day the rest of the month being booked, with fewer guests able to stay, as these 2 bookings, impacted 4 weekends. It was our worst April ever—something we’re working to avoid for the benefit of all our guests.

Planning Your Stay
For weekly stays, we recommend Sunday–Sunday (Mid May to the 1st week of August & Cruisin' the Coast week). The rest of the year, Checking in any other day than Saturday we can work with! If your plans absolutely require a Saturday check-in or check-out, please contact us directly to discuss options. We’ll do our best to accommodate your request, but be aware this will involve higher costs due to the challenges outlined above.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure all guests can enjoy their stays at a fair rate!

💎 Posted Rates are based:
- 4 or more nights Booked, if the stay includes a Friday, or Saturday Night
- No check-in’s or outs on a Saturday
- June & July ideally the check-in or out date will be on a Sunday

💎The above does not describe your stay?
- Get your Individual quote!
- The listing is set For a 2 night minimum And available for 2 night bookings, just not at the posted rates.

💎 The Great Escape River House is perfect for large groups!
💎 In the city limits of Gulfport
💎 Less than 8 Miles from the Gulf of Mexico
💎 And as incredible as this home is and all it has to offer, its the affordable option over renting multiple houses, condos or Hotel rooms.

All our properties offer:

A Fire Extinguisher
Smoke / Fire Detectors
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Swimming pools have latching gates
Dead Bolt electronic smart Locks
Exterior Ring Camera monitoring

The Great Escape River House FAQs