Timberwood Park

Variety is the spice of life in Timberwood Park. North of San Antonio, this unincorporated residential area along Highway 281 is made up of several different subdivisions. The namesake Timberwood Park subdivision, for example, covers 2,200 acres and has homes built from the 1970s to today, with plenty of empty lots available for more custom homes. Kinder Ranch is a master-planned development with more newly construction homes tucked into different subdivisions.

There is a variety of housing types and price points across the different subdivisions, from single-family homes to large, estate-like residences. Styles include remodeled split-level and ranch-style homes, New Traditional Craftsmen and Tudors, plus new construction builds. Prices can range from $295,000 for a brick two-story New Traditional Craftsman with 2,000 square feet of living space in the Redbird Ranch subdivision, to $3.1 million for a flat-roof contemporary estate-like home with 5,900 square feet of living space on a 1.5-acre lot in The Heights at Stone Oak, a gated community. Each subdivision has its own HOA and amenities, like a community park, pool or tennis court.

Kinder Ranch is a development in the north part of San Antonio close to the Timberwood Park subdivision. “The location is awesome,” says Kimberly Howell, Realtor/owner of Kimberly Howell Properties. “A brand new elementary, middle and high school just opened up next to Kinder Ranch. And now that Highway 281 is almost completely finished just past Kinder Ranch, the ease of being able to travel anywhere in San Antonio makes it an ideal location to live.” With the completion of the highway, there are also new strip centers and shopping centers popping up. Kinder Ranch is made up of several smaller pockets of single and two-story houses, built with a mix of brick, stone, and stucco. “One of the things I love about Kinder Ranch is that it’s got a different flavor depending on the pocket,” says Howell. Some pockets might have more contemporary, Hill Country-like house styles, while others have more farmhouse styles. She adds, “In general, prices range from $500,000 to $1 million. Some houses in the estate sections are creeping past $1.3 million, because most of the homes are custom-built, with homeowners working directly with a builder.” The development overall has a lot of new construction, so the house styles favor more modern styles with clean lines, rather than traditional styles. “Kinder Ranch is a great place for all types of buyers,” says Howell. “It fits a lot of different people’s needs.” Proximity to the local elementary, middle and high school is a big draw to Kinder Ranch, and houses in the Comal Independent School District have lower taxes. Kinder Ranch’s location between, and proximity to, Bulverde and San Antonio makes it easy to access good restaurants and shopping in both directions. Inside the development, community features are another big draw. Howell explains, “The main parkway through the development is so beautifully done, you get the sense Kinder Ranch is a master-planned community. The neighborhood amenities are really nice. Each pocket, gated or not, has their own unique feature, but they all have access to the main community amenity center.” This includes a community pool, sports court, park and playground.

The Timberwood Park area can be split roughly in half in terms of school district zoning. The south half is zoned for North East Independent School District (ISD), and the north half is zoned for Comal ISD. Students zoned for North East ISD can attend Tuscany Heights Elementary School, Tejeda, Bush or Lopez Middle School, and Reagan or Johnson High School. Both Reagan and Johnson High are graded A-plus on Niche, and offer academic programs including Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit courses, and magnet programs. Students who fall in the Comal ISD can attend Specht, Timberwood Park or Kinder Ranch Elementary School, and go on to attend Pieper Ranch Middle School and Pieper High School. Pieper High offers Advanced Placement, Dual Credit and UT OnRamps courses.

Depending on where you live, you might find it convenient to shop at the H-E-B on Wilderness Oak. You can also hop onto Highway 281, and in 15 to 20 minutes, you’ll reach H-E-B plus! to the south in Stone Ridge Market or the one to the north in Bulverde. Retail shopping at The Village at Stone Oak, where you’ll find stores like Target, Loft, Ross and more, is about the same distance away. A short drive north on Highway 281, you’ll find Mario’s Pizza Pasta & Wine, where you can get a variety of pasta dishes and New York-style pizzas. On West Specht Road in the north part of the Timberland Park area is Spechts Texas, a premier restaurant, bar and grill that’s been around since 1890. Enjoy sandwiches like grilled chicken avocado or ribeye melt, or a variety of burgers, with a side of made-from-scratch seasoned fries. Entrees like chicken fried steak and grilled chicken are also available. Live music performances are hosted here on the weekends. And for good Chinese food, check out Borgfeld Bistro Asian Kitchen down the road from Pieper Ranch Middle.

If you’re a golfer or are interested in becoming one, you’ll find Canyon Springs Golf Club off Wilderness Oak. This 18-hole loop course blends in with the beautiful, natural setting, which still has historic buildings that pay homage to the site’s original homestead. It’s also populated with longhorn steer, deer and other wildlife. It was designed by Thomas Walker, and named “America’s Best New Public Golf Course” when it debuted in 1998. Bullis County Park, a local park near Timberwood Park Elementary, is another place to spend time outdoors. It has a large, cushioned playground kids can enjoy, and a pavilion with an outdoor grill, perfect for large gatherings. There is plenty of green space to run around or play ball, with smatterings of mature trees and picnic tables. You can get your steps in on the walking trail that loops around the park.

In Timberwood Park, you can experience Hill Country views a short drive from Bulverde and San Antonio.