Homes and parks fill Fairdale, a quiet area near Louisville
Fairdale is a residential enclave of Louisville, with nature to the west and the city to the northeast. “It’s just a good, quiet community, but close to everything and affordable,” says Cheryl Sabin, an associate broker and realtor at United Real Estate Louisville, with 15 years of experience. “They have the parks and golf right there, and if they want to do something in Louisville, it’s close — so is the track, Churchill Downs.” Shopping centers, including strip malls and the Jefferson Mall, are also nearby.
Subdivisions and a country club with single-family homes
Many homes are subdivided, and some are in communities where the backyards overlook the South Park Country Club. “Everybody keeps up their property, like the yards are well kept,” Dixon says. “It’s affordable to live there. There’s a variety of homes, some a bit lower under the $200,000s and some up in the $300,000s, depending on location and size of the house.” Ranch-style homes, some covered with bricks, have a price range of about $80,000 to $440,000. Cape Cods are also in the area and are priced roughly between $90,000 and $260,000. New Traditionals may be single- or multi-story and go from around $220,000 to $430,000.
School choice and Jefferson County Public Schools district zoning
The Jefferson County Public Schools district serves the area and offers school choice. Students must apply to elementary schools and, depending on where they reside, are zoned for middle and high schools. Fairdale Elementary School earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Many residences are within the boundary for C-graded Lassiter Middle School and B-graded Fairdale High School. Students attending Fairdale High may enroll in career and technical education courses in pathways such as nursing.
Nature from Jefferson Memorial Forest to South Park Country Club
Jefferson Memorial Forest, an urban wilderness, spans Fairdale's western and southern regions. The nature preserve includes four areas, the Horine Reservation camping area and three trail-filled sections. During a weekend in May, the preserve hosts Forest Fest, a bluegrass and folk celebration with live music in addition to food and artisan vendors. Siltstone Trail runs for nearly 7 miles one way between Tom Wallace Recreation Area and Scott’s Gap Section, where a loop trail totals over 3 miles.
Nelson Hornbeck Park is in Fairdale’s central region and features a playground and a splash pad. Pickleball courts, baseball fields and a basketball park are also there. South Park Country Club is a private club in the area with an 18-hole golf course, fishing lakes and a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool. The club offers social and golf-included membership options.
Jefferson Mall, local dining on Manslick Road and national chains
Local restaurants on Manslick Road include Derby City Pizza Company and Shack in the Back BBQ. The barbecue restaurant features a rustic dining room with industrial finishes. Outer Loop is a thoroughfare home to a Kroger and Jefferson Mall, a traditional indoor shopping center. The commercial area surrounding Jefferson Mall has many national restaurant chains and retailers, such as Best Buy.
Commutes to downtown Louisville, the college campus and airport
Interstate 65 connects Fairdale to downtown Louisville in nearly 15 miles. The University of Louisville is about 12 miles away, and the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, with many nonstop flights to domestic destinations, is approximately a 10-mile drive.
