About Great Escapes
Great Escapes Vacations & Sales is a locally owned and operated Outer Banks company built around personal service, practical local knowledge, and well-cared-for homes. Since opening Great Escapes Vacation Rentals in 2015, our team has helped guests find memorable OBX vacation homes and helped homeowners protect, manage, buy, and sell second homes and investment properties.
Our work brings together vacation rentals, boutique property management, second-home caretaker services, and OBX sales expertise. That gives guests, homeowners, buyers, and sellers a practical advantage because we understand how location, amenities, property care, guest experience, rental potential, and long-term value work together across the Outer Banks.
Why We Love The Outer Banks
At Great Escapes Vacations & Sales, we focus on making Outer Banks ownership and vacations easier, more personal, and better supported. We are proud to offer thoughtfully selected vacation rentals, hands-on property management, second-home caretaker support, and OBX sales expertise from a team that knows and loves the Outer Banks.
We love this area for the same reasons our guests and owners do: wide beaches, soundside sunsets, local restaurants, welcoming communities, and the slower pace that makes the OBX feel different from anywhere else. From Corolla and Duck to Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head, each community has its own personality, and our team helps guests and owners understand which location best fits their goals.
Property Management Team
Our property management team works with homeowners who want professional systems, clear communication, strong guest presentation, and more personalized service than a large rental program can usually provide. The team knows the homes we manage and understands the details that matter to owners, guests, and long-term investment value.
Leslie Gilmore
Property Manager / Owner
Leslie Gilmore first vacationed on the Outer Banks in the 1990s and later purchased land and built a vacation rental property in Corolla. She opened Great Escapes Realty in 2007 and Great Escapes Vacation Rentals in 2015 with partners Rich and Jeri Shortway. Leslie currently owns an investment property in Key West, Florida, giving her firsthand perspective on the decisions homeowners face when balancing rental performance, guest experience, property care, owner use, expenses, and long-term value.
Her background in Outer Banks real estate and vacation rental management helps homeowners think beyond week-to-week bookings and make practical decisions about presentation, amenities, maintenance, and ownership goals. Leslie holds degrees from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, and Mount Vernon College in Washington, DC and can be reached at [email protected].
Rich & Jeri Shortway
Maintenance & Housekeeping Managers / Owners
Rich and Jeri Shortway are owners of Great Escapes Vacations & Sales and part of the property management team. As investment-property owners themselves, they understand the trust homeowners place in a management company and the importance of protecting the home, supporting the guest experience, and making practical decisions that support long-term value. Rich also serves as Chief of Corolla Fire & Rescue, reflecting his deep commitment to the Corolla community, and Jeri can often be found working in the Corolla Fire & Rescue Tee-Shirt Shop, which supports Corolla Fire & Rescue through the sale of shirts, sweatshirts, patches, accessories, and memorabilia.
Brad Bentley
Property Manager
Brad Bentley supports the property management side of Great Escapes Vacations & Sales, working with owners and the team to help homes stay guest-ready, well-presented, and properly supported. His role helps connect homeowner communication, property needs, and the day-to-day details that contribute to a stronger vacation rental experience. Brad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Appalachian State University and is a licensed North Carolina real estate broker. Brad can be reached at [email protected].
Juanita Riordan
Reservations Manager
Juanita Riordan helps guests and owners through the reservations side of the business. As Reservations Manager, she supports the booking process, guest communication, and the details that help travelers choose the right home and feel prepared for their Outer Banks stay. Juanita brings direct Ships Watch hospitality experience along with practical vacation-rental reservation experience in the Outer Banks market. Her background gives her a strong understanding of owner expectations, guest service, reservation coordination, and the fast-paced communication required in a resort rental environment. She is well positioned to support Great Escapes’ hospitality and reservation administration because she understands both the guest-facing service experience and the behind-the-scenes coordination needed to keep stays organized. Juanita can be reached at [email protected].
Real Estate Sales Team
Great Escapes Vacations & Sales also offers OBX sales expertise for Outer Banks second homes, investment properties, vacation rental homes, condos, land, and Ships Watch ownership opportunities. Our sales team understands how location, rental potential, property condition, community amenities, and long-term ownership goals work together.
Leslie Gilmore
Broker / Owner
Leslie Gilmore has been active in Outer Banks real estate sales since 2001 and specializes in second homes, investment properties, and vacation rental homes. She first vacationed on the Outer Banks in the 1990s and later purchased land and built a vacation rental property in Corolla. Her experience in both sales and vacation rental management helps buyers and sellers think beyond the listing price and consider rental potential, ownership goals, property care, and long-term value.
Leslie has completed more than 260 sales transactions totaling over $95 million in sales volume and was ranked in the top 5% of Outer Banks real estate agents for number of transactions in 2025 according to the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS® MLS. She has previously served on the OBAR Board of Directors and on the Grievance, Professional Standards, Membership, Education, and Finance and Budget committees. She currently serves on the Property Management Council and Education Committee. Leslie holds degrees from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, and Mount Vernon College in Washington, DC.
Leslie’s real estate sales website, LeslieGilmore.com gives buyers and sellers a dedicated Outer Banks real estate search resource with access to every OBX home listed for sale, map search tools, market reports, and an email and text notification system for new listing alerts. The site is especially useful for buyers comparing second homes and investment properties, and for sellers who want local market insight before making a move. Leslie specializes in Duck and Corolla investment property sales and can be reached at [email protected].
Brad Bentley
Broker
Brad Bentley is part of the Great Escapes Vacations & Sales real estate team, helping buyers and sellers navigate Outer Banks real estate decisions. His work supports clients considering second homes, investment properties, and vacation rental opportunities across the OBX. Brad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Appalachian State University and can be reached at [email protected].
Mike Bishal
Broker
Mike Bishal is part of the Great Escapes Vacations & Sales real estate team and works with buyers and sellers across the Outer Banks. His real estate website, RealEstateOuterBanks.org, focuses on Outer Banks beach homes, vacation rentals, second homes, investment properties, and local ownership topics. Mike helps clients evaluate OBX real estate opportunities with practical guidance about location, property type, rental potential, and long-term ownership goals. Mike can be reached at [email protected].
Lynn Hoffmann
Broker
Lynn Hoffmann is part of the Great Escapes Vacations & Sales real estate team. As an investment property owner in Corolla, Lynn brings practical firsthand perspective on Outer Banks ownership, rental potential, property presentation, and the questions buyers and sellers face when evaluating resort real estate. Lynn can be reached at [email protected]
A Few Of Our Favorite Things…
We are often asked about our favorite things to do in Duck, Southern Shores, Corolla, and the surrounding Outer Banks communities. Here are a few local favorites our team is happy to share with guests, homeowners, buyers, and sellers.
Duck
“Duck is a mecca of great restaurants!”Go to Duck Donuts.”Duck Deli has great barbecue and a chicken salad. Try The Blue Point… and don’t miss the bar in the back.”Aqua has gorgeous food and is right on the sound…great views. Love their Duck Diva cocktail. Aqua also has a spa that is connected to the restaurant, perfect for special occasions.”“The Red Sky Cafe has awesome local food.The Roadside has a good cocktail called “Roadside Coffee”. They also have a great chicken salad.The Paper Canoe is delicious (closed on the off-season).”“Try the Sanderling Spa in Duck.”
Learn more about Duck, NC
Southern Shores
“People love Southern Shores because of the gorgeous beaches and because it feels less crowded than some of the other areas.””My Mom’s favorite BBQ place is High Cotton in Kitty Hawk.”Southern Shores” has Steamers, and they offer steamed clams to go for a real OBX experience.
Corolla
“Corolla has the best beaches on the entire Outer Banks.””Visitors should always take a wild horse tour and visit the Currituck Lighthouse and Whalehead Club. “Best restaurants include The Upside, Mama Easley’s Grub Hut (salads, sandwiches, baskets, and a good kid menu), Mexikind for great Mexican dine-in or take-out.Fat Crabs Rib Company is famous for family-style southern barbecue. Don’t miss the extra-large slices at Corolla Pizza. Bacchus Wine and Cheese has awesome wines and cakes…. Patti sends our repeat vacationers one of their chocolate cakes and they love it!.”Learn more about Corolla, NC
Our Vacation Rentals
Be Our Guest
Looking for an Outer Banks vacation rental? Great Escapes Vacations & Sales offers thoughtfully selected homes in Corolla, Duck, Ships Watch, and nearby OBX communities. Our team can help you compare location, bedroom layout, beach access, pet rules, private pools, hot tubs, and the amenities that matter most to your stay.
What People Say About Us
Guests and homeowners choose Great Escapes Vacations & Sales for responsive communication, local knowledge, thoughtfully selected homes, and personalized service. Here is what people have shared about working with our team.
Have a Question for Our Team?
Contact Great Escapes Vacations & Sales for help with vacation rentals, property management, second-home caretaker services, Ships Watch, or Outer Banks real estate. We will help connect you with the right person and the next best step.