Tarpley City

Contrary to what its name may suggest, Tarpley City is a quiet, intimate suburb in southwest Birmingham. If peaceful streets, friendly neighbors and proximity to incredible attractions appeal, look no further than this small slice of suburbia. Ranch-style and bungalow homes make up the majority of this neighborhood with homes on average being valued at $63,500—much less expensive than the homes in Sand Ridge where homes costs range between $260,000 and $850,000 and is only small distance to the south. Residents of Tarpley City enjoy many of the same benefits: proximity to Red Mountain’s trails and the popular golf course in Oxmoor Valley.

Kids in the area attend Oxmoor Valley Elementary School. Constructed in 2013 to serve students in Southwest Birmingham and Oxmoor Valley, the school sits on 16.4 beautiful acres surrounded by a serene setting. The facility includes 28 classrooms equipped with iPads, interactive view boards, STEM labs, a library media center, two playgrounds and an outdoor track and stadium. Meanwhile, teenagers in the neighborhood attend Wenonah High School. The current building replaces the one that was built in 1948. The 183,000-square-foot facility includes a 750-seat auditorium with theatrical lighting and sound systems, a state-of-the-art media center and computer labs. The career-technical wing has an electronics classroom with lab areas and a fully-equipped commercial kitchen for the school’s culinary arts program. The school also boasts a welding career program and a cosmetology program.

Breathtaking mountain views await visitors to Red Mountain Park, which can be accessed from Tarpley City via the Venice Road entrance. Visitors to the park are transported back in time, as it’s one of the country’s largest industrial archaeological sites. Hikers can discover old landmarks and artifacts from the area’s mining past through scenic trails. Adventure-seekers can whiz through the mature trees along the park’s zip line, enjoying the beautiful views. Of course, there’s plenty to experience on foot. The park has 16 miles of multi-use trails that wind through 1,500 forested acres. Residents can bring their canine companions to Remy’s Dog Park. Recognized by Southern Living magazine as one of the “10 Great Southern Dog Parks,” this doggie oasis has three separate dog parks with shaded areas, benches and open spaces for pups to run and play. The park also has treehouses for visitors to enjoy. Haskell’s Hideaway is a 1.37-mile hike from the welcome center, along the Smythe Trail or via the SkyHy Ridge Trail. Locals can cross a long, swinging bridge to the large platform built around a tree that soars into the sky. Visitors enjoy incredible panoramic views of the park from its viewing platform.

Area history buffs can explore old mining landmarks at the park and imagine a Birmingham of almost 150 years ago. One such landmark just outside Tarpley City is the Hoist House at the Redding Shaft Mine. This mostly intact Spanish Revival building was built in 1917 by Woodward Iron Company in response to a competitor buying land on the other side of the mountain that cut access to its Songo Mine. Woodward dug a shaft mine several hundred feet straight down to intersect with the Songo slope mine, then built the house to keep the equipment used to haul miners up and ore from the other mine. Its Spanish Revival is unique to the otherwise very industrial Birmingham architecture.

The Robert Trent Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley is just south of the neighborhood. It’s one of eleven facilities within the trail. Built on former mining land owned by U.S. Steel, the courses offer scenic forests, numerous creeks and challenging elevation changes. The facility’s Ridge course offers various elevation changes, heavy tree cover and beautiful views. Paying homage to the area’s mining history, the green at the par-5 3rd hole is buttressed by a shelf of exposed shale rock. The Valley course was completely renovated in 2021 and features new tees, bunkers and greens. The Back Yard course is meant to be played in about an hour by a foursome. The nine par three holes can play as short as 59 yards and as long as 132 yards. It’s designed with no water hazards, so golfers of all skill levels can have a good time.

When locals get hungry, they head to Overtime Grill and Bar, which offers comfort chow, draft beer, pool tables and television screens showing the big game. With scenic hiking trails, gorgeous mountain views and quick access to iconic golf courses, Tarpley City is an attractive place to live.

Written By

Rebecca Frankel

Photography Contributed By

Alan Bates

Video By

Austin Lewis