Skippers Corner offers lower taxes and access to historic Wilmington
Wilmington is a busy coastal and university town, but some people want a slower pace of life while still having access to city amenities. Skippers Corner in the Castle Hayne area is just that: less populated with farms and newer homes. “The nice part is, you’re outside the city, so you’ve got cheaper taxes,” says Rob Warwick, Broker at Coldwater Banker Sea Coast Realty, who has lived in Wilmington his whole life. “You’ve got I-40, which is a major highway system for getting in and out of Wilmington. If you’re traveling to Raleigh for work or Myrtle Beach, it’s easier to access. There’s a lot of new construction pushing that way since we don’t have any more land in Wilmington.” While residents may hear planes flying into nearby Wilmington International Airport, this New Hanover County area is a quiet place to live, all within a short drive of outdoor destinations, historic downtown Wilmington and beaches.
Popular communities with newer homes
Skippers Corner has neighborhoods in the north and south of the area, bookending farms and industrial parks. Warwick says the housing prices are slightly lower than those in Wilmington. Townhouses and ranch-style homes range from $240,000 to $330,000, while newer Craftsman homes in the Parsons Mill Farms community often start around $330,000 and reach $515,000. Craftman homes in the River Bluffs community sell between $515,000 and $865,000, though a few have sold for $945,000 to almost $1.5 million. Within master-planned communities, properties have moderate yards and some space between homes. Sidewalks are often sparse, but the streets are wide enough to bike through the neighborhood, although with caution for oncoming cars.
Commuters take I-40 to Wilmington
Some residents live and work in Skippers Corner, enjoying short commutes. “You’ve got some major companies out that way, like GE Aerospace,” Warwick says. “There’s Corning, and Amazon is putting a distribution center in, so that’s coming as well.” A 12-mile drive to downtown Wilmington takes about 20 minutes when taking U.S. Route 117. Commuters who live near River Bluffs might take Interstate 140 to Interstate 40 on their drive south. The Wilmington International Airport is closer, about 6 miles south of the area. Of the churches in Skippers Corner, St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church is the oldest, established in 1916. Because Skippers Corner and the rest of Wilmington are close to the shore, hurricane season often brings torrential rain.
Space to play, fish and relax
Skippers Corner has a rural atmosphere, and part of that comes from the area’s parks. Northern Regional Park alone holds a disc golf course, athletic fields, a playground and a nearly 2-mile asphalt walking trail. New Hanover County plans to expand the park with more fields, a pump bicycle track and more parking. Blue Clay Bike Park has 7 miles of bike trails, though riders should not visit after it rains to keep the track in shape. Boaters and fishing enthusiasts visit the Castle Hayne Boat Ramp to access the Cape Fear River. Warwick mentions there are about six boat ramps along the river within 10 minutes of each other. Residents of River Bluffs have access to the private River Bluffs Marina, though anyone can enjoy Wilmington beaches, 30 minutes from Skippers Corner.
Earning a diploma and degree at Wilmington Early College High School
Skippers Corner is a part of the New Hanover County Schools district, rated A-minus by Niche. Kids start at Castle Hayne Elementary School, which gets a B-plus, before transferring to the B-rated Holly Shelter Middle School. Wilmington Early College High School is rated A and ranked as the second-best public high school in the Wilmington area by Niche. The school partnered with Cape Fear Community College, which is close to Skippers Corner, to give students the opportunity to earn an associate degree and high school diploma simultaneously.
Driving to Wilmington or Burgaw for breweries and groceries
Most residents travel outside Skippers Corner to dine and shop, though River Bluffs has the Riverside Kitchen & Bar, which accepts reservations for lunch and dinner. Buen Dia Mexican Breakfast & Lunch is a popular restaurant in Castle Hayne, as well as Jung's Egg Roll Express for its Chinese dishes. “You do have Burgaw, which is a smaller town, that just opened a brewery and a couple of different restaurants,” Warwick says. “If you didn’t want to come to Wilmington and wanted to stay within 10 minutes to get some food, that’s been a big draw.”
Many of Wilmington’s famous restaurants are in the Historic District near museums and the Cape Fear River, all 8 miles or about 15 minutes south of Skippers Corner. Castle Hayne has a Fresh Foods grocery store, while Northchase in the south has a Food Lion and Lowe's Foods. Warwick also mentions the growth happening in the area. The Moore’s Crossing project will be a roughly 27-acre area south of I-140, including commercial properties, a grocery store and a multifamily complex.
