Rock Creek South

The idea of a neighborhood is difficult to define. On the most basic level, it’s a collection of buildings where people live. But each of us has a different idea of what qualifies as a neighborhood, even though we all know what someone else means when they say the word. At its core, the word involves a lot of feelings. Some places just feel more like a neighborhood than others. Strolling the streets of Rock Creek South in southeastern Independence, you get the sense that the area feels like a real neighborhood. Whether it's the towering oak and elm trees that line the streets or the kids shooting baskets in a driveway, there’s just something in the air that exudes neighborhood-ness. Real estate agent Linda Holm of ERA McClain Brothers echoes that sentiment: “Rock Creek South is a very nice, very well-established neighborhood where people care about each other and take care of their property,” she says.

The median price for homes in Rock Creek South is around $190,000, and buyers should expect to pay about $120 per square foot. A two-bedroom/one-bathroom bungalow starts at approximately $113,000, and prices can go up to $311,000 for a spacious five-bedroom/five-bathroom ranch-style home. “You’re seeing a lot of buyers coming and making upgrades to existing homes, and that’s improving values in the neighborhood,” says Holm. In other words, that median price might be going up very soon.

Children in the neighborhood can attend Cassell Park Elementary, Clifford H. Nowlin Middle and Van Horn High School, all three of which are in a hotbed of technology-themed education. All three schools participate with the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) teams. Elementary and middle school students have the option to join the FIRST Lego team under the mentorship of the high school’s FIRST robotics team members. “Robotics and STEM-related programs are very popular in the area,” says area Realtor Joe Blackshere of 1st Class Real Estate, “and the programs are doing very well.”

For outdoor recreation, Phil Roberts Park has a picnic shelter with a grill, a nature trail and directional signs (with distances to various waypoints) reminding visitors of those brave men and women who traveled the famed Oregon Trail heading west. Sports fans will be happy to hear that Rock Creek South is also just two miles away from both Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium. That means that Chiefs football games and Royals baseball games are virtually right in your own backyard. Just across Highway 40 is Cool Crest Family Fun Center, where both the young and the young-at-heart can play on one of three 18-hole miniature golf courses, drive go-karts around the track, play video games in the state-of-art arcade or just sit and eat pizza.

If your tastes lean more towards the artistic side of things, you’re in luck. Rock Creek South is also close to the highly-esteemed Englewood Arts District, which offers a full slate of creative activities and art shows throughout the year. Becka Watkins, a real estate agent with ReeceNichols, says of the Arts District, “It’s a community of creativity. During the summer, there is an outdoor sidewalk sale of artwork by local artists that is called Third Friday Art Walk.” The heart of the Arts District and all that it has to offer is less than a mile away from the neighborhood.

For groceries, you can head to Aldi, which is about 2 miles away, and both Lowe’s Home Improvement and Walmart Supercenter are just across I-70 for any home projects or household necessities. When hunger strikes and you’re not at home – or you’re at home but just don’t feel like cooking – head down to nearby Dixon’s Famous Chili Parlor, the restaurant begun by Texas transplant Vergne Dixon in 1919. They’ve been serving up steaming bowls of Vergne’s secret recipe (not to mention burgers and tacos, too) to hungry diners – including former President Harry S. Truman, who was so much of a regular that he had his own table – ever since. And if you’re really hungry, their all-you-can-eat option is guaranteed to fill you up, though they aren’t responsible for any lingering heartburn.

While it might be difficult to define exactly what makes a neighborhood, it’s one of those things that you know when you see it. And after a visit to Rock Creek South, you’ll know you’ve found a real neighborhood. If that sounds like what you’re looking for in your next home, check it out. You’ll be glad you did.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Brooke Wasson

Video By

Celeste Thoms