Slaughter Beach (Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Dewey Beach: rentals, houses, to buy) - Delaware (DE) - City-Data Forum

edog0000 · 06-21-2007, 05:39 PM

Hi,

My husband and I are looking to buy a beach house in the near future, and the prices look very reasonable in Slaughter Beach. We are small town people who very much appreciate and respect smaller (authentic) fishing villages, as we understand Slaughter Beach is quite small. Does anyone know anything about Slaughter Beach? The Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge looks gorgeous...but what about the beach, the town? Does anyone rent beach houses there, as we would also like to rent a beach house out when we're not using it. Any advice you have would be appreciated! We know all about the horseshoe crabs and find it very interesting.

Thanks,

Emily

JulieF · 06-22-2007, 07:32 AM

Hi,

My brother-in-law drove us through Slaughter Beach a couple years ago but all I can remember is, yes, that it's tiny. A few houses, a few rentals, and I think one little convenience store. You know that it's on Delaware Bay, right? It's not on the ocean. Just my opinion, but I don't like the DE bay beaches much and don't think they really compare to the ocean beaches. That said, I'm sure I haven't seen all of them. We just visit this state.

Julie

Summering · 06-22-2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieF

Hi,

My brother-in-law drove us through Slaughter Beach a couple years ago but all I can remember is, yes, that it's tiny. A few houses, a few rentals, and I think one little convenience store. You know that it's on Delaware Bay, right? It's not on the ocean. Just my opinion, but I don't like the DE bay beaches much and don't think they really compare to the ocean beaches. That said, I'm sure I haven't seen all of them. We just visit this state.

Julie

Cape Henolopen State Park in De is just fantastic. It is a gorgeous area...you can bike, hike or go swimming at the ocean.
I have always liked Fenwick Island, Betheny Beach.....for quiet ocean swimming.

JulieF · 06-22-2007, 08:07 AM

Summering,

Our relatives have taken us to Cape Henlopen Ste. Park, and I agree with you that it's very nice. It's an ocean beach, isn't it? I think it's right on the southern edge of Delaware Bay but is considered an ocean beach. I prefer those. I think Delaware only has about 18 or so miles of ocean coastline, or that's what the relatives who live here say.

We went to Bethany Beach too, though we sure didn't find the beach "quiet" in the summer.

Do you know of any good restaurants in Bethany Beach or Fenwick? We'll be spending some time both places soon, and I've never tried restaurants either place.

Julie

Earniefan · 06-22-2007, 10:22 AM

The Rusty Rudder is in Dewey Beach but it's definately worth the drive. We always go there when we're back visiting. That and Nicola's down by the boardwalk at Rehoboth beach, their nicaboli's are sooo good.

edog0000 · 06-22-2007, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the input...yeah...we're aware that it's on the Bay, not the ocean. The problem is that ocean front homes are beyond what we will ever be able to afford...and we are sailors, so it's the water, the views, the wildlife that we're interested in. I realize it's not the same swimming as Dewey or Rehoboth or Bethany...but I also don't see us winning the lottery anytime soon!

I guess what I am interested in knowing is if anyone has spent anytime at Slaughter Beach...and has had experience with the low tide there, the people, or anything else?

Thanks!

JulieF · 06-22-2007, 11:45 AM

Hey Earniefan,

Our kids love Nicola's! We've enjoyed the Rusty Rudder several times. We're looking for some different places, so that's why I'm asking about restaurants in Fenwick and Bethany.

edog0000, sorry I can't give you much help. A couple of Delaware's wildlife refuges get high marks, that I know. The only people I talked with in Slaughter Beach gave us some help with directions, but they seemed nice. Of what I've seen on all our visits to DE, I'd want to live at the shore too, near the ocean, but you're right that you have to be wealthy.

We're kind of confused re moving now. I love the family members who live in DE, but I think I'd prefer other states for several reasons.

rossc · 06-23-2007, 09:21 PM

I've always wondered how it got it's name....

mstanya · 06-30-2007, 03:38 PM

We had a place at Prime Hook for about 30 years. As a kid I hated it! There was nothing to do there. You were 5 miles from the highway and there was nothing back there. No store, nothing.
As an adult, I loved it. Nice and quiet. From what I remember Slaughter Beach is about the same. Prime Hook had one street of houses and then a few small side streets.

If you are small town folk, you will probably like Slaughter Beach given that you can afford anything in there now. We just could not believe what we got for our beach house in Prime Hook.

Our tiny beach house sold a few years ago for well over $200,000!!! Good luck!
By the way, Prime Hook that I am talking about is not the same place as the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge. It is on Rt 1 further south from Slaughter Beach but not as far south as the Wildlife Refuge.

BarryInRehoboth · 07-10-2007, 12:05 PM

Slaughter Beach is a strip of houses on the Delaware Bay about 1 mile long. One very tiny store. THAT'S IT!

Homes on the water are very expensive, on the swamp side are a little cheaper but not by much.

If you live there year round, you might be the only people there in the winter!