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Search By Area MapCalabash, NC
Geographic Features
Calabash is a small fishing town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. With an area of 1.5 square miles, it is located on the mainland across from Sunset Beach, at the boarder of South Carolina. Calabash is only an hour from Myrtle Beach or Wilmington's large city energy, giving residents the luxury of small town coastal living without compromising any amenities. Calabash sits along its namesake river and has succeeded in maintaining its charming old world fishing village feeling. It neighbors Lake Waccamaw, one of the most exceptional lakes in the world and features rare animals and plant life unique to the lake.
Calabash prides itself with being the Seafood Capital of the World because of its abundant fresh seafood. There is even a Calabash Style of seafood named after the distinctively delicious area cuisine.
Calabash has a population of just over 1,700 full time residents and swells in size during the popular summer months. Vacationers come to Calabash to enjoy the famous seafood while hanging out on one of the pristine beaches. Water sports are prevalent through out the area; fishing, boating, swimming, and kayaking are all widespread.
With temperate weather, Calabash rarely gets snow and enjoys mild summers. This great weather means that tennis and golf can be played outdoors year-round. Locals revel in the world class golf courses available.
Price Range
Calabash, NC has a small number of homes with relatively high prices compared to both North Carolina and the United States. The median home price is $271,733. Most of the homes are single-family detached homes with 3 to 4 bedrooms and were built between 1970 and 1994. There are some new homes of a larger size, 5 or more bedrooms.
- Less than $105,000 6%
- $105,001 - $210,000 28%
- $210,001 - $420,000 47%
- $420,001 - $631,000 11%
- $631,001 - $842,000 6%
- $842,001 - $1,052,000 1%
- $1,052,001 - $1,579,000 1%
- More than $1,579,001 1%
Daily Life
Calabash is a charming coastal community with a relaxed lifestyle. There is moderate year round weather; Calabash rarely has snowfall in the winter. This great weather allows residents to play tennis and world class golf outdoors throughout the year. Calabash boasts some truly exceptional golf courses.
One of the major benefits to living here is the cost of living is less than the US average; home prices are also below the national average. Calabash features very little traffic; envision have a short easy commute to work.
Calabash is primarily a fishing village. Fishermen bring home sea bass, snapper, grouper, mackerel, and flounder. Shrimp boats dock daily selling freshly caught shrimp. The area is famous for its Calabash Seafood. This style of cooking utilizes the area's fresh seafood combined with a unique flavoring. It is hugely popular and has earned Calabash the well earned title of Seafood Capital of the World. Feast at one of the thirty seafood restaurants within a one square mile area.
When not playing golf or fishing, locals relish in the natural splendor of the area by hiking and kayaking in an area park. Lake Waccamaw State Park boasts one of the most exceptional lakes in the world. Explore for rare animals and plant life unique to the lake.
Golf
Calabash features excellent golf courses and is ideally located for enjoying some of the best golf in the world. Some of Myrtle Beach's most requested courses like Oyster Bay, Sea Trail, Panther's Run, Heather Glenn are within a fifteen minute drive. There are over 100 courses within a forty mile radius.
Notable courses around Calabash include:
- Oyster Bay Golf Links
- Pearl Golf Links
- Sea Trail Golf Courses
- Sand Piper Bay Golf and Country Club
- Jaguars Lair Golf Course
- Thistle Golf Course
- Ocean Ridge Plantation Golf Course
Recreation and Sports
The Atlantic Ocean makes water sports and fishing popular recreational activities of the area. Locals enjoy jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, and surfing. Get your fishing rods out for both deep sea fishing aboard modern sports fishing boats and inshore fishing; catch sea bass, snapper, grouper, mackerel, and flounder.
Calabash boasts excellent year round golfing opportunities at one of the many local courses or at Myrtle Beach.
When not playing golf or fishing, residents relish in the natural splendor of the area by hiking and kayaking in an area park. Lake Waccamaw State Park boasts one of the most exceptional lakes in the world. Explore for rare animals and plant life unique to the lake.
The Ingram Planetarium will allow visitors to explore the heavens with their recent installation of the SciDome HD Digital projection system. Lean back and relax in the Sky Theatre's seats as the Planetarium staff points out constellations and planets. They have educational programs about astronomy, science, and space exploration.
The Silver Coast Winery is only 15 minutes away. Go on tours to learn how the wine is made, walk around their 40 acres of vineyard, and see art by local artists.
Night Life
The night life in Calabash is best experienced outside enjoying a delectable seafood dinner or walking along the beach looking at the stars. Local restaurants feature freshly caught seafood and serve southern classics that will have your mouth watering.
The area is famous for its Calabash Seafood. This style of cooking utilizes the area's fresh seafood combined with unique flavoring. It is hugely popular and has earned Calabash the well earned title of Seafood Capital of the World. Feast at one of the thirty seafood restaurants within a one square mile area.
Festivals and Events
Neighboring towns host festivals and events throughout the year. Sunset at Sunset is held every October at near the Ingram Planetarium. Last year over 4000 people came out to enjoy the fabulous vendors, music, and fun. They are planning on adding a 5K beach run and a Children's fun run.
Sunset Beach's North Carolina Oyster festival is so popular and beloved that in 2007 it was awarded the North Carolina Event of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events. It features an oyster stew cook-off, the North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships, over 120 arts and craft vendors, live entertainment, a road race, surf contest, and kids area.
Holden Beach hosts the beloved North Carolina Festival by the Sea. This two day events is features a parade down the Holden Beach causeway, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and yummy food.
Parks
Just 15 minutes from Calabash is the Vereen Memorial Park and Garden. Originally part of the 400 acre plantation that has been in the Vereen family since colonial days, it features pathways and wooden boardwalks that extend across several salt marshes and small islands. There is a gazebo that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and you can even bring your dog.
Lake Waccamaw State Park is just 10 miles north of Calabash and boasts one of the most unique lakes in the world. Limestone bluffs along the north shore neutralize Lake Waccamaw's water, making the lake different from any other in Carolina Bay. The park features a wide array of endangered animals and rare plants, making this an excellent naturalist destination.
Across the Intracoastal Waterway is Bird Island. This is an ideal place to walk among sand dunes, beach comb, and learn about local wildlife. It was once a separate island from Sunset Beach, accessible only by walking through the shallow inlet at low tide, but today it is always connected; the inlet has filled with sand. Bird Island is a dedicated North Carolina Coastal Reserve and is completely untouched by development. Its nearly 1,300 acres of beach, marsh and wetlands protects habitat used by several threatened or endangered species, including loggerhead sea turtles, sea beach amaranth, piping plover, wood stork, and black skimmer.
Schools
Calabash is part of the Brunswick County School District. There are approximately 11,500 students enrolled in the district's 16 public schools. This is an above average school district for compared to both North Carolina and the United States. They rate 37.4% higher than North Carolina school districts and 33.3% higher than US school districts. There is an average of 15 students per classroom and spend an average of $9,141 per child enrolled compared to the national average of $5,678.
Colleges and Universities near Calabash include Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Coastal Carolina University, Cape Fear Community College, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Neighborhoods
There is only one neighborhood in Calabash.
Area History and Culture
Calabash is named after native gourds used for drinking vessels. It was originally part of a 48,000 acre grant made to Landgrave Thomas Smith in 1691. Early settlers were from New England and Charleston. There are still many historic homes in Calabash.
In 1905 a railroad was constructed to support the burgeoning timber industry. The train moved timber from the logging fields through Calabash to the Calabash River. The logs were then unloaded and floated down river to Hammer's Mill on Shelly's Point. By 1929 the area lumber industry ceased being profitable, the mill was forced to close, and the railroad stopped being used.
Around World War II Calabash started to grow into a tourist destination. Restaurants began to open and this was when the style of cooking called Calabash Seafood began to be developed. Soon the area began to be referred to as the Seafood Capital of the World because of this distinctive style of cooking and the high quality of fresh seafood.
Today Calabash is a popular tourist area and features an abundance of charming shops, eateries, and golf courses.
