From peanut plants to golf greens
What was once a peanut farm in the 1800s with a single dock along the Intracoastal Waterway is now the upscale, outdoorsy golf community of Porters Neck. There’s no apostrophe, but this neighborhood outside of Wilmington is named after European settler John Porter, who bought the land in 1732. Today, a collection of private subdivisions, a country club and a golf club rest between forests and fields. The area is hugged by water on three sides, with dozens of piers jutting out like teeth on a comb into Pages Creek, Futch Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway, a marine highway for commercial and recreational craft stretching up and down the East Coast. “It’s a mix of young families and retirees here use it to cruise around and visit nearby destinations like Wrightsville and Topsail beaches.
Two neighborhood golf clubs
With creeks, marshes and the calm, scenic waters of the Intracoastal on the neighborhood's edges, outdoor recreation centers around the water. Kayaking, fishing and sailing are popular activities. “We have some friends who live there, and they take their boat out every weekend,” Criscitiello says. If not going by boat, residents can drive 10 miles to Wrightsville Beach to relax on the sand, go for a swim or surf. To avoid the summer tourist crowd, Criscitiello says residents will head north to the quieter Topsail Beach. Golfing is also a big to-do here, with two private golf clubs in the neighborhood: Porters Neck Country Club and Eagle Point Golf Club, which hosted the PGA Championship in 2017. Both clubs feature 18-hole courses by famed course architect Tom Fazio. With no public parks in the neighborhood, private communities offer green spaces and amenities. The grounds of Porters Neck Village, a retirement community, feature a central pond surrounded by walking paths, a dog park and putting greens. Porters Neck Plantation has tennis courts, several pools, a fitness center and a waterside picnic area.
Luxurious homes near the Intracoastal Waterway
From single-family homes on spacious grassy lots to neatly arranged townhouses and sprawling grand estates, Porters Neck offers a variety of properties for different lifestyles. “You can get anything from the 1970s ranch vibe to brand-new homes on the water that are more modern and coastal,” says Criscitiello, who lives in downtown Wilmington. Homes along the Intracoastal Waterway feature private docks and boat slips. Stone driveways add to the stately feel of these properties, landscaped with magnolia and palm trees. A similar feel is found in the gated golf club community of Porter's Neck Plantation, where houses are usually brick, with views of the golf greens. “All of the houses are $500,000 or $600,000 on up into the millions,” Criscitiello says. Those with a budget under $500,000 can consider the neighborhood’s Craftsman-style townhouse communities listing between the mid-$300,000s and upper $400,000s. Potential buyers should be aware that properties here have a flood risk due to the coastal nature of the neighborhood and the potential for hurricanes.
Everyday needs at Porters Neck Center
For shopping, dining or running errands, residents only need to make a left on Market Street. The commercial corridor is packed with major retailers and small businesses. Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Walmart are less than 3 miles away. The neighborhood shopping center, Porters Neck Center, has the essentials covered with a U.S. Postal Service branch, banks, local restaurants and hair & nail salons. Port City Java, a local coffee shop chain, serves lattes and breakfast wraps through its drive-through window, while K38 Baja Grill is known for its margaritas and fish tacos. Bridgewater Wines + Dines is a newer spot, drawing in customers for its unique wines, charcuterie boards and small plates. Nearby, Two Guys Grille has been a popular spot for creative burgers and a beachy atmosphere since 2003. Criscitiello recommends the Blueberry Bacon Burger, topped with blueberry preserves.
Highly rated New Hanover County Schools
The coastal feel of the neighborhood extends into the hallways of its elementary school. Colorful sails greet students walking into Porters Neck Elementary, which features a compass design on the floor of the main atrium. The school opened in the fall of 2020 and has an A rating from Niche. Holly Shelter Middle School receives a B-plus rating and is just over 11 miles from the neighborhood. Older students will also make an over 10-mile trek to Emsley A. Laney High School. Earning a B-plus, the high school offers a STEM Academy. An alternative to the public school track is American Leadership Academy Coastal, a tuition-free kindergarten through 12th grade charter school in the neighborhood.
Getting around Wilmington by car or boat
While each subdivision is walkable with sidewalks and trails, driving is the main way to get around Porters Neck, as there’s no public transportation. Porters Neck Road is the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare. It slices through the forest and connects to Market Street (Highway 17), the commercial corridor. State Route 140 links to Interstate 140 to reach Wilmington International Airport, a 15-mile drive, and downtown Wilmington, an 18-mile drive. Residents with boats can cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway for miles to reach Wrightsville Beach, Topsail Beach, Carolina Beach and the restaurant-dotted marinas in between. Criscitiello says visiting a house of worship is common for residents. More than a dozen churches representing various denominations dot the 3-mile stretch of Highway 17 outside Porters Neck, and the neighborhood is home to Anchor Baptist Church and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
