Quiet neighborhood outside of Jacksonville
On the edge of Jacksonville’s city limits lies Half Moon, a neighborhood with tall, dense trees, quick access to Jacksonville shopping and no HOA. Shaila Schaefer, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services who has sold homes in the area, says she had some clients who enjoyed living there until deciding to build a home elsewhere. "They said their neighbors were very friendly. The neighborhood is well-established and quaint with a lot of good starter homes.” Military members stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune have an easy 23-mile commute to the base. A few locally owned restaurants draw in those looking for a place to relax after work.
Golfing opportunities, The Commons
Swingin’ Things gives locals a chance to practice their swing or work out some frustration in the batting cages, on the driving range or on the mini golf course. For a regular game of golf, Rock Creek Golf & Country Club has an 18-hole course. Jacksonville Commons Recreation Complex, mainly known as The Commons, is the largest park in Jacksonville. Half Moon residents can drive 10 minutes to practice on one of the baseball diamonds, play a quick game on the tennis courts or walk around the tree-filled Richard Ray All-America Park. Richard Ray was an active Jacksonville community leader who worked closely with the Rotary Clubs of Jacksonville and the Chamber of Commerce. Richard Ray All-America Park was named in his honor to keep his legacy of community involvement alive. Kayaking along New River and fishing for trout are common pastimes for Half Moon and other Jacksonville residents. Some start their journey along the water at Onslow County Parks: Henry McAllister Landing, while others launch their boats at the Jacksonville Landing 8 miles away. Emerald Isle Beach is 23 miles away and offers the Salty Pirate Waterpark and miles of serene shoreline.
Ranch homes and spacious yards from $175,000
The southern half of the neighborhood is made up of sidewalk-free streets lined with ranch-style homes. “There are fairly large subdivisions. It’s a lot of three bedrooms, two baths with about 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. It’s a good mix of single and two-story homes,” Schaefer says. These homes with sprawling yards often land in the $175,000 to $350,000 range. In the north, larger Craftsman homes, expanded Colonial Revivals and farmhouses sell for $350,000 to almost $400,000. Neighbors come and go as their deployments change, so homes often sell after being on the market for about a week.
Shopping and dining in Half Moon
Dunkenfields Tavern, is a small bar where neighbors and Steeler’s fans hang out over a drink at the bar or during a friendly game of trivia. Keith Nemcoff brought his unit at Campe Lejeune together over coffee, and now his Milk Road Coffee shop does the same with iced coffees, lattes and Greek spinach puffs. Liliana’s Colombian Restaurant & Bakery uses family recipes passed down through generations to serve Colombian coffee, made-to-order cakes and authentic dishes for lunch and dinner. The Flipping Rooster sees antique collectors and enthusiasts who stop by to browse a wide selection of furniture and trinkets. For more modern items, Target, HomeGoods and the Jacksonville Mall are only 6 miles away. The Family Dollar off Gum Branch Road has last-minute essentials, and Lowe’s Foods of Jacksonville, 2 miles from the neighborhood, offers fresh produce.
Jacksonville Jamboree, tournaments
The Commons is also the site for the annual Jacksonville Jamboree, the biggest event of the year. This spring celebration always includes a battle of the bands, a softball tournament and food trucks. Pickleball is the newest addition to the tournament lineup, where teams can show off their tennis-badminton skills and compete for first place. The Rustic Barn hosts public events at its venue in Half Moon throughout the year, like the Easter Extravaganza and Christmas in July. Visitors only have to pay $5 for parking when visiting the farm before spending the day stopping by food trucks, browsing local vendors and enjoying holiday-themed events, like egg hunts and pictures with Santa.
Soccer at Jacksonville High
Summersill Elementary School’s campus is in the center of the neighborhood and gets a B-plus from Niche. Students then attend Northwoods Park Middle School and Jacksonville High School, both of which earn B ratings. The Jacksonville High girls’ varsity soccer team dominated the 3A Women’s Soccer Championship in 2024 and took first place. Living Water Christian School offers private, college-preparatory classes out of the Calvary Church campus.
Commuting to Camp Lejeune
Half Moon has no public transportation options or sidewalks, so going out of the neighborhood for shopping and dining requires a vehicle. Gum Branch Road and Henderson Drive take commuters 6 miles to downtown Jacksonville. Henderson Drive also connects to Wilmington Highway, which leads to Wilmington and its beaches. There are seven churches along Gum Branch Road, including The Potter’s House Church and Calvary Church.
