One of San Antonio’s 31 historic neighborhoods
Stone cottages surrounded by thick tree cover and winding paths – it’s not a fairytale forest or even the English countryside; it’s Olmos Park Terrace in San Antonio, Texas. This small pocket of the Alamo City is one of the metro’s 31 historic neighborhoods. The honor was bestowed on the community for its traditionally styled English stone cottages that were built in the boom of San Antonio’s concrete industry almost a century ago. The neighborhood’s unique homes and pocket parks have made the area popular among San Antonio’s artists, and the annual Uptown Art Stroll brings local creatives to the forefront to celebrate art and community. Situated just north of the city, the Olmos Park Terrace is also a few miles away from some of the area's best shopping, golfing and museums.
Stone cottages define Olmos Park Terrace
Olmos Park Terrace’s claim to fame is its English-style stone cottages, most of which were built in the 1930s and 1940s. Winding footpaths that cut through tall trees and large gardens led up to European-influenced properties with A-frame roofs, prominent chimneys and intricate stonework. It is also common for cottages to come with a guest house or workshop space in the backyard. While these residences are highly sought after, some additional upkeep comes with owning a classic cottage. The homes’ age and the quickly changing temperatures in San Antonio can cause the concrete foundations to crack. One of these historic cottages can sell for between $400,000 to $800,000. Olmos Park Terrace has a CAP Index Crime Score of 4, which is the same as the national average score.
Miles of trails in Olmos Basin Park
The eastern side of Olmos Park Terrace is taken up by the Olmos Basin Park, which stretches from Basse Road all the way down to East Olmos Drive, a mile to the south. Multiple hiking and bike trails weave through this park, along with soccer and softball fields, a public pool and a dog park. “If you’re a mountain biker, you have to go to Olmos Basin. You can’t beat the trails there,” says Jeffery Moore, an Emergency Manager for San Antonio who has lived in Olmos Park Terrace for nearly 30 years. The rest of the neighborhood is dotted with pocket parks like Alameda Circle Park, which adds a fountain to the street of the same name, and Olmos Park Terrace Community Garden on Mandalay Drive, which has a large gazebo surrounded by raised beds where anyone can grow their favorite plants. The popular Quarry Golf Course on East Basse Road describes itself as “the most unique golf course in Texas” for its location next to the historic former site of the Alamo Cement Company.
Close to San Antonio Zoo and the city’s best museums
The community is close to the Alamo Quarry Market, North Star Mall, and the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center. Alamo Quarry Market and Lincoln Heights, both on East Basse Road, have big-box stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and H-E-B, while North Star Mall on San Pedro Avenue is known for its many clothing stores and a signature San Antonio tourist attraction—a 35-foot-tall pair of cowboy boots. Olmos Park Terrace is also less than 5 miles from several other Alamo City attractions, including the San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum of Natural and Texas History, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the McNay Art Museum. While there are no houses of worship inside Olmos Park Terrace, there are multiple Catholic and Baptist churches in the surrounding area.
The eateries surrounding the neighborhood specialize in putting unique twists on classic comfort food. PB&J with Tay on McCullough Avenue remixes the quintessential childhood sandwich with unique add-ons like strawberry jalapeno jelly or bacon. The Dogfather on San Pedro Avenue has a menu filled with both all-beef and vegan hot dogs, topped with everything from tater tots to Takis to an entire fried egg.
Artists at home during Uptown Art Stroll
Olmos Park Terrace’s historic community has attracted artists for decades. “Some people call it an artist’s colony. I have neighbors who are musicians, painters, sculptors…just dozens of them,” Moore says. This creative spirit culminates every fall for the Uptown Art Stroll. San Antonio locals can visit artists right in their homes and spend a weekend getting to know their neighbors while also picking up unique finds like blown glass, handmade paper and metal garden sculptures.
Less than 10 miles into downtown San Antonio
Olmos Park Terrace is only 6 miles away from downtown San Antonio, and 4 miles from the San Antonio International Airport to the north and the trendy Pearl District to the south. U.S. Route 281, known locally as the McAllister Freeway, runs alongside Olmos Park Terrace, and the neighborhood is also close to Interstates 10, 35 and 410. There are several VIA Transit bus stops on the area’s major streets, including Basse Road, San Pedro Avenue and McCullough Avenue.
San Antonio Independent Schools and notable private academies
Families can send their children to schools within the San Antonio Independent School District, such as Rogers Academy, a K-8 school with a C-minus grade on Niche, and C-plus-rated Edison High School. Edison High has multiple magnet programs where students train alongside working firefighters, EMTs and pharmacy technicians. There are several highly rated private school options within 3 miles of Olmos Park Terrace. This includes Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, which has been serving the area since the 1940s, and Incarnate Word High School, a Catholic all-girls school. The high school is next to the University of the Incarnate Word campus, which is the largest Catholic university in Texas. Olmos Park Terrace is less than 2 miles away from Trinity University, a private liberal arts college.
