Independence

Independence is an intimate 55+ active adult community by Schell Brothers, situated on 330 acres in Millsboro, Delaware, with 455 single-family homes planned at buildout. Originally launched in 2007 and largely completed by 2021, the community announced a new home section in 2025 with approximately 36 additional homesites released — meaning new construction from Schell Brothers is once again available here. The community's centerpiece is Independence Hall, an award-winning 24,000 square foot clubhouse that ranks among the largest in Delaware. Inside you'll find a heated indoor lap pool, a full-service restaurant and bar, a grand ballroom, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dance/yoga studio, a sauna and steam room, a billiards hall, a movie/performance theater, card rooms, hobby rooms, a business center, a day spa/salon area, and a library. Outside, residents enjoy a seasonal resort-style pool with spa and sundeck, tennis and pickleball courts, a sand volleyball court, bocce ball, horseshoe pits, a putting green, a picnic area, community garden plots, and walking/biking trails. A full-time activities director keeps the calendar packed year-round with clubs and events including Aquacise, Art Club, Ballroom Club, Billiards Club, Book Club, Garden Club, Walking Club, game nights, happy hours, holiday formals, morning coffee, yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, pilates, bike rides, line dancing, and movie nights. The homes are all single-family, mostly one-level ranch designs with some 1.5-story floor plans, ranging from roughly 1,443 to over 3,300 square feet with two to four bedrooms. Schell Brothers' 'Forever Home' philosophy means features like wider doorways, walk-in showers, first-floor primary suites, and open-concept layouts come standard — and homes are built 20 to 30 percent more energy efficient than standard construction, with options for solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, tankless water heaters, and upgraded insulation. Location is a major selling point: Independence sits in the 19966 zip code off Route 5/Indian Mission Road, roughly 11 to 15 miles from Rehoboth Beach and within 30 miles of all of Delaware's Atlantic resort beaches. Long Neck's shops, restaurants, and marinas are about 4 miles away, Baywood Greens golf course is 5 miles out, and the Indian River Inlet is minutes from the gate. Dover is about 45 minutes north, and Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington DC are each within roughly two hours. Combined with Delaware's tax advantages — no sales tax, no tax on Social Security, a pension exclusion for those 60+, and a senior school property tax credit — Independence has built a reputation as one of the Delaware beaches' most recognized and desirable 55+ addresses.