Hickman Mills

Located in south Kansas City, Missouri, the Hickman Mills neighborhood boasts a “location that is second to none for people who want to be connected to the rest of the city,” Keller Williams real estate agent Riyad Naser says. While the neighborhood is home to its share of local businesses, its proximity to Interstates 435 and 470 means other restaurants, retailers and recreation in the metro area are just a quick drive away.

In addition to its stellar location, Hickman Mills is home to several different house styles, like bungalows with spacious front lawns or stone façade split-levels. Ranch-style homes with one-car garages and the occasional two-story add-ons are also common. Other design features in Hickman Mills include brick chimneys, small front porches and roofs with multiple dormers. You may come across a charming cottage-style home with whimsical, lush landscaping behind picket fences. These three- to four-bedroom homes are sold for a median price of $180,000, slightly below the $215,000 Kansas City average.

Hickman Mills is home to a few watering holes that may look small on the outside, but you’ll be met with familiarity and fun on the inside. At Peppermill Lounge South, you can enjoy happy hour deals until 6 p.m. and play pool at one of the several tables. Not even 1 mile down the street, you will also find Richey’s Club, where you can drink reasonably priced beer, devour St. Louis-style pizza and play a game of table shuffleboard.

Also along Hickman Mills Drive is GotWhatULike, a small storefront often regarded as one of the best record stores in Kansas City. You can flip through the 12,000 vinyl records from every music genre, or buy a cassette to further induce nostalgia. You will find a few more locally owned eateries in the nearby Longview Shopping Plaza. For instance, El Rincón serves various Latin food, including pupusas and gorditas. The plaza is also home to El Mercado Fresco for all your Latin grocery needs. Hickman Mills is also about 2 miles from Truman’s Marketplace, a shopping center where you will find more produce and poultry at Price Chopper or new clothes from Burlington, TJ Maxx and Rue 21. The center also has several chain fast-food restaurants, like Chipotle, McAlister’s Deli and Wendy’s.

The area is served by The Hickman Mills C-1 School District, which became the first consolidated school district in Kansas City, Missouri in 1902. Today, the district serves about 5,000 students in surrounding metropolitan areas. Children in the neighborhood attend Burke Academy, a school for first through fifth graders. The area also takes its libraries seriously. A student I.D. for any school in the district doubles as a library card, and the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Blue Ridge Branch was recently renovated, adding a new community room.

Once school is out, children can enjoy The Bay Water Park from Memorial Day until Aug. 21. For just $6, you can float down the lazy river, spin around the swirl bowl or zoom down the several water slides. The park also has a kiddie pool for smaller children and a free splash park right next door.

Additional water-related fun is barely 3 miles away from Hickman Mills at the sandy beaches of Longview Lake. This 930-acre body of freshwater provides certified lifeguards, picnic shelters and sand volleyball. The lake is also home to several events throughout the summer, like the Sand Cinema Movie Series, where you can bring blankets and chairs to watch a kid-friendly movie on the beach. During the winter, Longview Lake also hosts Christmas in the Park. For 36 years, Kansas Citians have driven through this winter wonderland that features over 1 million holiday-themed lights. Other nearby recreation opportunities include the 5-acre Ruskin Way Park, which has plenty of green space for any outdoor activity, along with a new playground and a swing set. Or, head to the paved trail at 8-acre Sycamore Park for a leisurely walk or early-morning jog.

For more nearby hotspots, you can hop on the highway and head 14 miles north toward bustling Downtown Kansas City.

Written By

Meghan Baker

Photography Contributed By

Brooke Wasson

Video By

Bill Jennings