A still-developing community rising from a past full of amusement
Entertainment is part of Lakeland’s core, not just because of its outdoor amphitheater and public golf course. The land that makes up this city was once part of Lakeland Amusement Park, a popular attraction in the 1960s and ’70s with ambitious goals of developing into the world’s largest playground. The park closed down in 1977, and residential development popped up in its place. Now a community of 14,000, Lakeland features spacious modern homes and continues steady but measured growth. “Lakeland’s just a hot area, so all of the neighborhoods are good,” says Lauren Cansler, a Realtor with Crye-Leike Real Estate Services and a longtime area resident. “If you see the 38002 [zip code], people normally jump on it.”
Lakeland is a quaint residential suburb on the eastern side of the Memphis metro area.
Lakeland is a quiet, relaxing town filled with natural beauty.
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Whether established or new, Lakeland homes come with character
The city was incorporated in 1977 in the wake of the amusement park’s closure. This results in most homes dating from the mid-20th century or more recently. The 240-acre, man-made Garner Lake was once the anchor of the amusement park, and one of the park’s signature draws was its sky ride, which carried passengers over the water. Today, the lake is a private recreation amenity for those who own one of the hundreds of homes by the water in subdivisions like Lakeland Estates and Windward Slopes. Many of these houses were constructed between the 1970s and early 2000s and sell for anywhere from $300,000 to $900,000. “I’ve been here since the ’60s and I actually own a house on the lake where one of the sky lifts landed. So, it’s really, really cool,” Cansler says. “I actually owned the property on the other side of the lake where the other side of the sky lift landed… What it has to offer is it’s very clean. The homeowner association’s very strict out here, so they don’t allow a lot of debris and big signs that make it look commercial.”
Recent construction in Lakeland is mainly located north and east of Garner Lake, in developments including Herons Ridge and Oakwood Grove. These homes go for $500,000 to $850,000. The median list price in town is $484,500, and the average square footage here is about 2,700 — both marks are significantly higher than in nearby Memphis. “Everything is individual, there’s not any cookie-cutter homes out here,” Cansler says.
Waterfront homes often feature docks and slips for Lakeland homeowners to tie up their boats.
Many of Lakeland's homes are large and sit atop spacious lots.
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BlueOval is poised to boost the job sector
While Lakeland is mainly residential, the wider region provides jobs in healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Saint Francis is one of the major players in the healthcare sector, including the 196-bed Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, 2 miles west of Lakeland. Neighboring the city, Memphis is home to headquarters for Fortune 500 companies, including FedEx, International Paper and AutoZone. A new Ford manufacturing complex 26 miles away in Stanton, called BlueOval City, is expected to begin producing electric trucks in 2027, bringing several thousand more jobs to the area.
BlueOval City is an expansive Ford plant under construction near Lakeland.
FedEx is a major employer for Lakeland and the Memphis area.
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Garner Lake still garners plenty of attention
Garner Lake is a significant part of life for many who live near it, with many homes directly on the water featuring docks out back. The lake, which is the largest across Shelby County, is open to boating, swimming and fishing. International Harvester Managerial Park has another fishing lake, plus “The LAMP" Amphitheatre, which hosts summer outdoor concerts and movie nights. The public Lakeland Golf Club has an 18-hole course open year-round in a region with hot summers and temperate winters.
Lakeland Golf and Paddle Club features a sprawling 18-hole golf course.
Garner Lake is a private lake that provides local homeowners convenient summertime recreation.
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Lake District and Lakeland Town Square are symbols of steady growth
As the city’s population has grown by 12% since 2010, Lakeland has been strategic about development from both commercial and residential standpoints. Mixed-use areas like Lakeland Town Square and The Lake District have recently opened, offering some local eateries and other businesses. But much of the area’s shopping and dining is outside the city, including the Wolfchase Galleria mall, 2 miles away in Memphis. “Lakeland is only about 20 minutes away from pretty much anything,” Cansler says.
The Lake District is a new development located just off of Canada Road and I-40 in Lakeland.
Lakeland has expanded in recent years, bringing in new shops and cafes such as Carrington Oaks.
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Expanding Lakeland school system is a draw
The Lakeland School System, with its A grade on Niche, is why some families want to live here. The district dates back to 2013 and is still expanding to full coverage. Students have historically jumped from Lakeland Preparatory for middle school to Arlington High in the Arlington Community Schools system. However, Lakeland Preparatory received a $40 million addition to begin accommodating high school grades. The transition started with Grade 9 in the 2022-23 school year, with plans to add one additional high school grade in each successive year.
Lakeland Elementary School encourages creativity and individuality.
Lakeland Preparatory School currently serves students from 5th grade through 10th grade.
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Interstate 40 is the link to the region’s hubs
Part of Interstate 40 cuts through Lakeland. The highway is a direct link to Memphis, 20 miles west, and Nashville, roughly 190 miles east. I-40 and I-240 take travelers to the Memphis International Airport, a 24-mile trip.
Crime
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office provides policing in Lakeland. According to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, the property crime rate across Shelby dropped 20%, the violent crime rate fell 2% and the overall crime rate decreased 11% from 2023 to 2024.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
Photography Contributed By
Aaron Bloodworth
Video By
Colleen Carey
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On average, homes in Lakeland, TN sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Lakeland, TN over the last 12 months is $468,500, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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