Life near Singletary Lake State Park
Kelly, home to a population of roughly 600 residents, is a small Bladen County community bordered by pine forests, farmland and the Cape Fear River. "There isn't much here other than homes and nature, but it's close enough to Wilmington and Elizabethtown for when you need a change of pace," says Mary-Katherine Smith, a broker with Keller Williams Realty Innovate who’s lived in the area for over a decade. State Highway 53 runs through the community, providing direct routes to both Elizabethtown and Wilmington. Outdoor life is central here, and downtime here is often spent in the surrounding woods, or about 13 miles away at the 1,200-acre Singletary Lake State Park.
Homes from the 1920s on several acres of land
Most homes here are set on several acres of unfenced, heavily wooded land. The housing stock here consists of brick ranch-style homes from the 1970s and older farmhouses and cottages that were built as early as the 1920s. Acreage is a major price factor here, and homes with up to 100 acres of land can cost between $500,000 and $600,000. Homes with around two or three acres typically cost between $175,000 to $250,000, making the area accessible for first-time buyers and families.
Education in Bladen County schools
Students living in Kelly are served by Bladen County Schools, which earns an overall C-plus from Niche. East Arcadia Elementary and Middle School earns a C, while the C-plus rated East Bladen High offers a Fire Academy where students can get hands-on training in firefighting and rescue.
Sprawling lakes, rivers and water parks
Singletary Lake State Park is the heart of outdoor life in Kelly, featuring campsites, hiking trails fishing piers and a sprawling 572-acre lake. The park is popular for picnics and birdwatching. Nearby, Bladen Lakes State Forest offers additional opportunities for horseback riding, hunting, and exploring longleaf pine ecosystems. White Lake, just 15 miles north, is a regional destination for swimming, boating, and family-friendly water parks.
Commercial options in Elizabethtown and White Lake
Residents often travel about 24 miles away to Elizabethtown for shopping and dining, where the closest grocery stores are Food Lion and Walmart Supercenter. Elizabethtown’s downtown area features a variety of local restaurants, including Melvin’s Hamburgers, Giorgio’s Restaurant and Christopher’s Steakhouse & Seafood. For lakeside dining, White Lake offers Goldston’s Beach and Ski Burger, popular with families during the summer. Farmers markets and roadside stands in the area provide fresh produce, especially in the warmer months. Independence Mall in Wilmington is about 35 miles away, the go-to shopping center for the region.
Transportation via NC Highway 53 and U.S. Route 701
NC Highway 53 and U.S. Route 701 provide Kelly with direct connections to Elizabethtown, White Lake, and Wilmington, making commutes straightforward for work, shopping or medical care. Cape Fear Valley Bladen County Hospital in Elizabethtown is the nearest major healthcare facility, offering emergency and inpatient services. For air travel, Wilmington International Airport provides flights to major cities. Most residents rely on personal vehicles, as public transportation is not available in this rural area.
