The family's story
A Special Message from Jessica Phillips
Our parents gave us many wonderful things, but one of the most meaningful was the chance to grow up on this remarkable property. As children, we spent entire days exploring its 37 acres, coming home only when the large dinner bell outside the kitchen rang. We built treehouses and forts in the woods with the neighborhood children and spent as much time as possible on the water—from full-contact sailing races on the lake to kneeboarding and tubing around Isle of Wight Bay.
The house was the setting for countless family gatherings: decades of Thanksgivings with both the Harrison and Phillips families gathered in the formal dining room, large crab feasts with food from Phillips Crabhouse, and one unforgettable party when a helicopter landed on the lawn and took guests for rides.
As we grew older, visits home brought a different kind of togetherness—cold winter days camped out in the living room, building enormous fires in the stone fireplace and catching up as siblings. Our mother loved guests and encouraged us to fill the house with friends on summer weekends. Sometimes our guests were so happy spending time at the house and pool that they never even made it across the Route 50 bridge!
Growing up here was a true privilege. As adults, we have treasured our weekends back home as an opportunity to strengthen our connections to each other and Ocean City. While we will miss our home, we're excited to see new owners discover how special a place it is.
It is my dream that someone with kids buys the house. I mean, honestly, it was just the most idyllic place to be a kid. I would think, especially in today's climate, kids need more reasons than ever to get off the screen and go outside—but to a safe place. I'm sure the home I remember so fondly from my childhood would be a perfect place to grow up.
Jessica Phillips
“It was just the most idyllic place to be a kid.”Jessica Phillips
