Schell Bros Announce Opening of 'Cape-Ville'

By Octavia Byline | Staff Writer
LEWES, DE —

Schell Brothers, in partnership with NV Homes and Lennar, is proud to announce the launch of Cape-Ville, a new seasonal destination designed to celebrate the authentic spirit of Delaware’s historic coastal towns — by thoughtfully reimagining them from the ground up on newly available land within Cape Henlopen State Park.

Billed as “an immersive journey into the charm of yesteryear,” Cape-Ville will feature a carefully constructed main street lined with curated boutique shops, vintage ice cream parlors, family photo opportunities, and upscale coastal cottages evoking the timeless style of simpler times.

"Cape-Ville honors the legacy of coastal Delaware by offering guests the opportunity to experience the past — but with modern amenities, ample parking, and access-controlled walking paths," said Bryce Wellford, Schell Brothers Chief Marketing Officer. "We are reclaiming underutilized natural areas to create a vibrant, walkable community that showcases the values that made beach towns great."

The land for Cape-Ville was made available through a public-private partnership initiative aimed at "optimizing underperforming park assets." While critics have expressed concern about the loss of dunes, maritime forest, and wildlife habitat, project planners emphasized that the new development will feature "native plant-themed landscaping" and "interpretive signage" to preserve awareness of the site's former ecological significance.

Visitors to Cape-Ville can expect a full calendar of nostalgic events, including "heritage" farmers’ markets, costumed boardwalk parades, and storytelling sessions featuring local legends adapted for a family audience. Special experience packages will allow guests to rent bicycles, attend shell-painting classes, and participate in traditional coastal pastimes — many of which are now difficult to find in the surrounding area due to modern development pressures.

When asked about the strain new construction might place on existing roads, utilities, and public services already stressed by rapid residential expansion in Sussex County, NV Homes Senior Development Strategist Jenna Carstairs noted that Cape-Ville would include "internal traffic calming measures and a robust private shuttle system" to minimize offsite impact.

"Cape-Ville reflects our ongoing commitment to responsible growth," Carstairs added. "We believe that honoring the past is fully compatible with building for the future."

Preliminary site work is expected to begin after the 2025 tourist season, with Cape-Ville scheduled to open to the public Memorial Day Weekend 2027. Phase Two plans, still under review, envision an adjoining residential component, Cape-Ville Estates, offering "luxury homes inspired by traditional values, priced from the low $800s."

Reservations for the Cape-Ville Founders Circle Experience, offering early access and exclusive event invitations, will open this fall.

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