Bunker Hill offers calm countryside and growing housing options
Bunker Hill is a quiet West Virginia community set among the mountaintops and creek beds of the Eastern Panhandle. Col. Morgan Morgan, the state’s first permanent European settler, built his cabin in the countryside three centuries ago, a homestead that modern residents have rebuilt and preserved. And while Bunker Hill is still a place where residents enjoy the space and privacy of a rural lifestyle, it’s also a landing pad for the suburban building boom spreading up Interstate 81 from northern Virginia and into Berkeley County. “We’re kind of a string of smaller towns that are growing because of the major interstate rolling through,” says Joe Sturm, a Real Property Solutions broker specializing in the Eastern Panhandle.
A mix of single-family homes on acreages or in subdivisions
Bunker Hill’s back roads are lined by single-family homes of many styles, set on an acre or 2 across from active farms or hilly forests. Ranch-style homes have been common in the area since the 1950s, selling for around $130,000 to $450,000 depending on age and property size. Manufactured homes sell for about $90,000 to $240,000. Townhouses built in subdivisions over the past 20 years go for roughly $230,000 to $310,000. “We’re seeing a lot of growth from big national builders like Ryan Homes. The demand must be good, because they keep developing more of them,” Sturm says. New Traditional homes in Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles are popular in cul-de-sac communities built from the 1990s through the 2020s, costing around $300,000 to $700,000.
Taking I-81 and Route 11 through Berkeley County and into Virginia
Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 run parallel through Bunker Hill, offering a roughly 30-mile drive to Hagerstown and nearly a 15-mile drive to Winchester. Martinsburg is about 10 miles away, the Berkeley County seat and home to major employers like WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center. Washington is about 80 miles from home. While residents typically rely on cars to get around, the Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority operates limited local bus routes in neighboring Inwood. Washington commuters might drive to train or bus park-and-ride lots in places like Martinsburg. Washington Dulles International Airport is nearly 60 miles away.
Attending Berkeley County Schools
Kids may attend a handful of pipelines through Berkeley County Schools. Many will start with prekindergarten through second grade at Bunker Hill Elementary School, which earns a C-plus from Niche, before attending third through fifth grades at C-rated Mill Creek Intermediate School. Musselman Middle School earns a C-plus, and Musselman High School scores a B. Musselman High offers career clusters, allowing students to explore vocations like finance and manufacturing through specialized coursework.
Parks in Inwood and West Virginia mountain recreation
Residents who own acreage might ride an ATV or fish in Opequon Creek on their properties. Larger public parks and recreation areas are several miles from home. Just north in Inwood, Inwood-Bunker Hill Park offers a playground and athletic fields for South Berkeley County Little League and other youth sports teams. Nearby, the W. Randy Smith Recreation Center has indoor gymnasiums and event spaces. Heading west, residents can drive about 20 miles up and over North Mountain to find Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. Visitors might hike into Sleepy Creek Mountain's forests, cast into Sleepy Creek Lake, or hunt for turkey, deer and black bear.
Bunker Hill businesses and traveling to Inwood
Small businesses pop up along Route 11. Loco Joe’s Hobbies caters to fans of model trains, remote control cars and many other niche pastimes. Near the Virginia state line, drivers pull off the highway for authentic Indian cuisine from 323 Dhaba Punjabi Veg Kitchen. Residents might pick up some groceries at Dollar General. Food Lion and Tractor Supply are a few miles north in Inwood for larger shopping trips.
Events at Bunker Hills’ bars and churches
Bars pocket Route 11 throughout Bunker Hill, offering places for locals to grab a drink or find a special event. The Pub schedules weekly karaoke nights and regular live music performances. Touch of Texas holds similar themed nights but is best known for livelier activities like line dancing and riding the mechanical bull. Several churches hold religious services throughout Bunker Hill. Outside of regular religious services, houses of worship like Bunker Hill United Methodist Church also bring neighbors together for spaghetti dinner fundraisers, craft markets and free community meals.
Flood risk on Mill Creek
Waterways like Mill Creek may flood roadways and properties after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
