Tilghman Island hosts a unique watermen culture
Once a 19th-century hub for oystermen and crabbers across the Chesapeake Bay, Tilghman Island is today a quaint coastal village on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Residents appreciate boating and fishing in the bay's brackish waters or enjoying drinks and freshly caught seafood at local restaurants. Though Tilghman Island can be a popular market for vacation homes, there is also a tight-knit community of locals who live here year-round. "It's a quiet island. There are locals who have been here for generations and newer folks mixed in," says John McGlannan, a Tilghman Island resident, local business owner and Realtor with Meredith Fine Properties. "There are people who are still working and future retirees, and some people who even own second homes here." The community is about a half-hour drive from larger communities like Saint Michaels and Easton, and just over an hour from Salisbury.
Boating, hunting and bay fishing around town
Black Walnut Point Fishing Area is a coastal park with rocky banks, and it's a popular spot for locals to go shore fishing and catch rockfish and blue catfish. Boating is very popular for residents, with motorboats, sailboats and yachts often whisking around the bay. The Tilghman on Chesapeake Yacht Club & Marina was built on Avalon Island, where the old Tilghman Packing Company was once stationed. Today, the club has seasonal boat slip rentals, picnic tables and a pool for members. Locals often take boats out for pleasure rides or to go fishing and crabbing for the Chesapeake Bay's famous blue crabs. Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area is a 53-acre woodland park, popular for birdwatching, hunting or kayaking the water trail that loops around Black Walnut Cove.
Modest coastal cottages and waterfront home options
Buyers can find coastal cottages, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes along narrow, small-town streets. Home prices range from $280,000 to $1.2 million, varying by location, square footage and lot size. Waterfront options typically start around $750,000 and often feature private docks. "The upside for Tilghman is the value; it's better bang for your buck with a lower price point compared to Saint Michaels, and it's a slower pace of life," says McGlannan. Potential homebuyers need to be aware that the community has a severe flood risk, especially for homes closer to the water's edge, and many residents opt to buy flood insurance.
Unique, family-friendly island events
The Tilghman Island Day Celebration highlights the lifestyle and culture of the local watermen. "A lot of these Eastern Shore towns were geared towards working on the water historically, and though many of them have changed and moved on from the oyster and crab businesses, we're still at it," says McGlannan. "The watermen are still here; we actually have the last working skipjack fleet in the nation," he adds, referring to the traditional sailboats historically used for oyster-dredging that are today the official Maryland state boat. Activities include a work boat race and docking competition, as well as crab-picking and oyster-shucking contests. Kronsberg Park is also the site of live music performances during the festivities.
The Tilghman Area Youth Association is a nonprofit that hosts family-friendly events like the Fourth of July Parade, Picnic and Softball Game, the fall festival called Spooktacular, and a Santa's Workshop event for Christmas.
Waterfront restaurants and the Country Store for local dining
Gina's at the Bridge is a waterfront bar and grill beside the island's drawbridge. Patrons can order fish tacos, crab cakes and craft cocktails from the restaurant's outdoor patio, which offers sweeping bay views. Blue Waterfront Restaurant is part of the Tilghman Island Inn, and has a seasonal menu of seafood, soups and sandwiches. The Tilghman Island Country Store offers convenience items, local wine and spirits, hot food and deli sandwiches. Residents can head to neighboring Saint Michaels, just 12 miles east, to grab groceries at The Village Shoppe.
Tilghman Elementary offers after-school programs
Talbot County Public Schools is the main district covering Tilghman Island. Students can attend Tilghman Elementary School, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche, and Saint Michaels Middle High School, with a B-rating. Tilghman Elementary features the Tilghman After School Kids Program, or TASK, where students are engaged in enriching courses, from gardening and cooking to STEM-centered programs like Crazy 8s Math Club.
Close to Easton or Salisbury
Easton is a 23-mile drive along Maryland Route 33 and is home to Memorial Hospital, while Salisbury is 70 miles east and is the site of Salisbury Regional Airport. "The watermen who work here are local and have their sailboats docked in Dogwood Harbor," says McGlannan. "People commute to D.C., Salisbury and even Baltimore from here." Depending on traffic, commutes to Salisbury and Washington, D.C., take between an hour and a half and two hours.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
