Gated communities offer an increased feeling of safety, since guests must either pass through a gate with an attendant or electronic key system. Gates keeps out pass-through traffic and visitors not invited by a community member, decreasing solicitors and noise.
In Delaware, only five communities in the state are gated, and only one of those five is age restricted. The communities are smaller, with under 500 homes, and all but one are in Southern Delaware. Here are Delaware’s five gated communities.
Forest Landing at Bethany Beach – Frankford
Mid $200s – Mid $300s
Forest Landing at Bethany Beach offers homebuyers a quiet neighborhood of single-family and attached homes just twelve minutes from the beach. While not an age-restricted community, Forest Landing provides many of the amenities that appeal to those over 55.
The clubhouse complex includes a fitness center, multipurpose room, outdoor pool, tennis courts, and outdoor fire pit. Ryan Homes currently offers new and resale homes that range from three to four bedrooms.
In addition to the nearby beaches, residents are minutes from the birding haven Assawoman Bay Wildlife Area and the Bear Trap Dunes golf course.
Bishop’s Landing – Millville
Mid $200s – High $400s
Located just north of Forest Landing at Bethany Beach, Bishop’s Landing is a gated Beazar Homes development. The developer began construction in 2013 and currently offers new and resale homes in the neighborhood, which will have 449 homes upon completion.
The single-family and attached models range from three to four bedrooms, with first-floor master bedrooms, attached two-car garages, and optional expansions and room configurations.
The resort-style amenities will appeal to adults over 55, even though the community is not age restricted. Residents enjoy a dip in the large outdoor pool or taking in the rays on the sundeck, playing a match on the tennis courts, or working out in the fitness center and aerobics studio. The clubhouse includes meeting rooms, social spaces, and a catering kitchen. While outdoors, residents enjoy the natural beauty of ponds, walking trails, and a dog park.
Windstone – Millville
Also located in Southern Delaware, Windstone is a new community with appeal for active adults. Multiple builders began construction on the community in 2017, with a plan to build 260 single-family homes.
The 1,600 to 2,000 square-foot homes will have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Although not age-restricted, the community and homes provide easy maintenance and leisurely living. Homes all have first-floor master suites with dual vanities, while lawns and common spaces are maintained by the homeowners’ association (HOA).
Residents also enjoy a clubhouse with common area and billiards room and outdoor pool and patio. In 2 minutes, residents can drive to the beaches of Rehoboth and Dewey, while the natural areas and beaches of Cape Henlopen State Park and the Great Marsh Preserve are less than fifteen minutes away.
Nassau Grove – Lewes
Low $400s – Mid $500s
Nassau Grove in Lewes, Delaware, is another beach-side community with appeal for active adults. Builder K. Hovnanian constructed 244 single-family homes in the neighborhood between 2006 and 2013.
Although the community is not age-restricted, active adults can appreciate the first-floor master suites, open floor plans, and attached two-car garages. The HOA maintains all lawns, landscaping, and irrigation so residents have more time to enjoy the surrounding beaches and natural areas of Delaware, and all the amenities the community offers.
The clubhouse provides meeting rooms, a movie room, library, card room, and exercise room. Outside, residents enjoy tennis courts, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, walking trails, picnic area, outdoor pool, and tiki bar.
The Courtyards at Brandywine – Wilmington
Mid $300s – High $400s
The Courtyards at Brandywine is the outlier on the list of gated communities in Delaware. First, the community finds a home in Northern Delaware in Wilmington. McKee builders constructed 184 attached homes in the community between 2009 and 2016, and currently homes are offered for resale.
Prospective residents can find larger carriage homes ranging from 1,870 to 2,400 square feet with two to three bedrooms. This small community does have a clubhouse where residents can meet and get to know each other.
Residents are walking-distance from the Brandywine Town Center mall, which includes grocery stores, big box stores, a movie theater, and restaurants. Located in the Brandywine Valley, the community also offers easy access to the wineries, museums, and natural areas of the Delaware/ Pennsylvania border.
