Calabash Lakes

Calabash Lakes: Relaxed Coastal Living in Carolina Shores

Calabash Lakes is an established residential community in Carolina Shores, North Carolina, offering attractive homes, recreational amenities and a convenient location near Calabash and Sunset Beach. Designed around lakes, ponds and generous open spaces, the neighborhood provides a peaceful setting for those who want to enjoy the Brunswick County coast without living directly in a busy beach town.

Although Calabash Lakes is located within the Town of Carolina Shores, residents are only minutes from the restaurants, shops and waterfront attractions of Calabash. Sunset Beach is also a short drive away, making it easy to spend the day along one of southeastern North Carolina’s most beautiful stretches of shoreline.

A Community Designed Around Water and Open Space

True to its name, water is an important part of the landscape at Calabash Lakes. Ponds are found throughout the neighborhood, creating attractive views and welcoming habitats for herons, egrets, ducks and other coastal wildlife. The community’s mature landscaping, grassy common areas and quiet residential streets give it a relaxed, park-like character. Sidewalks encourage residents to walk, exercise and enjoy the outdoors, while numerous homes overlook water or natural areas.

Calabash Lakes encompasses approximately 164 acres, including about 32 acres devoted to its amenity center, clubhouse and common areas. The thoughtful use of open space helps the neighborhood feel less crowded while providing residents with places to gather, exercise and relax.

Community Amenities for Recreation and Socializing

The Calabash Lakes amenity center serves as the social and recreational heart of the neighborhood. Its zero-entry swimming pool includes lap lanes for exercise along with areas suited for casual swimming and relaxing during the warmer months. Inside the clubhouse, residents have access to a fitness room, meeting and activity spaces, a pool table and comfortable areas for neighborhood gatherings. A large screened porch with tables provides a shaded setting for card games, conversation and informal get-togethers.

Outdoor amenities include tennis and pickleball courts, shuffleboard and sidewalks throughout the community. An active neighborhood calendar gives residents additional opportunities to meet their neighbors and participate in social activities. These amenities provide a comfortable balance: residents can remain active and involved when they choose while still enjoying the privacy and slower pace of a residential coastal neighborhood.

Close to Calabash and Sunset Beach

One of the strongest advantages of Calabash Lakes is its location. The nearby town of Calabash is widely known as the “Seafood Capital of the World” and remains closely connected to its commercial fishing heritage. Local restaurants range from longtime Calabash-style seafood establishments to waterfront dining and contemporary coastal cuisine.

The town also offers boutiques, galleries, bakeries, coffee shops and everyday services. Grocery stores, medical offices, pharmacies, banks and additional shopping are all within convenient driving distance.

Sunset Beach is only a short trip from the community. Residents can enjoy its wide strand, fishing pier, waterfront park and peaceful coastal setting without assuming the expense and congestion that often accompany living directly on the island.

Boating, fishing and kayaking opportunities are plentiful throughout the surrounding area. The Calabash River, Intracoastal Waterway, Little River Inlet and nearby creeks provide access to some of the region’s most scenic coastal environments. Bird Island Reserve, located at the southern end of Sunset Beach, offers another opportunity to experience the area’s dunes, marshes and undeveloped shoreline.

Convenient to the Grand Strand

Calabash Lakes is located near the North Carolina–South Carolina state line, placing North Myrtle Beach and the northern Grand Strand within easy reach. Residents can take advantage of a much larger selection of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, golf courses and medical services while returning home to a quieter residential setting.

U.S. Highway 17 provides convenient regional access north toward Shallotte and Wilmington and south toward Little River and Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach International Airport and Wilmington International Airport provide additional travel options for residents and visiting guests.

Calabash Lakes Homes and Real Estate

Calabash Lakes includes approximately 465 residences consisting of single-family homes, paired ranch-style homes and townhomes. This variety gives buyers several choices in home size, layout, yard space and maintenance requirements.

Many residences feature single-level living, attached garages, screened porches and views of the community’s ponds or landscaped open spaces. Certain paired homes and townhomes provide additional exterior or grounds-maintenance services, although the services included vary by property type and association obligations.

D.R. Horton played a major role in expanding the community beginning in 2013, adding homes and updating the amenity center. Today, Calabash Lakes is a completed neighborhood where real estate opportunities primarily consist of resale properties.

Its combination of established amenities, attractive surroundings and proximity to both the beach and everyday conveniences appeals to buyers seeking a primary residence, second home or manageable coastal retreat.

A Practical Choice Near the Carolina Coast

Calabash Lakes offers something increasingly difficult to find near the coast: an amenity-rich neighborhood that remains comfortable, convenient and approachable. Residents enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional community while staying close to beaches, waterways, golf, dining and regional attractions.

For buyers who want to experience coastal Carolina living without being directly in a resort area, Calabash Lakes presents an appealing combination of location, recreation and residential value.