Hedgesville offers rural living in the growing Eastern Panhandle
Hedgesville is a Berkeley County town that hides away in the hills of the northern Shenandoah Valley. In earlier centuries, its pastoral vistas were primarily seen by local farmers, trains traveling through gaps in the rolling terrain and the occasional mountain resort tourist. More recently, the DMV’s sprawling suburbanization has spurred the building of new subdivisions between forests and meandering creek beds. Both the modern developments and the preserved ruggedness of Hedgesville are testament to the most enduring trait of the Eastern Panhandle: a balance of the wild and wonderful recreation areas of West Virginia with proximity to Washington D.C. “Hedgesville is super cool. There’s a ton of people up here, but you don’t know it. It still feels relaxing, calm and quiet,” says Kimberly Teska, a real estate salesperson at Coldwell Banker Premier with 10 years of experience specializing in Berkeley and Jefferson counties. “You’re only minutes off I-81, an hour and fifty minutes from the DMV. You can get in touch with nature and feel off the grid, but still have cell service.”
Homes in old school villages and new subdivisions
Homes of many styles slope along Hedgesville’s hills and valleys. Some sit far back on rolling, wooded acreages, while others stand closer together in Hedgesville’s town center and crossroads villages like Shanghai. New Traditional homes have been built in a growing number of subdivisions from the 1990s through the 2020s, an extension of Northern Virginia’s suburban sprawl. The Woods is one of the largest developments in Hedgesville, offering both new construction-ready plots and A-frame cabins built on forested lots in the 1970s. The community is notable for its resort-style amenities like tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fishing ponds and two 18-hole golf courses. Housing prices range widely in Hedgesville. A simple, move-in-ready prewar home or cabin on a suburban-sized lot might sell for around $190,000, while a custom-built contemporary home on nearly 10 acres can go for nearly $880,000. Hedgesville’s median single-family home price is about $370,000, lower than the national median of around $400,000.
Private and public recreation in the Appalachian Mountains
People who don’t live in The Woods can still purchase a membership or day pass to tee off on the Mountain View and Stony Lick golf courses. Locals ride around their properties or take motocross bikes and ATVs to the tracks at Tomahawk MX Park. One of the most popular public recreation areas in Berkeley County is Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. “It’s 22,000 acres of preserved wild land. There's kayaking and fishing on Sleepy Creek Lake, hiking trails and just a lot of space for outdoor recreation,” Teska says. Hikers often take the Tuscarora Trail through Sleepy Creek, a 250-mile alternate route to the Appalachian Trail that also favors sloping routes along mountain ridges. The Cherry Run Fishing and Boating Access offers an entry point to the Potomac River next to a large parking lot. For craft classes or book browsing, residents head to the Hedgesville Public Library.
Attending Berkeley County Schools
A handful of Berkeley County Schools pipelines serve the community. Many kids will attend Hedgesville Elementary School, which earns a B-minus from Niche, followed by Tomahawk Intermediate School, which earns a B. Hedgesville Middle School scores a B-minus and Hedgesville High School earns a B. James Rumsey Technical Institute is also in Hedgesville, offering easy access for Hedgesville High students to both half- and full-day career and technical education programs.
Small businesses around Hedgesville’s
The town is centered around the intersection of Hedgesville Road and Mary Street, lined by a handful of community churches and small businesses. Frosty Dog is a casual pit stop for ice cream and hot dogs. Farther from town, CJ’s Sports Bar is a favorite spot for pub fare and a beer. A MARTIN’S grocery store anchors the Hedgesville Centre strip mall, and Dollar Generals are scattered around the area. Mom and pops serve smaller villages along Back Creek Valley Road, from convenience stores like Tomahawk Valley Store to Ganotown Ice Cream. For big box stores like Target and Lowe’s, residents drive about 20 minutes to strip malls in Martinsburg.
Community events through the town and local churches
The Hedgesville Heritage Day returns to town each October, centered around historic tours and talks about the area’s agricultural, Indigenous and resort histories and more modern entertainment like live music, vendors and fair food. At the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, residents clap for members of Berkeley County Schools’ musical groups while waiting to meet with Santa. Local clubs and churches like Hedgesville United Methodist Church host charitable events and food distributions throughout the year.
Berkeley County and DMV commuting
Martinsburg, the Berkeley County seat, is within 15 miles of most people in Hedgesville. Beyond major regional employers like the Procter & Gamble plant and WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg also offers access to the Maryland Area Rail Commuter train. Washington D.C. commuters might opt to park and ride or drive about 85 miles into the city. Washington Dulles International Airport is about 60 miles from home.
Flood risk on Back Creek
Waterways like Back Creek may flood low-lying roads and properties after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
