Bayside farming community on the Eastern Shore
Girdletree offers rural seclusion with access to parks along the Chincoteague Bay Watershed. Many residents have been farming for generations, producing grain crops and raising broiler chickens. "It's appealing for its proximity to the bay and the beaches. Hunting and fishing are going to be the primary sports activities that are interesting to people," says Clinton Bickford, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva with 13 years of real estate experience. "Boating is also big there. Taylor's Landing is a public marina and boat ramp within the area." As part of Worcester County, the only Atlantic coastal county in Maryland, locals often go fishing, boating and waterfowl hunting in the protected marshlands close to the community. Girdletree is also zoned for highly ranked public schools in the county, and it's approximately a half-hour drive from Pocomoke City and Salisbury , which offer a range of retail and dining options.
Rural homes and farmland on the market
There are ramblers, Colonial Revivals and rustic farmhouses along the community's winding country roads. Lots of undeveloped land often show up on the market more than single-family homes, with multi-acre parcels usually zoned for agricultural or residential use. "One of the other benefits is no town taxes. You're only doing county taxes and inspections, so it's a more affordable area for that reason," says Bickford. There is limited data on single-family home pricing due to the lack of recent sales, though the estimated Homes.com home value is just over $247,000.
Highly ranked public schools in Worcester County
Worcester County Public Schools serves Girdletree and is ranked as the third-best school district in the state by Niche, which also ranks it the No. 1 best place to teach in Maryland. Children can attend Snow Hill Elementary School, which has an A rating from Niche, and Snow Hill Middle School, which has an A-minus rating. There's also the B-plus-rated Snow Hill High School, where students can participate in sports such as bowling, wrestling and golf.
Boating, fishing and hunting in Chincoteague Bay
Girdletree Park is the central community green space, with a playground and a picnic pavilion with public grills. The E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area stretches over 2,000 acres just south of Girdletree. Visitors can take kayaks on water trails in the park's saltwater marshes, cast lines to catch trout and bluefish in Chincoteague Bay, or hunt deer and geese in the pine forests. Taylor's Landing is a nearby public boat launch that allows locals to explore the bay and venture out to nearby attractions, such as Chincoteague and Assateague Island in Virginia. Pocomoke River State Park is west of the community and offers hiking trails and campgrounds.
Nearby farmers markets or Pocomoke City retail and dining
Girdletree has no commercial businesses, so locals head to nearby producers for fresh produce, dairy products and meats. Twin Oak Farms is a popular market 3 miles south in Stockton. Residents also head to Pocomoke City to the west to shop at Walmart, or dine at local establishments like Our Place Family Restaurant & Pizzeria. Our Place offers an all-day menu, with omelets and pancakes for breakfast, pizzas and hoagies for lunch, or steaks and roast chicken for dinner.
Salisbury is less than an hour away
Due to the limited public transportation options in the area, Girdletree residents are largely reliant on car travel. Salisbury is a 24-mile drive north on Maryland state Route 12 for work, leisure or a flight out of Salisbury Regional Airport, a major travel hub on the Eastern Shore. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, located 15 miles south, is a major employer in the region and a source of entertainment for locals, as the facility is a well-known site of nighttime rocket launches. The local post office and the Girdletree Volunteer Fire Company are along Snow Hill Road. The station offers some emergency services, but the closest emergency room is located at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, approximately 20 miles northeast. Other hubs for shopping, dining and entertainment include Pocomoke City, 11 miles west, and Ocean City , a popular beach town just 29 miles north.
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Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
