Lubeck has the rural perks of living outside city limits
On the west side of Wood County, Lubeck is a community on the edge of suburban and rural living. "It doesn't have as much hustle and bustle than if you're in Vienna or Parkersburg," says Blaine Ritchie, managing broker at Coldwell Banker Commercial Select Properties. "I could see also people living here just to be outside city limits, so you don't have to abide by some of the zoning rules." Parkersburg's master plan dictates clear zoning for its future land use, but independent communities like Lubeck have more flexibility around commercial, residential and agricultural development. People can choose between expansive plots for farming or mid-size properties close to neighbors. While residents usually have to travel outside the neighborhood to shop and dine, options are typically no more than 6 miles away.
A mix of suburban homes and large plots fit for farmland
What it means to live in Lubeck can change depending on where homes are. Some areas of the neighborhood feel more suburban, with less space between neighbors and basketball hoops inviting kids to play together outside. Ranch-style, bi-level and split-level houses are most common in these parts. Some homes are perched on top of small hills, creating inclined driveways. Other sections of the neighborhood are the picture of rural living, with acres of land or thick forest separating large New Traditional and custom homes. Some residents use their adjoining land to farm or raise livestock. Across the neighborhood, prices range between $172,000 and $470,000, depending on size and accompanying land.
Natural landscape has walking trails, playgrounds and waterways
Trees, open fields and hills surround homes, making outdoor recreation accessible. Although privately owned, the DuPont Employee Recreation Center Park is open to the public, offering playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts and rentable picnic shelters. People also visit to swim in the pool during summer and camp in the fall. Three miles away, the DuPont Nature Center has several walking trails that pass by preserved wildlife habitats, flower meadows, ponds and an educational pavilion. Other popular pastimes include afternoons at the South Hills Golf Course or on the Ohio River. Sandy Creek winds through part of the community, so nearby homes and businesses are occasionally impacted by seasonal flooding.
State Route 68 keeps community connected to Parkersburg
Residents are entirely car-dependent, with no pedestrian infrastructure or public transportation nearby. State Route 68, also known as Harris Highway, is the community's central artery. It connects with Highway 50 in less than 1 mile, offering access to Parkersburg and cities across the Ohio River. Flights through the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport are less than 17 miles away. Lubeck is roughly 5 miles from Camden Clark Medical Center and WVU Medicine Southgate Rapid Care.
Limited shops but plenty of farm-raised goods
Retail options are minimal, but a few stores line State Route 68. James' IGA Country Store offers fuel, snacks and a small pizza parlor. Dollar General, Family Dollar and Bond's Drug Store Healthmart Pharmacy stock shelves with everyday essentials. Residents go outside the neighborhood for a meal out. Country Kitchen serves traditional American fare, including all-day breakfast, while Western Sizzlin Steak House specializes in steak, chicken and seafood dishes. People grab groceries at DG market or visit a local farm, like Butcher Family Farms, for seasonal produce, flowers and a pumpkin patch in the fall.
Lubeck has its own elementary school
Wood County Schools offer open enrollment, but most kids attend Lubeck Elementary School, which is inside the neighborhood. The school has a B rating from Niche, which Blennerhassett Middle School also has. High schoolers may attend Parkersburg South High School, which has a B-minus. The high school's wrestling team has won 26 state titles.
Water supply quality is monitored
Lubeck is about 5 miles from The Chemours Company, formerly DuPont Washington Works. Headquartered there since the 1940s, this plastics and chemical factory was responsible for contaminating the drinking water supply of several Mid-Ohio Valley water districts, including Lubeck, with PFOA chemicals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the company was eventually mandated to clean and filter the water supply. The Lubeck Public Service District continues to monitor the water quality. "I don't think the situation made a difference in people moving in," Ritchie says. "I think most people are encouraged by the fact that they went in there, cleared everything out and still do regular readings of the water."
