Ocean Pines Information

Ocean Pines  

Ocean Pines is a private residential community on Maryland's Eastern Shore. With pockets of settlement surrounded by large parks, piney woods, and sports clubs (including the Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club, the Ocean Pines Swim and Racquet Club, and the Ocean Pines Yacht Club and Marina), Ocean Pines offers all the enjoyments of resort living while being a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of nearby Ocean City.  

Surrounded by water on three sides, Ocean Pines has over nine miles of waterfront property, liberally planted with shady trees. Many homes have superb views. The marina is large and boating and yachting a popular pastime. The community’s 15,000 year round and 7,500 summertime residents enjoy the use of five swimming pools, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, a yacht club, two marinas, a community hall, a tennis complex, basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, and numerous lakes and parks, complete with playgrounds and walking trails. Two volunteer fire stations and a police force protect the community.  

Not surprisingly, Ocean Pines is a popular with young families and retirement aged adults; the median age of its population is 50. Many are attracted by the superb Ocean Pines senior living development.  

LOCATION
Ocean Pines is on the mid-Atlantic sea coast in Worcester County, Maryland. Just off the Ocean City Expressway (Route 90), Ocean Pines is situated between two large parks and faces the Saint Martin River. Isle of Wight Bay is on its easternmost flank.  

Route 90 continues east to Ocean City (about six miles away) and west to the junction with State Highway 50 at Saint Martin (about eight miles away). State Highway 50 leads west to Cambridge, Annapolis, and beyond, intersecting with several key freeways and interstates en route.  

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
The Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport is less than thirty miles from Ocean Pines and is serviced by me Air, who offer regular flights to and from Baltimore, Washington, DC and Philadelphia. These airports are all major with flights to centers around the nation and the globe.  

The Beach Express in Ocean Pines offers a shuttle service to both airports and also runs tours. The regional public transport service, Shore Transit connects towns in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties; para-transit is offered as well as the fixed route service.  

BRIEF HISTORY
Ocean Pines was developed by the Ocean Pines Administration, who currently administers and manages the resort, reviewing all architecture and planned development, caring for the parks, recreational facilities, and public works, and assessing memberships into the community. The Association is managed by an elected board of seven representatives who have the power to set legislative policy.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Children in Ocean Pines attend the Ocean City Elementary school and travel to Berlin for middle and high school. Higher education options include the Delaware Technical And Community College in Georgetown (about thirty miles away), Salisbury State University (about thirty-two miles), the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (about forty miles away in Princess Anne), and Delaware State University (about sixty miles away in Dover).  

Berlin  

Berlin is a pretty, historic, and peaceful town, familiar to many moviegoers as the location of “Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting.” Almost fifty homes and community facilities are noted in the National Register of Historic Places. Proud of their town’s Federal and Victorian history, local residents have worked cooperatively to preserve, renovate, and protect Berlin’s historic residential and commercial districts. Lovely tree-lined streets, historic homes, and a Victorian red brick town center full of antique and craft stores, delightful eateries, and art galleries charms visitors and residents alike. Berlin is as rich in culture as it is in history, with good museums and an excellent community theatre, the Globe. The Worcester County Arts Council gallery features the works of local artists.  

Ocean City and the lovely Assateague Island National Park and the Maryland State Park are minutes from Berlin, as is the beach. There are two fully equipped public campgrounds nearby.  

LOCATION
Berlin, Maryland is about ten miles inland from the Atlantic sea coast on State Highway 113, which runs north to Delaware and south to Pocomoke City and Virginia.  

State Highway 113 intersects the Ocean City Expressway (Route 90) about five miles north of Berlin; Route 90 leads west to State Highway 50 at Saint Martin and east to the ocean.  

Ocean Pines (on Route 90) is about eight miles away, and Ocean City is about ten miles away.  

State Highway 50 leads west to Cambridge, Annapolis, and beyond, intersecting with several key freeways and interstates en route.  

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Berlin is just over 20 miles from the Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport which has regular flights to and from Baltimore, Washington, DC and Philadelphia. These airports host many of the world’s primary airlines which fly to cities around America and the world.  

Shore Transit, the Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties public transport service, has routes in Berlin. Shore Transit also connects towns throughout the area and offers an additional para-transit service.  

BRIEF HISTORY
The Berlin region was originally home to the Assateague and Pocomoke Indians and today’s Main Street was originally part of the path between the two tribal settlements.  

In 1677 a land parcel of three hundred acres was granted to English settlers; this became Burley Plantation. In time an inn was built to serve travelers on the Indian trail, which had become the Philadelphia Post Road. This important route connected Philadelphia with commercial centers to the west, and travellers continued to increase. During the seventeen-nineties the village of Berlin gradually formed around the inn; according to local history, “Berlin” is simply a contraction of “Burley Inn”.  

Berlin was incorporated in 1868 and continued to grow as tourists discovered the great hunting and fishing to be had on the eastern shore. 19th century naval hero Stephen Decatur was born in Berlin.  

One of the nicest things about Berlin is that the community has valued the town’s history; a walk through the downtown and residential neighbourhoods will lead you past Federal, Victorian and American homes and buildings. Mature shade trees and shrubs grace streets and yards; magnolias, sycamores, tulip poplars, bald cypress and ginkgo trees add to the sense of peace.  

Designated a “Main Street Community” by the State of Maryland in recognition of its revitalization progress, Berlin has almost fifty buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Berlin’s two elementary, two middle, and one high school are run by the Worchester County Board of Education. All schools have Internet access and there is a computer for every five students. Student to teacher ratios are low, ensuring higher grades and a happier school experience for students.  

Nearby higher education options include the Delaware Technical And Community College in Georgetown (about twenty-seven miles away), Salisbury State University (about twenty-eight miles), the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (about thirty-five miles away in Princess Anne), and Delaware State University (about sixty miles away in Dover).