West End

The West End neighborhood of New Orleans is a unique area of the city. Part bedroom community, part recreational district, the West End is also a boathouse community, with more than 130 such homes surrounding the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor. It’s been this way for quite a while, too, because the neighborhood is nearly 200 years old. Founded in the 1830s, it had become a nationally recognized resort town only a few years later and was even called the “Coney Island of New Orleans.” In 1871, the state allowed the Mexican Gulf Ship Canal Company to drain marshland near Lake Pontchartrain to create more land for homes and businesses. The gambit worked, and by 1921, enough land had been dredged and stacked to create West End Park, which is still open today. The community is ideally placed between Lake Pontchartrain and Veterans Memorial Boulevard, so residents can enjoy the pleasures of the water, along with shopping centers, restaurants, green spaces and marinas.

The West End is filled with condos, town houses and single-family homes. There are lots of boathouses from the 1950s as well. If you prefer to live on land, the neighborhood has a selection of contemporary, ranch-style, and traditional designs to please every taste. Lawns are well-cared for and some use native plants and shrubs in the landscaping. Prices range from $150,000 for a one-bedroom and bath condo to $940,000 for a contemporary new construction with seven bedrooms and seven baths.

Students in West End have their choice of private, parochial and public schools. Edward Hynes Charter School was established in 1952 and is the tenth-best charter school in the state. The culturally diverse facility has numerous extracurricular activities such as the Boy and Girl Scouts or student council. Mary Bethune Elementary School was acknowledged by Niche as having some of the best public middle school teachers in Louisiana. Warren Easton Charter High School was founded in 1843 and was the first high school in the state. It’s known for its robust athletic programs including track, soccer, basketball, cheer and dance.

One of the major attractions of the West End neighborhood is the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor. This public benefit corporation leases and manages all the city property in West End except for the Orleans Marina. The harbor can accommodate 455 boats of varying sizes in its slips and has a fishing pier and boat launch. It’s also surrounded by 135 boathouses built in the 1950s. All have lakefront and park views which keeps them in extremely high demand. The harbor was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding efforts took more than a decade. Today, it’s been restored and remains one of the major entry points to Lake Pontchartrain.

West End Park is directly adjacent to the municipal harbor. The 14-acre green space was created in 1921 with land dredged from the lake and was fashioned after the “pleasure gardens” of the late 1800s. The park is surrounded by water, making it a restful island just minutes from the hubbub of Veterans Boulevard. Ringed by oak trees, the space has a lagoon, a central fountain and a footbridge. There’s also a three-quarter mile walking trail and plenty of benches and tables to take a break on. As an added bonus, the New Canal Lighthouse of 1890 can be seen from the north end of North Roadway Street.

Another perk of the neighborhood is the abundance of incredible dining options. Two Tony’s Restaurant is a family-owned establishment specializing in Italian cuisine, Louisiana seafood and handcrafted cocktails. They use family recipes to give the dishes authenticity, and the Montalbano family even makes their own line of marinara sauce. Opened in 1989, this eatery invites everyone to try a Kraken hurricane, Pontchartrain punch or a classic martini while relaxing in the outdoor seating area.

Found between Metairie and Lakeview, the West End combines 200 years of history with today’s convenient access to major roadways, water recreation and everyday essentials.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Nathan Allen