Credit to: Coastal Point | Kerin Magill

Photo courtesy of: Lighthousefriends.com

A gathering to honor a family long associated with the Fenwick Island Lighthouse last week turned into a celebration of a major announcement: that the original keeper’s house, long privately owned, has been purchased by the state of Delaware.

The sale was announced Friday, Aug. 1, during the dedication of a plaque in the second keeper’s house associated with the historic lighthouse to its former caretakers, Oliver and Rachel Cropper.

Suzanne Savery, director of the state’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, said the house, built in 1868, as well as some surrounding property, was sold to the state for $3.9 million. The house has long been owned by members

Credit to: Coastal Point, Kerin Magill

Parking in Fenwick Island — particularly for employees of businesses in the town — was the focus of a presentation by Mayor Natalie Magdeburger at the Friday, April 5, Fenwick Island Town Council meeting.

Magdeburger’s report was part of an ongoing effort to solve summer parking issues — particularly for numerous restaurants during the busy dinner hours.

The Town’s Business Concerns Committee had asked the council to consider selling half-price parking passes to businesses for their employees to use between 4 and 10 p.m. in permit-parking areas of town.

Following discussion at previous council meetings and Business Concerns Committee meetings, Magdeburger said she had done an informal survey of

Credit to: Coast TV, Kevin Zipay

Taxes fluctuate almost every year, and Delaware is no exception. This year, the state has implemented a 4.5 percent tax on all short-term rentals. In response, the Fenwick Island Budget and Finance Committee is evaluating potential changes to its own rental tax policies. Currently, short-term rental properties in Fenwick Island are taxed at a higher rate than hotels. When combined with the new state tax, short-term rentals are now subject to a total tax rate of 12.5 percent, while hotels pay only 11.5 percent.

With summer approaching, vacationers will soon flock to Fenwick Island, filling hotels and rental properties along the coast. Among them will be Bruce Bogdanski, who plans to book a

March has arrived and after a winter with multiple snowstorms in a few short months, we are grateful for warmer, light-filled days ahead!

As the chart illustrates, the Bethany-Fenwick area had a slower start to the year for real estate. Through the first two months of 2025, properties took about 10 days longer to sell and new contracts were down 23% when compared to last year. The most significant reduction in sales was for condo/townhome properties under $500K, which were down 86% (1 vs.7). Therefore, sales volume in dollars, based on list price, declined by a much smaller margin (2%) and the average sale price for properties settled in January and February was up 67% when compared to 2024.

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