A village with strong-knit community and neighborhood staples
Located just east of the Missouri and Illinois border, the village of Maryville provides suburban comfort boosted by a sense of community and staples like a frozen custard shop and a store well known for its inventory of vintage video games and collectible toys. A scenic park sits near the heart of the village and connects to a regional path that can take its users to distant views of St. Louis’ downtown skyline and iconic Gateway Arch. The American Legion Post 917 Veterans Memorial occupies the front of an open field in front of the town hall off North Center Street. The memorial features a water fountain, a modern artillery fixture and several statues, including ones of a young baseball player and soldier standing atop brick columns. “It has a really cute, small downtown, and they have some pretty good restaurants,” says Lance Merrick, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Pinnacle in Illinois, who’s made a few sales in Maryville. “And they have some pretty good restaurants.” Tami Dittamore, a broker with the Dittamore Group under Re/Max Alliance and who’s made nearly 20 sales in the village, echoed some of her peer’s comments. “Maryville is a welcoming and vibrant community for young professionals, families and retirees. The majority of residents own their homes and the community is growing robustly with the average median price ranging between $320,000 and $320,000,” she says. “Drost Park is a popular place to go. It’s so beautiful and includes a 7-acre lake and offers something for everyone.”
Veteran brewed coffee and community favorite in Bobby’s Frozen Custard
A few community staples exist right along North Center Street, which is lined by a variety of establishments that include some restaurants, salons and health care providers. There’s also Grumpy Bob’s Emporium, which sells items ranging from toys, collectibles and graphic novels to vintage video games like Atari 2600 titles. Located on North Center is the Coffee Box, a drive-thru cafe that was founded by some veterans. In addition to various coffee beverages, patrons can order breakfasts like egg and cheese biscuits and enjoy them at one of several picnic tables in front of the business. Farther up the road is community staple Bobby’s Frozen Custard, which operates out of a retro 1950s style building and also provides outdoor seating. Another popular spot for breakfast is the often packed Red Apple. Guests there can enjoy some morning coffee with plates of scrambled eggs, sausages and gravy-covered hash browns. Those looking for a watering hole and late night hangout will find it at Lyle’s Tavern. Grocery and big box shopping options exist just north in the Edwardsville area, where a dense commercial corridor around Troy Road includes an ALDI, Sam’s Club and a Walmart.
From boating at Drost Park to biking on the MCT trail
Located right near the heart of Maryville is Drost Park, a green space featuring a few amenities, skillfully crafted garden beds and the 7-acre Maryville Fishing Club Lake. The park has a roughly 3-mile paved walking path, much of which goes around the tree-lined shores of the lake. In addition to some fishing, boaters — and only those with electric motor boats — can get on the water. The park is also a destination for children, who often burn off some energy on the playgrounds. The roughly 15-mile Madison County Transit Schoolhouse Trail passes right along the southern end of Drost Park and cuts across much of the southern end of the village. Cyclists or long-distance runners can reach some of the neighboring communities, as well as other area regional destinations like the Horseshoe Lake State Park. The Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA offers a multitude of amenities, including a gym for pickup games of basketball, courts for the increasingly popular past-time of pickleball and a space with various machines and free weights for those looking for a place to complete their strength training routines.
Ranch-style and new Traditional houses
Maryville features traditional suburban neighborhoods with homes found along roads lined by tall and mature trees. Some yards can be quite spacious, while others receive ample shade from clusters of small to midsize trees. The village has a growing stock of newly built homes with distinct features like modern stone, brick and wood exteriors. Ranch-style houses and bi-levels are common across the village. The eastern end has a great deal of homes with minimal Traditional features like front-gabled wings, while a few Craftsman bungalows can be found more toward the center of the village. The western end’s Trotters Run subdivision in particular has many Traditional style houses, including two-story ones. The village feat Price points for ranch-style houses with Traditional touches can go from $215,000 to nearly $420,000, with factors like age, overall size and lot acreage playing a role. Split- and bi-levels can run between $250,000 and $300,000. Traditional style houses, including some with Colonial Revival touches, can go from about $330,000 to $550,000, depending on age and condition.
Vocational training at Collinsville High
Younger students in the area can attend Maryville and Albert Cassens elementary schools, which respectively serve students from kindergarten to fourth grade and third and to fifth grade. Both schools received an A-minus grade from ratings site Niche. Collinsville and Liberty middle schools, respectively, serve seventh and eighth graders and sixth to eighth graders. Collinsville Middle received a C-plus, while Liberty Middle received an A-minus. The teens who attend the B rated Collinsville High School can enroll in its Vocational Center, a two-year program that gives participants hands-on training in preparation for a variety of careers ranging from food service and automotive repair to cyber security and web design. A couple faith-based schools also exist on the far eastern end of the village. They include the B-rated Maryville Christian School, which is affiliated with the neighboring First Baptist Church of Maryville and serves students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Come out to Maryville Musicfest
Goers to the Maryville Musicfest in early May can bring out their chairs and blankets to the event in Firemen’s Park. The festival, free for children 12 years old or younger, features several live bands and food trucks. The event is serving as a fundraiser for a new entertainment pavilion at the park. Those who feel up to it can take part in the Maryville Police Department 5K Donut Dash in May, itself another fundraiser. Firemen's Park also hosts the weekly Maryville Farmer's Market on Thursday evening.
I-55 commuter route to downtown St. Louis
Interstate 55 runs right along Maryville’s southern bounds, providing a direct commuter route to downtown St. Louis. The village is, respectively, a 17-mile and roughly 28-mile drive east from downtown St. Louis and the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. A few Madison County Transit buses provide alternative transportation options. The Anderson Hospital, which has a cancer center, is on the northern end of Maryville and located just past a number of various health care services at the Maryville Medical Park and Anderson Hospital’s Wellness Center on Vadalabene Drive.
Photography Contributed By
Alex Medina
