West Wichita

When you live in West Wichita, you can have it all. “It’s one of the fastest-selling areas in the city,” says Natasha Anderson, a team leader and Realtor with Elite Real Estate Experts. “The houses are usually bigger, so it can feel more secluded than the central part of the city, and it’s close to almost anything you can think of.” Specifically, West Wichita is home to the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Even though it’s the largest airport in Kansas, residents don’t have to worry about being disturbed. “It’s a bit far from any residential streets, so noisiness and busyness aren’t a huge factor here,” says Henderson. This travel hub is never far from your front door in West Wichita, and nor are bustling commercial centers, well-known restaurants, a plethora of schools and the two largest parks in the county.

The region is also brimming with subdivisions featuring a wide variety of house styles built throughout the 1990s. In Barrington Place, there are rows of ranch-styles and cul-de-sacs filled with split levels. Spinnaker Coves boasts larger, neo-eclectic homes with private lake access. You may even see a multi-gabled Tudor-style or symmetrical Colonial Revival in some communities. A house in this subdivision costs between $350,000 and $500,000, depending on if they have four or five bedrooms. Even with all these newer builds, midcentury designs are still common in West Wichita. These dwellings are either sprawling ranch-styles with massive picture windows or smaller houses with unique low-sloping roofs. With their typical three bedrooms, these homes sell for around $300,000, which is higher than the city’s average $200,000 selling price.

At 400-acre Sedgwick County Park, there is plenty of outdoor adventure for everyone. Hike or bike the miles of looped paved and gravel trails stretching across the green space. Partake in some friendly competition on the volleyball courts or the outdoor rollerblading rink. Anglers can cast a line into the four fishing lakes stocked with rainbow trout and catfish. Children will especially enjoy the playground, where they can make music with sound equipment or swing from the zipline. Art lovers can wander the 20-acre sculpture walk and admire the buffalo statues, authentic totem poles and other pieces made by Kansas-based artists. You can also visit The Sedgwick County Zoo and immerse yourself in the world of 3,000 different animals.

In the southern part of West Wichita is the largest park in the city: 625-acre Pawnee Prairie Park. Visitors can hike the miles of quintessential Kansas terrain leading to a newly built playground with a berm slide, or the whimsical butterfly garden. The nature trails even welcome horseback riders. You’ll also find the 18-hole, public Tex Consolver Golf Course on this land. With about 7,400 yards of well-kept fairway, this is the longest course in Wichita.

Children north of Central Avenue go to Kensler Elementary, where they are each given a laptop and an iPad to use during class. Students south of the thoroughfare attend Benton Elementary. Graduates of both schools attend Wilbur Middle School, which has a B-minus grade on Niche. Then, they go to Northwest High, and part of this school’s mission is to empower students with college and career readiness skills. Students can reach this goal by taking college credit courses provided by Wichita State University, or getting college application counseling and assistance at the school’s College Career Center. Students can also attend the area’s two catholic schools. For preschool through eighth grade, they can go to St. Francis of Assisi School and join chess club or choir. At Bishop Carroll Catholic High, students participate in the Academies program. This four-year system allows them to focus on a subject of their choosing, including fine arts, engineering or health.

Thanks to Central Avenue and Maple Street, residents have easy access to an abundance of eating and shopping options. Start your morning with a vegan burrito and latte from Sunflour Café. The establishment also acts as a marketplace, selling locally made beauty products, handmade art and more. For an upscale meal, stop by The Sweet Spot for menu items like miso-glazed salmon or perfectly seared steak. You can also order a scratch-made pie and signature cheesy garlic bread from Ziggy’s Pizza, which quickly became a city staple after opening its first location in 2012.

If you would rather make a meal at home, grab your reusable grocery bags and head to Kansas Grown, the largest farmer’s market in the state. Every Saturday of the summer, the outdoor market opens with 100 vendors. You can shop for fresh produce like the lettuce from Alpha Greens or eat from locally owned food trucks, including Hot Berries & Crepes. For year-round groceries, there is also a Walmart Supercenter, Target and Sam’s Club in the Westgate Market Square. To access the rest of the city, like the Old Town entertainment district, Kellogg Avenue cuts through West Wichita, adding an element of convenience to the area’s long list of amenities.

Written By

Meghan Baker

Photography Contributed By

Zach Manwell

Video By

Ryan Sisk