Conway

Midtown Conway's roundabouts, historic homes and annual events make it a place where even Little Rock locals come to live. Midtown is centrally located to everything the city of Conway is known for. Midtown Conway offers proximity to the Conway's three major universities, whose culture and growth has earned Conway the moniker the ‘City of Colleges.’ Just 45 miles from Little Rock, Midtown Conway has steadily developed with the city since its founding in 1872. “Conway has grown into a bigger city but still has that small-town feel. We have great hospitals, doctors, shopping—just everything you need," says Evelyn Dean, a Broker with Re/Max Elite who has been selling in the area for 17 years and long-time resident since 1993. <br><br>Everybody in Conway knows about Toad Suck Daze. "So, every community has their little fairs, and Toad Suck Daze is one of them. It's a pretty big thing here on the first weekend of May. They block off four blocks downtown with rides and food trucks," says Dean. This three-day festival honors local folklore, which tells a tale of sailors traveling along the Arkansas River. Conway centers the arts, with events held at The Lantern Theatre, The Conway Symphony Orchestra, Reynolds Performance Hall and The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. <br><br>Conway Downtown Farmer's Market season begins in April and continues until September. The market is on Saturday mornings, with over 40 vendors selling farm-fresh produce, flowers, and locally sourced, sustainable meats. Conway's Historic Downtown is a trove of locally owned thrift stores, boutiques, coffee shops and theaters. Mike's Place is a favored New Orleans-style haunt named 2021 Best Overall Restaurant in Conway by the Arkansas Times. Conway Commons is a regional shopping hub on Elsinger Boulevard with dozens of big box stores like Target, PetSmart and The Home Depot. <br><br>"We also have plenty of walking trails in town. The city is working on connecting them throughout the area," Dean says. The city has dozens of green spaces, the closest being Laurel Park and Gatling Park. The former spans 26 acres, most popular for its interactive splash zone. The latter offers access to the 6.5-mile Tucker Creek Walking Trail and a BMX pump track. Cocooned by trees, Cadron Settlement Park is tucked along the Arkansas River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The private Conway Country Club is 90 acres of rolling greens that has drawn members since 1926. Just 10 miles south, Lake Conway is a go-to spot for bass, catfish and crappie fishing. <br><br>Midtown Conway has pockets of neighborhoods around retail, recreation and schools. Built throughout the 20th century—Craftsman, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival homes populate the city's Historic District found along Cross, Prince, Faulkner and Watkins streets. Windcrest, Rosewood Terrace, Jefferson Place and Sherman Oaks are subdivisions with ranch styles, minimal traditionals, bungalows and new construction. Loblolly pine trees tower over most homes, abundant with shrubbery, spacious backyards, driveways and garages. Prices vary, from $230,000 for a three-bedroom at 1,700 square feet built in the 1980s to upwards of $695,000 for a 3,000 square foot five-bedroom built in the 1920s. "It's a lot cheaper to live here. We have city-owned utilities, so everything is included in one bill," Dean says. <br><br>Midtown has four schools run by the Conway Public School District, including Julia Lee Moore Elementary, which earns an A-minus grade on Niche. Ray Phyllis Simon Middle School and Conway Junior High School earn an A-minus, and Conway High School receives an A. Conway High is one of the state's largest high schools and has a Career Center that offers 13 different programs – from construction technology to the culinary arts. The city is best known for being the site of three higher education institutions – the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and Central Baptist College.<br><br>Midtown Conway is home to US U.S. Route 65, U.S. Route 64 and Interstate 40, which connects to Little Rock in 34 miles. The drive to the city is about 30 to 40 minutes, and locals are lucky as traffic in Conway is decent. Despite being a big city, Conway needs more public transportation, but in 2022, it implemented its Rock Region Metro dial-a-ride transit services to get around town. Many locals stay in town for work, as the three universities, the healthcare system and The Meadows Office & Technology Park are major employers. Conway Regional Medical Center is on College Avenue, providing 24/7 emergency care, and Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is 40 miles south.

Convenience is key in East Conway. Not only is the area bisected by Interstate 40, but it’s also dotted with well-known commercial hubs and right outside of the city’s historic core. “There is a ton of activity here. Almost everything you need is within 10 minutes, and some people could even walk to the downtown strip,” says Claire Carter Smithson, executive broker for Homeward Realty.<br><br>East Conway is also teeming with quiet, classic subdivisions from various decades. “There’s not one defining house style here,” says Carter Smithson. “It's more of a combination of the city’s different housing booms.” The midcentury communities consist of sprawling ranch styles with low-pitched roofs and half-acre lots. Neighborhoods built in the 1990s and beyond are brick-façade neo-classical dwellings with four-to-five bedrooms and two-car garages. The area’s most eastern region also has a few custom-built estates with wide low-country front porches and Greek Revival-style colonnades. Like most of Conway, a home here typically costs between $150,000 and $400,000. <br><br>With numerous thoroughfares surrounding East Conway, residents will never have to go far for dining, shopping and entertainment options. Visit the Conway Towne Center to catch the latest blockbuster at Cinemark or devour Italian fare at Verona. The eatery is revered for its handmade pasta like the tortellini sauteed in garlic and basil and dressed in a sherry wine sauce. Holly’s Country Cookin’ is another local favorite. It serves a small selection of soul food classics every day. For instance, patrons can get succulent boneless ribs, tender roast beef or a hearty helping of chicken lasagna on Monday. The area is also home to the Conway Commons, where you can browse stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target or Old Navy. Whether you prefer to shop at Kroger, Harps, Walmart or a locally-owned Mexican spot, there are also plenty of grocery options in the area. <br><br>Children in the Conway Public Schools district follow a unique four-school track. First, students go to Theodore Jones Elementary, which boasts a B-grade from Niche. Once they finish fourth grade, they attend Bob Courtway Middle School for fifth through seventh grade before going to Conway Junior High for eighth grade and freshman year. Lastly, students go to Conway High School. Thanks to its thorough college counseling department, the school has an A-minus grade in college prep from Niche. The school also has 23 Advanced Placement classes and an on-campus career center, offering certifications in several fields, including welding or health science technology. <br><br>East Conway is also near the private, liberal arts Hendrix College, where residents can enjoy a 1-mile hike through its Hendrix Creek Preserve. The 18-acre green space features gravel and boardwalk paths alongside the glittering waterway. And the area’s unique outdoor adventure doesn’t end there. The Don Owens Sports Complex and its 125 acres are filled with nine turf baseball diamonds, the Faulkner County Rodeo Arena and the off-leash Conway Dog Park. Residents can also reserve the three basketball courts or the two racquetball courts at the indoor facility. <br><br>With all these amenities and the rest of the city within arm’s reach, East Conway provides residents with everything they need and more.