Lake View is a rustic area with easy access to larger cities
Lake View is a rustic community split between two sections. The western half was once known as Million Dollar Lakes and contains nine bodies of water; the eastern half, called Tannehill Preserve, is newer and provides residents with access to four fishing lakes. The sections are divided by Interstate 20, which makes commuting convenient. Jenn Saliba, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Hoover, says many residents work at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, a manufacturing plant near Tuscaloosa, or they have careers in Birmingham. “It’s a country lifestyle, but with easy access to the city,” Saliba says.
New Traditional homes split between wooded and suburban environments
Many Lake View homes are New Traditional in style and were built after 1990. Houses in the region’s western half often range from $220,000 to $400,000. These houses sit in a densely wooded area with narrow, snaking roads. Properties usually sit on hills, and their large lots can feature several tall trees and smaller bushes. Homes in the city’s Tannehill Preserve subdivision usually sell between $230,000 and $365,000. Although surrounded by trees and farmland, the community itself has a more suburban feel, with well-paved roads and neighborhood streets that feature sidewalks. Parking along the curb is a common practice.
Mexican, barbecue and country-style restaurants are nearby
There are a handful of restaurants between the city’s two developments along state Route 216, including El Comal, a Mexican eatery, and Iron Skillet, which serves country-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. More options straddle U.S. Route 11 to the south, like La Tortilla, which has rotating specials, and Promise Land BBQ, a cash-only eatery. The area has multiple Dollar General locations, and grocery stores like Publix and Piggly Wiggly are less than 10 miles away in McCalla.
Two school districts and Alabama's expanding school choice program
Many area students are served by the Tuscaloosa County School System, which earns an overall B-plus Niche grade. They can attend Lake View Elementary School, which holds an individual B score. Brookwood Middle School gets a C-plus rating. Brookwood High School offers Career and Technical Education programs like plant science, modern manufacturing and fashion. It receives a B-minus. Other students may be zoned for the Jefferson County Board of Education, also known as JEFCOED, which earns an overall B Niche grade. Alabama’s CHOOSE Act of 2024 program provides families with up to $7,000 in funding for private school tuition and other expenses through education savings accounts. By 2027, the program will be open to all students, with priority given to families with lower incomes. The closest private school is Bessemer Academy, which is less than 10 miles from Tannehill Preserve and holds an A-minus score.
Lakes, a golf course and Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
Residents get access to the community's lakes, including Ski Lake, which has a boat launch and allows water sports. Catfish Lake lives up to its name and is popular with anglers. The private Lake View Club has a nine-hole golf course and a pool. Cash Brothers MX is a public motorbike and ATV dirt track, and the Jerry Tingle Activity Center provides fitness equipment and a pool with water slides. Nearby, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park offers hiking, biking, fishing and camping near a 19th-century ironworks campus. It is home to the Alabama Iron and Steel Museum and hosts events like Civil War reenactments and car shows throughout the year.
The Tannehill Halloween Fairyland event draws big crowds
The annual Lake View Day, held at Tannehill Preserve, combines family-friendly activities with live music and food trucks. The Tannehill Halloween Fairyland event, at Tannehill Ironworks, is one of the region’s biggest attractions. “It is a sight to see,” Saliba says. “There are big, elaborate displays.” Saliba says RV spots for the event are often filled by the end of September.
I-20 traffic near Tuscaloosa can get backed up during football season
Interstate 20 runs through the community, allowing drivers to travel northeast to Birmingham or southwest to Tuscaloosa, both of which are roughly 30 miles away. Saliba says I-20 can get backed up on University of Alabama football game days, first heading to Tuscaloosa, then leaving it. “We all say ‘Roll Tide’ around here,” Saliba says. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is around a 35-mile drive. UAB Medical West Hospital is about 12 miles away.
