Atlantic Beach Neighborhoods and Developments

In Atlantic Beach, NC, residents and visitors alike enjoy a nice blend of old and new neighborhoods. With a remaining hint of a nostalgic air about it, Atlantic Beach is seeing its 1950s beach houses change to modern structures. There are still plenty throwback-to-the-1950s rambling beach houses and small cottages, but they are nudged right up next to ponderous two-story clapboards on narrow streets running parallel to the ocean. Atlantic Beach continues to be primarily made up of "local" residents — people who have lived here most of their lives and wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. The demographics at this end of Bogue Banks are slightly different than the rest of the island. Expect a younger crowd at Atlantic Beach instead of the large concentration of retirees found at other beach locations. Families in their 30s and 40s are commonplace, probably because of the small, affordable, near-beach cottages that allowed these couples to purchase their homes at a reasonable price in years past.

Today, transition can be seen as Atlantic Beach is making great strides to revitalize itself. The Circle, a once-popular family amusement area, is being renovated and plans are well underway for major developments and improvements to the area. Condos, restaurants and shops will soon fill the area that once was home to a Ferris wheel, go-cart tracks and amusement arcades.

Private homes, vacation rentals and mobile homes are mixed throughout this small oceanfront town, and over the years building has extended several blocks back from the water to N.C. Highway 58 (Salter Path Road). Most of the dwellings in Atlantic Beach are within walking distance of the ocean or sound, and the majority of new homes are concentrated on the eastern end of the island, along Fort Macon Road.

Here, too, are a number of developments, such as Sea Spray, A Place At the Beach and Southwinds, with prices ranging from $195,000 to $400,000. Sands Villas Resort offers resort condominiums in the range of $345,000 to $500,000. Island Quay is a development of homes that average about $500,000.

By far Atlantic Beach's most colorful development is Sea Dreams at MM 1.5. Built on a high dune with views of the ocean and sound, this small development offers bright, cheery homes and a clubhouse, playground and pool. An oceanfront home here is in the $1.5 million range.

Pine Knoll Shores, NC, is almost fully developed, but both large and small homes come on the market fairly regularly. Prices on home sites and homes vary greatly, depending on proximity to the ocean, the sound, the many canals or the 18-hole golf course located in town. Within the central portion of the town, many homes are built on canals, with the option of private docks. You will find homes from $300,000 to well over $1 million.

Bogue Shores Club and Beachwalk at Pine Knoll Shores are townhouse and condominium developments on N.C. 58. All are on the ocean and in nice maritime forest settings. Design features include courtyards, sun porches, gourmet kitchens, private balconies and other upscale luxuries. Prices can start at $399,900 and go up.

The McGinnis Point subdivision is a Bogue Sound community, with homes on, near or removed from the water. As with all property on Bogue Banks, prices for single-family homes vary widely, depending on location, and vary between $300,000 to $900,000.

Beacon's Reach is a large village-type development in a maritime forest on land once owned by the Roosevelt family. It includes both multi-family and single-family dwellings, and prices vary greatly. An interior lot could sell for $450,000, and homes on the sound could bring in $1 million. Residents have access to lighted tennis courts, swimming pools, a marina and parks on the ocean and the sound. Meticulously landscaped, the villages include Ocean Grove, with three- and four-bedroom units; Westport, with one-, two- and three-bedroom units and both soundfront and freshwater lagoon-front units; the Breakers, with oceanfront condominiums; Fiddlers' Walk with sound-side condominium units; and Maritime West, with oceanfront units.

In Salter Path and Indian Beach, NC, many of the longtime residents in the two small communities are descended from fishermen, and some still make their living on the water. You'll find a variety of homes here - some  are low, rambling structures nestled under windswept live oaks bent from prevailing winds, others are mobile homes, and many are large, new homes. 

The town of Indian Beach has seen the development of upscale residential communities. Sea Isle Plantation and Sea Isle are two examples, and prices can range from $700,000 to $1.5 million. Sea Isle offers home sites and custom-built residences on both sides of Salter Path Road, and on Bogue Sound and the ocean.

The Summerwinds condominium complex is a large, oceanfront complex offering spacious living quarters with prices ranging from $330,000 to more than $1 million. Recreational facilities include an indoor, heated swimming pool, a whirlpool, saunas, exercise rooms, a spa and racquetball courts. Outside are three oceanfront pools with sun decks and a boardwalk.

Kiawa (kee-wah) is another Indian Beach soundfront community, off N.C. 58 between the towns of Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. Interior lots can start at $54,000, and homes can go for more than $1 million. Individual soundfront docks are available. Sea Ridge Townhomes in Indian Beach offers oceanfront and ocean-view two-bedroom townhouses.

The Ocean Club is billed as a luxury family resort and conference center and offers condominium homes in a beautifully landscaped environment. Each mid-rise building has condominium homes with elevator service. The site has an oceanfront pool, picnic areas, an exercise room, a spa and more amenities. Soundfront homes start around $300,000 and oceanfront can start around $900,000. Grande Villas at the Preserve is in Indian Beach and prices start at $600,000 and go up. The Nautical Club is now offering luxury condos on the oceanside and the soundside. Prices will start at around $400,000.