Bayou La Batre

Pecan orchards, quiet residences and farms dotted with grazing cows and horses draw buyers to Dixon Corner. The rural community is minutes from Bayou La Batre, home to much of Mobile County's fishing industry. "You're near the heart of south Alabama's seafood area, and it's an area that feeds Bayou La Batre into Mobile," says Brooks Beck with Beck Properties, who has been selling homes since 2021. "It's a widespread community, but generations of families have been living there working on the farms or down in Bayou La Batre." Even with the area's longstanding presence, lots and newer builds are the start of growth here. The community also has a large Vietnamese population with three Buddhist temples. Dixon Corner is a short drive from Highway 90 and Interstate 10, convenient for those commuting to Mobile. Across Dixon Corner's acres of pecan groves and farmland are quiet residences, many tucked away on small acreages. "If I had to describe Dixon Corner in one phrase, I guess I would say country living," says Madison Reich of Re/Max. Reich has sold over 100 homes in the area. "There is privacy here and quiet--people really do value that." There aren't typically sidewalks, but traffic is minimal, so roads are suitable for runners and cyclists. A wide range of homes are available, offering options for various budgets. Prices for manufactured homes range between $125,000 and $165,000, and ranch-style homes range between $175,000 and $445,000. New traditional homes on one to 10 acres are priced between $395,000 and $625,000. Throughout Dixon Corner, lots of five to 20 acres are available, typically costing between $25,000 and $100,000. Close to the Gulf of Mexico, Dixon Corner homes are susceptible to flood damage during hurricane season. Dixon Corner's nearest parks are down in Bayou La Batre. Rolston Park is 7 miles away on the shores of Portersville Bay, featuring a play area, athletic fields, a walking path and shaded picnic areas. Across the palm tree-lined Coden Belt, there's a public fishing dock on the bay. There are more athletic fields nearby at Zirlott Park, which is adjacent to Bayou La Batre Public Library and Bayou La Batre Senior Center. Grand Bay Savanna Wildlife Management Area has a boardwalk path popular with birdwatchers, and Muddy Creek Wetlands Management Area has a paved, pet-friendly walking trail. Other recreation around Dixon Corner includes C.J.'s Par 3, a public, nine-hole golf course, and Mobile International Speedway, which offers car and truck racing throughout the year. Along one of the community's main roads, Alabama's Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, are restaurants, grocery stores, local businesses and seafood processing plants. Residents visit Bayou Seafood Company for po boy sandwiches and fresh-caught seafood and Phnom Penh for Pan Asian fusion dishes. In Bayou La Batre, Captain Frank's Smoke Shack is known for its barbecue platters, and Catalina is another favorite for seafood. Jaycee's Produce offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, and Greer's CashSaver has household necessities. For more retail, residents can take Highway 90 or Interstate 10 to get to Mobile's shopping hubs. Students in Dixon Corner may start at Anna F. Booth Elementary, which earns a B-plus rating on Niche. The U.S. World & News Report granted Booth a Best Elementary School Badge in 2023. Students may then attend Grand Bay Middle, which earns a C-minus, before heading to B-minus-rated Alma Bryant High. The high school offers a coastal studies academy with options like aquaculture, agriculture and maritime welding. Dixon Corner is near major Alabama thoroughfares like Highway 90 and Interstate 10, providing access to Mobile, 17 miles away. Mobile International and Regional Airports are within about 20 miles of the neighborhood. Medical clinics are also available along Alabama's Coastal Connection, but for a larger general hospital, USA Health Providence Hospital is about 17 miles north.