Spacious, rural living in southern Maryland
Spacious fields filled with grazing cattle and thriving vegetable gardens define Hughesville, a rural neighborhood in Charles County. Located about 11 miles from the growing town of La Plata and about 35 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., Hughesville offers residents room to breathe in the southern Maryland countryside without being too secluded. Newer homes make up much of the fast-expanding neighborhood’s housing stock, so many residents enjoy living in a freshly built property with multiple acres of land. Opportunities to go boating or fishing are abundant throughout the neighborhood, and residents can head to nearby towns for community events, like the summer concert series in La Plata.
Ramblers and newly built farmhouse styles
The theme of Hughesville is space, as homebuyers can find larger homes on more substantial lots in the neighborhood than they can in larger towns. “I have a 3-acre yard where I’ve just grown a food forest throughout the whole property. I mean, strawberry patches, some asparagus and bell peppers, and blackberries and raspberries. I’ve just planted it and let it grow,” says Linda Grigsby, who relocated to the area three years ago. Most properties are on 3-acre lots, but it’s common to find homes on 10 acres or more. Ramblers from the mid-to-late 20th century cost between $400,000 and $550,000, while Colonial Revivals and farmhouse-inspired properties built within the last 20 years are priced between $600,000 and $1.1 million. Open lots for those hoping to build their own homes cost about $80,000 for 4 acres or about $300,000 for 40 acres.
Fishing and kayaking at Oak Ridge Park
Little league teams play Oak Ridge Park, and there are also ball fields for casual community games. Hikers and horseback riders hit the groomed trails behind the ball fields to explore the dense forest behind the park. “There’s certainly something for everyone when it comes to water-type activities,” says Tony McClure, associate broker at Century 21 New Millennium who has served the area for 44 years. Sunny Saturday afternoons can be spent exploring the freshwater lake at Gilbert Run Park on a rented pedal boat or kayak. Fishers cast off at the park’s fishing pier, and kids climb on the shaded playground while families gather at the park’s pavilion. For a quick afternoon walk by the Patuxent River, residents can head to Maxwell Hall Park, but Benedict Community Park is where they'll need to go for fishing or boating on the river.
Restaurants and shops in Charlotte Hall
There aren’t many restaurants in Hughesville, except for a couple of chains and Randy's Ribs & BBQ, a casual stand serving pulled pork sandwiches with sides of mac and cheese and potato salad. A commercial corridor just south of the neighborhood, in Charlotte Hall, has chain restaurants and local eateries like Old Line Restaurant and Pub, which serves beer on tap and baskets of burgers and fries. Residents can grab burritos and margaritas at Tequila Grill and Cantina. Food Lion stocks groceries and essentials nearby, but locals can drive west to La Plata for larger supermarkets like Safeway and big box stores like Walmart and Target.
A planetarium at St. Charles High
Kids can begin at T. C. Martin Elementary School, which has a B rating from Niche. Students advance to John Hanson Middle, which has a C-plus rating, and St. Charles High, which has a B rating. The high school houses the James E. Richmond Science Center, which has a planetarium with dome shows that are open to the public.
Commuters drive north on route 5 toward D.C.
Country roads lead to state routes, which residents can use to go to nearby towns, or head north toward Washington, D.C. State Route 5 links with Route 488 to take locals 11 miles west to La Plata, which is the county seat of Charles County. Commuters also use Route 5 to travel 40 miles northwest to Washington, D.C. or 70 miles northeast to Baltimore.
Community events at the county seat
Aside from a couple of antique shops where shoppers can hunt for unique vintage pieces, there aren’t many events directly in town. However, Grigsby notes that residents will go to La Plata for their community events. “There’s a weekly farmers market and summer concerts on the town hall lawn where people will come and bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs,” Grigsby says.
Photography Contributed By
Chaz Mixon
