Wildewood Hills-Heights

Just blocks from Interstate 44 and the Broadway Extension Highway, within 6 miles of downtown Oklahoma City, Wildewood Hills-Heights is a far cry from real wilderness. But the flock of peacocks that call this urban hamlet home keep it from feeling totally secluded from nature. “They’ve lived here longer than most of the people, and you can tell,” laughs Darian Woolbright, a top Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Elite. “They strut around like they own the place, hanging out on people’s lawns and even posing for pictures,” she explains, adding: “The peacocks are definitely a unique feature of what is otherwise a pretty typical eastside neighborhood.”

Wildewood Hills-Heights’ feathered residents nest close to the Scope Ministries International headquarters off 63rd Street. The neighborhood’s human residents make their homes on the quiet, interior residential streets branching south from 63rd. The classic midcentury and late-midcentury brick ranch-style and Contemporary homes you’ll find here tend to sell for between $150,000 and $250,000. “The east side of the city hasn’t been explored that much yet,” says Woolbright, noting that the area is “enjoying a revitalization moment right now.” She adds that since the neighborhood is one of those still “up-and-coming” in this part of town, the prices “haven’t been elevated quite so high as home prices closer to the urban core or even on the northwest side of the city.” For a three-bedroom, two-bathroom red brick ranch-style home built in 1960, featuring new luxury vinyl tile flooring throughout and new stone counters in the kitchen, you can expect to pay close to $220,000. A similar three-bedroom home built in 1971, with original hardwood floors and new, sustainable and low-maintenance landscaping will fall closer to the $200,000 mark.

Aside from its unique blend of avian and human demographics, and competitive home prices, Wildewood Hills-Heights is popular for its convenient location. “This close to Broadway Extension and I-44, it’s easy to get anywhere in the city in minutes,” says Woolbright, noting that the attractions in the Adventure District just 2 miles east are especially popular. The OKC Zoo, on Remington Place a little over 2 miles away, offers residents a chance to interact with species beyond peacocks (though the colorful birds make a home there too). From camel rides and rhino feedings to the Children’s Zoo barnyard, there’s plenty for animal lovers to enjoy. History buffs enjoy the exhibits on Western art, culture and history in the nearby National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The annual OctoberWest festival held at the museum draws both locals and tourists alike for its unique Western take on the favorite German tradition, which features food, drinks and live entertainment.

For the weekly adventure of shopping for groceries, Wildewood Hills-Heights residents don’t need to journey even that far. Your local Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are both less than 2 miles west down 63rd Street.

Neighborhood youngsters can stay close to home to burn off some of their boundless energy, too. The sunny baseball field, shaded walking paths and colorful climbing structures and swings at Dolphin Wharton Park are just half a mile from most homes. Named for Dolphin Alonzo Wharton (yes, that’s his real name), the park is a popular gathering place even for grown-ups, and you’ll often run into neighbors chatting on the park benches or playing catch with their dogs. “It’s a classic little neighborhood park” says Woolbright, noting that public, community parks are something OKC is known for doing well. “M.A.P.S. is a movement from our government that puts money towards all kinds of outdoor recreational activities. A lot of neighborhood parks and playgrounds have been kept really nice through that program,” she says.

Wildewood Hills-Heights students attend schools in the Oklahoma City Public Schools district. Many go to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, F.D. Moon Middle and Douglass High School, all within 5 miles of most homes. Jazz musicians Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing both graduated from Douglass, which is still widely recognized by locals as having a stellar music program. Douglass High and Moon Middle are two of the city’s oldest educational institutions; both have been serving students for more than 100 years.

In such an enviable location, with such competitively priced homes, it’s no wonder people (and birds) flock to Wildewood Hills-Heights.

Written By

Megan Quintin

Photography Contributed By

Lindsey Torres

Video By

Matt Pangman