A suburban atmosphere with mountain views close to the city
Over the past 20 years, Hampton Cove has developed from a cluster of rural backroads to one of the largest suburbs in Huntsville. Though not as quiet as it once was, this area retains its namesake cove-like atmosphere, surrounded by mountains and tucked away in the rolling terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. “People really love the mountain views,” says Leah Miller, Founder of the Miller Team and a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Huntsville who has lived in the city for 18 years. About 15 minutes from Downtown, residents of Hampton Cove get a scenic escape from the city without losing out on amenities. This area is home to highly rated schools, sweeping nature preserves, top-notch golf and new construction houses at varying price points.
A wide variety of new and established homes in a planned community
From fields to mountains to farmland, the houses in Hampton Cove vary almost as much as the terrain. “Most homes are no older than 25 years old, but there are a few that have been there longer,” says Miller. “They’re mostly single-family homes, though there are new apartments being built, and lots of new construction homes.” Two-story Colonial Revivals might line one street, while the next might be full of ranch-style new builds with a mix of brick and wood siding. A three-bedroom home can start at roughly $300,000, but closing prices for luxury estate-style houses can climb as high as $1 million. Across Hampton Cove, however, most homes have spacious lots with neatly trimmed lawns bordered by a strip of sidewalk. Landscaping tends to be modest and manicured, with shrubbery hugging the front façade to welcome visitors and frame the attached two-car garage.
Highly rated Huntsville City Schools located in Hampton Cove
Students can attend public Huntsville City Schools, with Hampton Cove Elementary and Hampton Cove Middle located in the area. Both schools score an A-minus from Niche. Huntsville High, roughly a 15-minute drive away, scores an A and has a separate Freshman Academy building to facilitate students’ transition to high school.
Hike through the hilly terrain at Hays Nature Preserve
Staying active in Hampton Cove is easy thanks to more than 20 miles of paved paths and sidewalks that wind through the neighborhood, which connect with the Big Cove Creek Greenway and the Flint River Greenway. The latter is located in the Hays Nature Preserve, a sprawling park full of winding paths through the Cumberland Plateau landscape, past playgrounds, picnic tables and river access for swimming and fishing. Residents can head to Cove Park for kid-friendly outdoor fun, where they’ll find a playground alongside baseball and soccer fields where families cheer on their little ones.
Members relax at the Hampton House or play a round of golf
Residents of the Hampton Cove master-planned community, which lends its name to the larger area, enjoy amenities provided by the Hampton House. Membership to this community center grants access to a resort-style pool, tennis courts and year-round events and parties like the Fourth of July fireworks. Some subdivisions are centered around the Hampton Cove Golf Course, a 54-hole facility set on 650 acres of the river valley. The terrain changes drastically from one side of the property to the other, from the long grasses of the Highlands Course to the flood plain of the Flint River on the River Course. Hampton Cove is the northernmost course of the nine stops on Alabama’s famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Pick up groceries or dinner close to home at Hampton Cove Center
For grocery shopping, locals head to the Walmart Supercenter or the Publix Super Market at Hampton Cove Center. Close to the Publix is Tortora’s Wood Fire Grille, an Italian restaurant best known for its pizza. Residents can relax on the patio or grab a front-row seat in the main dining room to watch the staff hand-toss the pizza dough. Yoshi Sushi Fusion, located just down the street, is another local favorite for fresh sushi and comforting bowls of ramen. While shopping and dining options in Hampton Cove are by no means extensive, folks have enough to stay satisfied close to home, with hip boutiques and eateries a little ways away in Downtown Huntsville and more big-box retail in Jones Valley.
Downtown Huntsville is only a 15-minute drive away
Less than 10 miles or approximately 15 to 20 minutes from Downtown Huntsville, residents can enjoy the quiet of the mountains without sacrificing their commute. Huntsville Hospital is near Downtown, putting emergency care within reach, and air travel is about half an hour west at Huntsville International Airport.
Photography Contributed By
Tommy Daspit
