Clifton Heights

Louisville's well-established Clifton Heights neighborhood has, since the late 1800s, taken its cues from the surrounding landscape: green, rolling hills and quick, easy access to the Ohio River. Thanks to its hilly nature, the neighborhood grew in popularity with the rise of the automobile, which made travel there easier.

Today, Clifton Heights is located next to the trendy Frankfort Avenue area, where residents will find shops and restaurants in addition to nightlife options. The neighborhood's open spaces and tree-lined residential streets provide a small-town, secluded feel for its residents even though it's convenient to a waterfront park, the Lynn Family Soccer stadium and the Brownsboro Road business district.

Just 2 miles east of downtown Louisville, this neighborhood offers a variety of house styles including historic turn-of-the-century shotgun houses — narrow structures with rooms connected by doors but no hallways. There also are spacious bungalows, brick cottages and contemporary ranch homes built in the 1970s. Some existing residences on large lots have been developed into apartments and condominiums.

The Brownsboro Road business district along U.S. Highway 42 is home to many independent, local businesses that are mainstays in the community: eateries like Derby City Pizza and cultural attractions such as the Mellwood Arts Center, a factory that has been transformed into an art gallery and event space.

Many parks and attractions are situated along the Ohio River and River Road about 2 miles away from Clifton Heights including Louisville Champions Park, which boasts a dog park area, and the Waterfront Botanical Gardens. Just outside the neighborhood is the circa-1860s Louisville Water Tower, considered to be the oldest ornamental water tower; and the Waterworks Museum, which is housed in a renovated pump house.

Residents of Clifton Heights have quick access to many of the events and attractions of Louisville. The local radio station WFPL sponsors Waterfront Wednesdays, a free summer concert series on the Big Four Lawn waterfront park that has become a beloved city attraction. The Actors Theatre of Louisville is a renowned professional theater with annual holiday shows such as “A Christmas Carol,” and offers full seasons of productions. Museums like the Kentucky Science Center, the Frazier History Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory are located within 5 miles of Clifton Heights.

Clifton Heights has an abundance of parks and open spaces. River Road links Clifton Heights to the 11-acre Louisville Champion Park with its multiuse athletics fields. Just a few miles outside Clifton Heights, The Waterfront Botanical Garden offers free admission. Farther to the west, the waterpark Big Four Lawn hosts many and outdoor concerts. Catering to the youngest neighborhood residents, the Hopewell Tot Lot Park provides a shady playground for children. The riverfront Eva Bandman Park and Cyclocross Venue offers open space as well as a rough terrain for adventurous cyclocross bike riders.

Immaculata Classical Academy is a private Catholic school in Clifton Heights. It was founded in 2010 with 19 students, serving prekindergarten through eighth grade. It has since grown to serve nearly 200 students, now through the 12th grade. In 2016, the school became a member of the Archdiocese Schools of Louisville. It focuses on delivering a classical education involving instruction in Latin, the humanities, grammar, mathematics and theology.

While Clifton Heights has some access points to the city bus system, it is mostly a car-dependent community. Many city attractions and neighborhood hot spots are a few miles away. With on-ramps to Interstates 64 and 71, this neighborhood about 3 miles from Louisville's downtown and conveniently linked to the rest of the city, easing commutes to surrounding towns. The area’s convenient proximity to the major highways also is a boon for those with long-distance commutes.

Photography Contributed By

Dale Rushing

Video By

Matt Ferguson