Horntown's rural beauty and residential campgrounds
In Horntown, secluded campground resorts are surrounded by the beauty of the Chincoteague Bay and offer clubhouse amenities. The rural town has under 1,000 people. Farmland is abundant in the area, with long-running farms like Dublin Farms established in 1876. “The number one thing going on in Horntown is agriculture,” says Benjamin Clark, a Realtor with Dockside Properties who frequently sells in the area. “Most of the real estate there is in a small community called Trails End."
Shopping and dining mostly require a drive to nearby Chincoteague, but the town has multiple Baptist churches and a post office. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility is about 5 miles away, and residents may be able to see a rocket launch from their backyards or, for a better view, they can visit the launchpad viewing area on site.
Park model homes and lots for RVs in Trails End
Trails End has many park model homes, which are transportable houses designed for long-term placement. Some residents in Trails End may decide to purchase land to put their RVs or park models on. “It’s a gated community where you can buy smaller campsite lots,” Clark says. “Most people park a trailer or a camper on them, and it's their vacation home. It’s a much cheaper alternative to coming here during the tourist season and staying on Chincoteague Island.” There are a few larger two-story options that are 1,000 square feet or more. Homes range in price from $30,000 to $299,000. Land prices vary from $14,000 to $170,000. Corbin Hall is a gated community where land ranges from $33,000 to $175,000. There is only one recently sold home that went for $575,000.
Driving to Accomack County schools in Chincoteague
Accomack County Public Schools serves Horntown and has a B-minus rating on Niche. Students can attend Chincoteague Elementary, which also earns a B-minus. Chincoteague High educates Grades 6 through 12 and receives a B overall grade. The high school's mascot is a pony, paying tribute to the famous Chincoteague Ponies that roam the island. The drive to school takes around 12 to 14 miles, or 20 minutes. “Because the area is spread out, because it’s rural, you’re probably going to have to drive a little bit to get to the schools,” Clark says.
Several pools and clubhouse amenities in Trails End
HOA fees at Trails End contribute to amenities, including a clubhouse with a pool, fishing dock and playground. The waterfront community is on the Chincoteague Bay, and many residents take their boats out in the warmer weather. Horntown is surrounded by nature and has conservation areas like Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge. Corbin Hall has its own marina and a community center. Horntown is around 15 miles from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the historic Assateague Island and Lighthouse. The island has many resources for viewing and engaging with horses, including the Chincoteague Pony Centre and Assateague Adventures Pony Boat Tours and Kayak Tours.
Seafood restaurants on the island and shopping on Route 13
Trails End Convenience Store has a limited number of grocery items, but most shopping and dining is done in Chincoteague or along U.S. Route 13, also known as Lankford Highway. There’s a Food Lion nearby and a Walmart further up the route. In Chincoteague, there are a variety of restaurants, including Bill's Prime Seafood & Steaks and Pico Taqueria Mexican Restaurant. People will also travel to the island for events like the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim, where ponies swim across the Assateague Channel, and there is a parade to celebrate
“Horntown definitely gets a boost from the Pony Swim,” Clark says. “When that happens in July, we get a huge increase in short-term rentals, especially. For reference point, our population on Chincoteague Island goes from maybe 3,000 to, last year, at our peak, we got to around 14,000.”
Getting around Horntown by car or bus
Those living in Horntown primarily rely on their cars to get around. “A lot of people take Lankford Highway to get down to the Virginia Beach area, so in the summer you can get some heavy traffic,” Clark says. “I personally don’t feel like the traffic is a big deal unless there’s a big event.” The town is served by Star Transit on the Silver bus route. On Virginia State Route 175, Horntown is around 13 miles from Chincoteague. The drive to Salisbury Regional Airport takes around 32 miles north on Maryland Route 12. Atlantic Community Health Center is around 5 miles west.
