Fruitland combines rural and suburban character
South of the Wicomico River, Fruitland was originally named for the apple trees and strawberry vines that covered its lush terrain throughout the 19th century. Today, a few soybean crops still stretch behind this Salisbury suburb’s century-old homes. But with big-box stores along Ocean Highway, new construction subdivisions and several local youth sports leagues, Fruitland is just as suburban as it is rural. “It’s the best of worlds,” says Gayle Quillin, a Realtor with ERA Martin & Associates, who has sold several homes here. “You can buy groceries at the only Walmart in Salisbury and find somewhere to kayak on the Wicomico River all in the same day.” Aside from being a commercial corridor, Ocean Highway, which spans Fruitland’s center, offers commuters a direct route to downtown Salisbury and other Eastern Shore towns.
Century-old homes mix with new subdivisions
Fruitland’s earliest homes include bungalows and cottages built between the 1920s and ‘50s. New Traditional houses from the ‘80s and early 2000s are also common. Development is ongoing, with contemporary-style homes still being built in communities like Holly Hill and Rowen’s Mill. The median single-family home price in Fruitland is about $275,000, which is a little less than Salisbury’s. Buyers will also find a few townhouses, with prices ranging from about $170,000 to around $280,000. Severe weather can cause the Wicomico River to overflow, and flood insurance may be mandatory for homes closest to the waterway.
Youth sports are popular in Fruitland
The 38-acre Fruitland Recreational Park is a youth sports hub along Brown Street. “Going to baseball, soccer or basketball games is basically what families do all weekend,” Quillin says. Parents cheer from the bleachers as the Fruitland Little League plays on the park’s baseball diamonds. Referee whistles fill the air when the Fruitland Falcons Youth Sports Organization has lacrosse and football games on the multi-purpose fields. During games, siblings can run around the playground and buy nachos and soda from the concession stand. Crown Sports Center, in the southern part of the community, offers youth and adult leagues for sports like volleyball, basketball and pickleball. The warehouse is also a popular birthday party spot, with a rock climbing wall, arcade and laser tag. Bowling balls knock down pins and bartenders pour beer at Southbound Alley in north Fruitland. “It’s the only bowling alley in the Salisbury area, and the bar is really popular with Salisbury University students, so it’s the place to be on Friday nights,” Quillin says.
Ocean Highway is home to a Walmart
Big-box grocery stores, gas stations and chain restaurants dot the four-lane Ocean Highway. Quillin says the traffic often backs up near Walmart, which is located on the community’s northernmost section of the highway. “Driving in that area can get super hectic and congested when everyone gets groceries on Saturday and Sunday.” Locals can buy plants, trees and produce at How Sweet It Is, a year-round garden center and farmers market on Fruitland’s southern edge. Cozy bars, seafood restaurants and ice cream shops fill Italianate-style buildings in downtown Salisbury, less than 3 miles north. Major employers like the Perdue Farms headquarters and the TidalHealth Peninsula Regional hospital are also downtown.
B grades and above for Wicomico County Public Schools
Wicomico County Public Schools serve the area. Kids can attend prekindergarten through second grade at Fruitland Primary, which is graded B-plus by Niche. They may continue to Fruitland Intermediate, Bennett Middle and Bennett High, all earning Bs. The high school offers dual enrollment classes like music theory, Japanese and microeconomics with Salisbury University, about 2 miles north of Fruitland.
Pemberton Historical Park is a hiking and kayaking spot
About 7 miles northwest, Pemberton Historical Park is a former 18th-century plantation on the Wicomico River. Today, the park is still home to the original gabled-roof main house, available for tours with exhibits about the site’s formerly enslaved individuals. Behind the house, over 4 miles of trailway stretches through pine forests, wetland and wildflower meadows. Kayakers and canoers can launch their boats here and paddle across the river’s calm water, covered in arrowheads and cord grass. Johnson Wildlife Management Area, less than 10 miles east, is a 468-acre hunting ground for white-tailed deer and wild turkey. Tourist beaches, like Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore, are about 35 miles east.
Ocean Highway leads to other Eastern Shore towns
Though some subdivisions have sidewalks, Fruitland is a car-dependent community. Ocean Highway reaches other Eastern Shore towns, like Princess Anne, about 10 miles south, and Laurel, less than 20 miles north. A freight railroad runs parallel to the highway, and passing trains occasionally cause traffic stops at intersecting roads. Shore Transit buses in the area also provide rides around the Eastern Shore. Salisbury Regional Airport, less than 9 miles east, offers daily flights to Philadelphia and Charlotte with American Airlines.
