$324,281Average Value$200Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
A Lexington neighborhood that doesn’t stay put
Despite its name, Idle Hour is a community that hardly stays put. The neighborhood shares its name with the Idle Hour Country Club, a private 18-hole golf course that has been a part of the community since 1946. In addition to the country club, this Lexington neighborhood also features a 23-acre park and a multi-purpose senior center facility that opened in 2016 to meet the needs of its aging population. Elderly residents here often walk through Idle Hour Park to reach the Lexington Senior Center. Free to anyone over 60 years old, the center offers spaces for cardio, strength training and games like cornhole and billiards. The community also takes its landscaping seriously and has an organization that actively recruits volunteers to help maintain their neighborhood’s curb appeal. “It is a great, highly walkable, mixed-use neighborhood. It’s the cutest neighborhood in the city,” says Kristy Stambaugh, Lexington’s director of Aging and Disabilities Services.
Idle Hour has a Bike Score® of 45 out of 100.
The Lexington Senior Center provides activities and classes for Idle Hour residents over 60.
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Post-World War II era homes
The majority of the Idle Hour neighborhood was developed during the post-World War II housing surge. Prioritized with the arrival of the city's former IBM plant in the 1950s, housing styles reflected the era and consist primarily of ranch-style and midcentury designs. Lots near the golf course start out at a half-acre and normally include upscale features like long looping driveways and neatly trimmed bushes. Maintained by volunteers throughout the year, the medians along St. Ann and St. Margaret Drive are home to oak and pine trees, and often feature seasonally appropriate plantings, like bright red tulips in the spring. The Idle Hour Neighborhood Alliance organizes a Yard of the Month contest, and volunteers — humorously named “Landscape Ninjas” — can perform mowing and trimming work for homeowners who don’t have the resources or the time. Homes throughout the neighborhood run roughly between $200,000 and $300,000, however, homes near the course can reach between $400,000 and $630,000.
A row of ranch homes
A renovated ranch-style home with a garage in Idle Hour
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A myriad of neighborhood recreational facilities
Membership to the Idle Country Club requires an invitation and board approval. In addition to its pristine 18-hole course, members can enjoy other activities like swimming or tennis. In keeping with the region’s equestrian culture, each of the course’s holes is named in honor of a previous champion racehorse. Nearby, families enjoy spending time at Idle Hour Park, which features a playground, pickleball courts and several fields used by youth baseball, football and lacrosse teams. Adult fitness stations exist along the park’s trail, allowing walkers or runners to supplement their regimen with calisthenics and other similar workouts. The various activities at the Senior Center range from over 50 weekly group fitness classes to gardening programs, the latter of which is particularly beneficial to adults with dementia. “It’s one of the happiest places on earth,” Stambaugh says about the facility.
An outdoor workout station at Idle Hour Park
Idle Hour Park is a great spot for basketball in the area
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Late-night hangouts at O’Neill’s and Austin City Saloon
Several shopping centers with chain restaurants and retailers are located within 2 miles of the neighborhood. Asian cuisine options include KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, where patrons cook their meats using tabletop grills. The popular Viva Mexico serves margaritas and plates of authentic street-style tacos. After lunch or dinner, many here can grab a bubble tea at Sharetea Lexington. O’Neill’s is an Idle Hour institution that brands itself as a gateway to downtown. In addition to burgers and brews, regulars can play trivia and enjoy live music. The Austin City Saloon is another stopping point for local and visiting bands alike. Here patrons enjoy donning boots, Stetson hats and Wrangler jeans while they enjoy cold drinks and play pool in this Western-themed bar. Kroger and Sam’s Club are among the nearest grocery stores.
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse is a local favorite in Idle Hour
O'Neill's offers Idle Hour diners screens for sports, a patio, and regular live music.
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Home to Breckinridge Elementary School
Breckinridge Elementary is the neighborhood school and gets a B from ratings site Niche. Students can take Spanish twice a week and learn about Hispanic culture. The school also receives a great deal of community support. For example, the Lexington Senior Center has volunteered to collect donated Valentine’s Day cards for families who can’t afford them. Students here may attend Crawford Middle School before finishing their secondary education at Henry Clay High School. Crawford Middle and Henry Clay High receive grades of C-plus and A, respectively, from Niche. Henry Clay houses the rigorous Liberal Arts Academy, which presents a curriculum requiring students to take at least 10 Advanced Placement courses. Due to the strong academics, Niche ranks Henry Clay among the top five best college prep public high schools in the state.
Madeline M. Breckinridge Elementary School is in the center of Idle Hour
Crawford Middle School is home to the Cougars
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Idle Hour annual picnic and yard sale
In addition to the cleanups and monthly yard contests, Idle Hour also hosts social events throughout the year. The neighborhood’s annual picnic occurs each June, when neighbors grab their blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy pizza, drinks and desserts under the shade of the park's oak trees. In September, residents hunt for second-hand goods and bargains at the Idle Hour Neighborhood Yard Sale. For some history, the community is also just down the street from the historic Henry Clay Estate, which features seasonal celebrations like their Jazz on the Lawn concert held over Labor Day weekend.
Bounded by Richmond and New Circle roads
Although many here drive, the Lextran has numerous bus stops throughout Idle Hour. The neighborhood sits right along Richmond Road, which goes straight to downtown Lexington about 3 miles to the north. Idle Hour is also bounded by New Circle Road, which serves as a beltway within the city. New Circle goes toward destinations like the Blue Grass Airport, about 13 miles west of the neighborhood. Idle Hour is about 4 miles from Baptist Health and Albert B. Chandler hospitals. Chandler is UK HealthCare’s flagship facility, providing the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
Important to know
Idle Hour has an overall CAP Index score of 4 out of 10, putting it on par with the national average.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Idle Hour Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Idle Hour, Lexington sell after 18 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Idle Hour, Lexington over the last 12 months is $282,450, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome home to this updated ranch-style home featuring a partially finished basement, beautiful hardwood flooring, and a remodeled kitchen. Recent updates include a new roof, windows, interior doors and flooring, offering move-in-ready comfort. The basement provides a rec area and bonus room. Enjoy outdoor living in the partially fenced, private backyard with storage shed. A one year home
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