Mustang

With well-maintained homes, top-notch schools and a convenient location near the heart of Mustang, not even wild horses could drag the residents of Canadian Estates away from their beloved neighborhood. "There's a pride of ownership in Canadian Estates," says Dyndi Gibson, a Realtor with McGraw Realtors. "It's a quiet, neighborly community. You see a lot of people out walking in the evenings, and one of the things I like about the neighborhood is its cute little pond and park." The neighborhood sits on the eastern edge of Mustang, a city of 22,000. Plus, OKC is 20 miles away, making Canadian Estates a bedroom community for some commuters. However, most residents prefer staying close to home while embracing Mustang's shops and eateries just a few miles away. Turtles lazily wade in the pond at the heart of Elliot Park, as geese meander around the grass, looking for feed. “It always has some ducks on it, and I know people fish there as well,” says Karl Oltermann, a Realtor with Marolyn Pryor and lifetime Mustang resident. adds. The tranquil setting draws Canadian Estates residents to the park for early morning jogs or afternoon picnics when the weather’s nice. Nearby??? Wild Horse Park hosts many of Mustang’s youth sports leagues on its softball, soccer and football fields. The aquatic park provides relief during hot summer days, and the play park keeps kids busy for hours. Traditional brick homes file along the curving residential roads that make up Canadian Estates. House sizes can span between 1,300 and 2,200 square feet, with prices ranging between $215,000 and $350,000. “A majority of the homes were built in the ’70s and the ’80s,” Oltermann says. “All of the houses seem to be well maintained, too.” Canadian Estates is zoned into the sought-after Mustang Public Schools district. Kids start their education at Prairie View Elementary School, which received an A-minus grade from Niche. A-rated Canyon Ridge Intermediate School is next, followed by Mustang North Middle School, which has an A-minus. Mustang High School scores a 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools, boasting academic programs like Advanced Placement classes along with an Individual Career Academic Plan to help students create goals for life after graduation. State Highway 152 connects Canadian Estates to the rest of Mustang and its amenities. Commuters use the highway to get to downtown OKC, only 15 miles away, and frequent flyers are just 8 miles from Will Rogers World Airport. A quick drive down Highway 152 leads to many of Mustang’s beloved restaurants and shops. The Lokal is a Mustang gem, serving everything from bison meatballs to fried catfish and fries. Weekly food specials, pint nights and all-day happy hour on Thursdays tend bring in the locals. After a filling meal, Mustang Donuts has treats to satisfy any sweet tooth. For any daily essentials or groceries, Walmart Supercenter is less than 3 miles away.

Quiet as kept in the heart of Mustang, Mustang Heights is an established part of the city that attracts potential homebuyers to Canadian County. "It's country, but it's still close to town," says Ryan Lerma, a 35-year resident of the Mustang area and real estate professional with Re/Max Energy. "And we're still growing. I love that we still have a small-town feel, though. I still see people in town that I know, and when things happen, people come together pretty quickly." The neighborhood's appeal lies in its convenience to Mustang's excellent schools and affordable homes, plus easy access to the OKC metro area. Many of the homes throughout the neighborhood were built in the 1970s and 80s, with traditional brick houses as the dominant housing style along sidewalk-lined streets. "Homes in Mustang Heights sell very quickly," says Melissa Marschall, a Realtor with NextHome Central Real Estate and a long-time Mustang resident. House prices throughout the community range from the low 100s for three-bedroom properties to $225,000 for renovated homes. Homes may seem clustered along the quiet residential roads, but many are spacious and have long driveways. "You're looking at homes anywhere from 800 square feet up to 1,500 square feet," Lerma adds. The Mustang Public Schools district is a big draw for residents with kids due to its highly rated schools that offer a wealth of programs, including STEM and its "You Can Fly" program, which was developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. "A lot of kids don't ride the bus. They just ride their bikes or walk to school," Lerma says. All of the schools for Mustang Heights' kids are close to or in the neighborhood, including Centennial Elementary School. Centennial Elementary received an A grade from Niche and is followed by A-minus rated Mustang Middle School. High School kids attend B-plus rated Mustang High School, which has a decorated sports program that has won a collective 28 state championships. Mustang's main thoroughfare, State Highway 152, is just minutes away from the neighborhood. Mustang Heights is about 20 miles from the downtown area of Oklahoma City and 12 miles from Will Rogers World Airport. Public transportation options in the area are sparse, so many residents throughout Mustang drive to get to their destination. Most of Mustang's dining options are along Highway 152. Local favorites like Los Vaqueros, where locals dine on Mexican favorites and ice-cold margaritas, blend in with chain restaurants. After lunch, locals can browse around the collection of women's and children's apparel, fun home decor, and unique gift items at the locally-owned Burlap Buffalo Boutique. Parents take their children to Dowden Park to stretch their legs on the weekend or after a long day at school. This pocket park has a playground and wide open green spaces perfect for games of catch or tag. For more outdoor recreation, residents head to Wild Horse Park. "Wild Horse Park is where everything's at. They have softball, baseball and football complexes, and the softball complex is amazing, too. I'd say that it's the gem of the town," Lerma says. Mustang's town center is close to the neighborhood and is a central gathering place for the community. "There's always something going on. "We host car shows there, and in September, we do Western Days, which is a huge event. We'll usually have about 20-30,000 people in town for it," Lerma says. The weekend-long event has been a Mustang staple for years, with events ranging from chili cook-offs to a car show and a 5k fun run, among other festivities.