A Louisiana businessman built a house on floating barges so it could be towed into open water for duck season; the 22-person property is now asking $5.5 million |
A luxury hunting and fishing lodge in southern Louisiana is offering buyers an unusual combination of waterfront living, outdoor adventure and mobility. Known as Fowl Play, the property is built on floating barges and can be towed into the marsh during duck-hunting season. According to Mansion Global, the unusual property has been listed for $5.5 million and can accommodate up to 22 people across its main lodge and crew camp.The property was designed for Tony Nelson as a luxury camp that could move between Louisiana’s fishing waters and hunting grounds with the seasons.
A lodge that can move
Unlike a conventional waterfront home, Fowl Play is designed to move with the seasons. The roughly 4,600-square-foot floating lodge sits on two independent spud barges, according to Garden & Gun. The main camp and separate crew camp together provide sleeping space for 22 people. In spring and summer, the property remains at its home base in Port Fourchon, where the barges are docked at a private waterfront location. When duck season arrives, the entire camp can be towed into the Louisiana marsh, putting residents and guests much closer to hunting grounds.The seasonal move is central to the property’s design. During duck season, the floating camp is parked in the water for about 90 days, roughly an hour by boat from its home base, before returning to Port Fourchon. This makes Fowl Play less like a traditional second home and more like a mobile outdoor retreat.
Fowl Play (Image Credit: Jon Kohler & Associates via Garden & Gun)
Built for hunting and fishing
The lodge was created around two of Louisiana’s biggest outdoor attractions: hunting and fishing. During duck season, the floating camp is positioned in a 6,000-acre exclusive hunting lease, which is available to the buyer as part of the purchase, according to Garden & Gun. Hunters can leave the main lodge in smaller boats to reach the surrounding marshes.Fishing is equally important to the property. From its Port Fourchon base, guests can pursue speckled trout and redfish in nearby waters, while the Gulf offers opportunities for offshore fishing. The location also provides access to larger species such as yellowfin tuna and marlin.The combination is one of the property’s biggest attractions. Rather than choosing between a hunting camp and a fishing retreat, Fowl Play is designed to provide both experiences from the same base.
Inside the floating retreat
Despite being built on barges, Fowl Play is far removed from the image of a basic houseboat. The main lodge includes a commercial-grade kitchen, dining and living areas, an eight-bed bunk room, two additional staterooms and a primary bedroom with its own bathroom. There are also three other full bathrooms.The interiors combine the character of a traditional Southern hunting lodge with upscale amenities. Garden & Gun notes features including heart-pine floors, pecky-cypress ceilings and Wolf appliances in the main kitchen. Bathrooms feature carved double vanities and marble sinks, while the crew camp includes personalised lockers for guests. The separate crew camp adds practical spaces including a mudroom, tackle room, game-preparation room, utility room, bunk rooms and a sitting area.
A waterfront base
When Fowl Play is not in the marsh, it returns to its Port Fourchon home base. According to the Mansion Global, the property has about 250 feet of water frontage, along with covered porches, an outdoor kitchen, a saltwater pool and a four-lift dock for boats. The floating lodge is also designed to operate independently when away from land. It has two generators, 30,000 gallons of fresh water, storage facilities and an established staff. A full-time manager, chefs, hunting guides and helpers are already associated with the property, according to Garden & Gun.For Nelson, the decision to sell comes as his family’s needs change and he plans to spend more time in New England and South Florida. For the next owner, however, Fowl Play offers something difficult to replicate: a fully equipped luxury retreat that can literally change its location with the seasons. At $5.5 million, it is an unusual piece of Louisiana real estate, part hunting lodge, part fishing retreat and part floating home, all built around the idea of bringing the comforts of a luxury property directly into the landscape.
