$294,361Average Value$130Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
The past primates of Municipal Park
The Ward Heights neighborhood bumps up against Municipal Park, an Opelika landmark. Today, the park is most popular for its miniature train, affectionately called the Rocky Brook Rocket in honor of a creek that flows through the area. Though the vintage train still hauls conductor kids and their passenger parents, longtime locals point to a different history. “It might actually be called Municipal Park, but everybody calls it Monkey Park,” says Natalie Bass, a Realtor with eXp Realty. “Some people think it was slang or something, but no — literally, we had monkeys.” In 1956, Opelika erected an enclosure for eight spider monkeys within the park. Families enjoyed the attraction, but area teens kept monkeying around, setting the simians loose. “My friend’s dad, he was always getting into mischief in this area,” Bass says. “He may have had a hand, at one point, in letting the monkeys out.” Time after time, the city recaptured the monkeys, but it eventually became too tall a task, so, in 1980, the animals were donated to the Montgomery Zoo. Their enclosure remains, a wooden statue reminding parkgoers of the past primates. Even without the monkeys, Municipal Park is a popular gathering place for Opelikans, especially those living in Ward Heights, where midcentury homes and walkability to downtown are major draws.
Quiet streets and smiling faces encapsulate the feeling you'll get when you come to Ward Heights.
Kids can ride the train or have a great time on the playground at Opelika Municipal Park in Ward Heights.
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Opelika parks and golf courses
Families from across Opelika head to Municipal Park, which also features playgrounds and a baseball field. Floral Park, a little over a mile away from Ward Heights, is currently undergoing renovations. It will soon feature new turf fields, an inclusive playground, and a splash pad. Roughly 6 miles away, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National offers three 18-hole courses. The public club has hosted PGA Tour events.
Take the kids to play around the fountain at the Opelika Courthouse Square.
Ward Heights is close to the Robert Trent Jones golf course that draws in people from all over the southeast.
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Dining options in downtown Opelika
Residents often head into downtown Opelika for shopping and dining. Restaurants like Zazu Gastropub and Cafe 123 sit in the more commercial section, south of the train tracks that divide downtown. Businesses like Red Clay Brewing Company and 10,000 Hz Records recently popped up north of the tracks, in what was historically a more industrial area. “Downtown Opelika has become a great ambiance with the breweries," Bass says, "and just the layout in general is great.” For groceries, a Winn-Dixie and a Piggly Wiggly are each roughly 2 miles away. More shopping is available 4 miles southwest at the Tiger Town shopping center, which offers a Target, Home Depot and plenty of fast food options. Pepperell Parkway, between Opelika and Auburn, has several big-box stores, including a Walmart.
Grab a slice of pizza at Dough Pizzeria and see why Ward Heights residents flock to the popular pizza parlor.
Enjoy an amazing meal and good times with friends at Zazu Gastropub near Ward Heights.
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Opelika Songwriters Festival and other events downtown
Downtown Opelika is a community gathering place, and holiday celebrations and festivals draw thousands of people from the city and surrounding areas. Every spring, the Opelika Songwriters Festival puts on more than 80 performances over four days. The city also takes the holidays seriously, with the Snopelika parade and tree lighting ceremony highlighting the winter season.
Midcentury homes north of downtown Opelika
Ward Heights was developed in the 1950s and ’60s, its residential streets now meandering through mature trees. “It’s an established neighborhood with trees and all that,” Bass says. “The land rolls a little bit, so you have some houses that have basements and some that are on a hill. It has a lot more character.” Midcentury ranch and split-level homes populate the neighborhood, often with colonial-influenced stylings such as columns. Many only offer driveways or carports as opposed to garages. Home prices generally start around the low $200,000s and go up to around $400,000.
Cottage style homes add beauty and elegance to the streets of Ward Heights.
Full brick homes add value and longevity to the market in Ward Heights.
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Highly rated Opelika schools
The Opelika City Schools district serves Ward Heights, with most students attending Jeter Primary for kindergarten through second grade and Morris Avenue Intermediate for third through fifth. Jeter receives an A grade from Niche, while Morris Avenue sports a B-plus. Fox Run School opened for sixth-grade students in 2023 and has yet to receive a grade from Niche. Opelika Middle receives a B-plus, while A-minus-graded Opelika High offers career education in subjects including agriculture, health science and engineering.
Opelika Middle School teaches kids to do their best and shoot for the moon near Ward Heights.
Opelika High School is a great place for kids to have academic success near Ward Heights.
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Ward Heights access to downtown
Ward Heights has access by car, bike and foot to downtown Opelika, a little over a mile away. Many of the quieter roads between downtown and the neighborhood, including Denison Drive, have sidewalks. While Lee-Russell Public Transit offers a “Dial-a-Ride” service, where people can schedule a pickup and drop-off, the neighborhood is otherwise car-dependent. Residents often drive to nearby sister city Auburn for work, especially at its namesake university, which is the area's largest employer. I-85 is less than 3 miles from Ward Heights and heads 100 miles northeast towards Atlanta. Residents often fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as it offers nonstop flights to over 200 destinations.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Stacie LeCroy,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Columbus
46 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Ward Heights
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Ward Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Ward Heights, Opelika sell after 335 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Ward Heights, Opelika over the last 12 months is $84,000.
Location, location, location! This charming 2-bedroom, 1-bath cottage is just a stone's throw from Opelika Middle School and Monkey Park. Nestled on a corner lot and featuring a brand new roof, this home is perfect for first-time buyers, those wanting to downsize, or even investors. More photos to come.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Stacie LeCroy,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
464
Median Age
40
Population under 18
26.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$77,841
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$92,331
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.9%
College Graduates
39.5%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20.1%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.3%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
22/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
19/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
