Once a railroad town, Cape Charles is now a resort community
Cape Charles is one of the Eastern Shore’s most popular summer retreats. With its Chesapeake Bay location near the opening to the Altantic Ocean, the former farming village and railroad town offers plenty of Virginia beachfront, plus tons of nature and fresh seafood. Even in the offseason, Cape Charles has historic charm, small businesses and a wealth of nature to keep its 1,000 permanent residents engaged all year long. “In the summer, spring and early fall, you’ve got a lot more tourist traffic, but in the winter, Cape Charles still has a large group of people who stay there,” says Shaun Sterling, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate who has sold more than a hundred homes on the Eastern Shore.
Newly built homes sit a few miles outside Cape Charles' downtown Historic District
Cape Charles owes its founding to the expansion of the railroads during the 1880s. Even after the end of passenger rail traffic in the 1950s, Cape Charles continues to tell the story of its Gilded Age origins, including an assortment of Victorian, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical and Craftsman-style properties built from the 1880s to the 1920s. Streets like Monroe Avenue and Tazewell Avenue are flanked by front lawns featuring trees and lush gardens, while pastel-colored homes from the early 20th century add additional color to the Historic District. “There are people who buy second and primary homes in the Historic District because they like the town and some of the history there,” Sterling says. Single-family residences in Cape Charles have sold for $440,000 to $1,500,000, while condos range in sale price from $420,000 to $790,000. Outlying areas south of Cape Charles have seen a building spree in the last few years, featuring New Traditional homes that can sell for $770,000 to $1,380,000. A 2018 study by the city found that at least a third of properties are seasonal or recreational, but many more vintage homes are inhabited year-round by a small community of locals.
Fresh seafood and locally produced beer at Cape Charles' eateries
Fishing has long been the lifeblood of the Eastern Shore economy. In town, the Shanty serves a seafood menu with live music and a waterfront bar. The Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery likewise looks to the sea for its menu while offering fine dining near the town’s northern edge. Cape Charles Brewing Company produces IPAs, stouts and other pours while doubling as a local brewpub. Nearby grocery options include Food Lion and A1 Seafood, both along Lankford Highway.
Beaches and parks preserve Cape Charles' natural beauty
Much of the shoreline on the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula has been preserved in the form of parks and beaches. Even during peak season, however, Cape Charles is far less congested than resort towns like Ocean City. Still, the Cape Charles beachfront draws large crowds during the summer months, as a sculpture of the Roman sea god Neptune and a sign reading “Love” greet beachgoers making their way to the bay. Those looking to explore near-untouched nature can venture into the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve, where boardwalks cut through woodlands and swamps in a migratory bird habitat. Cape Charles Mini Golf & Albatross Café, a recent addition to the area's family of small businesses, doubles as an 18-hole putt-putt course and as a cocktail bar. The community comes together at Central Park for youth soccer matches, public concerts and food truck events. The Historic Palace Theatre, opened in 1942, hosts performances by tribute bands, community theater productions and classes in dancing, hip-hop and singing.
A strong sense of community at Northampton County schools
Students can start at Kiptopeke Elementary School, which receives a C rating from Niche. Northampton Middle School and Northampton High School each receive C-plus ratings. Northampton High builds a strong student community through smaller-than-average classroom sizes and robust Yellowjackets athletics-related programs like soccer and marching band.
Flood risk and severe storms on the Eastern Shore
According to First Street, Cape Charles has a major flood risk and a severe windstorm risk. “The Eastern Shore does pretty well with hurricanes because of its positioning compared to Cape Hatteras, but direct hits have happened quite a number of years ago,” Sterling says.
Major employment centers are just an hour away
Cape Charles’ location along the Lankford Highway puts it within a 50-mile journey from Norfolk and Virginia Beach, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. “Some people commute to larger cities, but remote work has been a factor in more people coming to the shore,” Sterling says. Cape Charles has a hospital of its own, the Riverside Cape Charles Medical Center.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
