Buena Vista

Bordered by Highway 281 to the west and Interstate 410 to the north, Buena Vista is a mostly rural area roughly divided by the San Antonio River, with a couple of more heavily populated residential areas on its north side. Much of the growth in the area is due to the nearby Toyota manufacturing plant, a major employer. The San Antonio Police Training Academy and Texas A&M University – San Antonio are also close by, and depending on where you live in Buena Vista, downtown San Antonio can be less than 30 minutes away.

The residential community in the northwest corner of the area, near Villa Coronado Park, is well-established. “It’s mostly one-story homes from the 1960s,” says Carolina Garcia, president and founder of Carolina Garcia Real Estate Group. “Some are updated, and others are not.” The average price for homes in this area is $275,000. “Convenience is what people like,” she adds. This community in particular is easily accessible to Highway 281 and I-410, and close to Mission Del Lago Golf Course and Mitchell Lake. For outdoor fun closer to home, head over to Villa Coronado Park. Kids can enjoy the swings, or check out the the slides on the covered, cushioned playground. Get your steps in on the walking trail that winds around the park, or join in some pickup basketball or tennis.

As of August 2023, listing prices range from $179,000 for an established ranch-style house that needs work to $475,000 for a renovated property with two, two-story dwellings on the same lot. Newer construction builds, most following New Traditional Craftsman design, are priced between $212,000 for a house with 1,300 square feet of living space, to $327,000 for 2,600 square feet of living space. Streets in the more populated residential areas are more likely to be lined with sidewalks. Since houses in the more rural parts of Buena Vista are spaced farther apart, you’ll need a car to get around those areas.

Buena Vista is served by Southside Independent School District (ISD) and East Central ISD. The districts are roughly divided by the San Antonio River. Students who live west of the river are zoned for Southside ISD, and can attend Gallardo Elementary School, Matthey Middle School and Southside High School. Southside High offers the Early College program, Air Force JROTC, and students can earn industry certification through the Career & Technical Education Program. Those in East Central ISD can attend Highland Forest Elementary School, Legacy Middle School and East Central High School. East Central High, graded B-minus on Niche, offers Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes. It supports one of the largest Health Science programs in the state, and a multi-award winning Agricultural Science program.

For grocery shopping, you can choose between the H-E-B on Southwest Military Drive on the west side of the San Antonio River, or the H-E-B on Southeast Military Drive on the east side, near City Base Landing in Brooks. Both are near Walmart Supercenters, but the H-E-B on the east side of the river is close to retail stores like Target, Best Buy and more. For a bite to eat closer to home, stop by Bar-B-Q Republic. It’s a local barbeque joint that opened in 2019, offering tasty smoked meats like savory brisket and pulled pork, served on combo plates or sandwiches with your choice of sides, including sweet potato casserole and green beans. You can even order smoked meat by the half pound, or order family-sized portions. Make sure to check their hours of operation, since they’re not open every day. Or pick up tacos, enchiladas and other Mexican fare at Karolina’s Mexican Food.

There’s a small public playground at Mission Espada, part of the San Antonio Missions National Park near the San Antonio River. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy the tours through the historic buildings and ruins; you can even take the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Trail north to other parts of the National Park.

In Buena Vista, you’re not far from work, nature, history or modern amenities.

Written By

Leah Rambadt

Photography Contributed By

Austin Rowdy Winters

Video By

Drew Webster