Walton is a rural community on the eastern outskirts of Lincoln
Walton is an unincorporated community on the eastern outskirts of Lincoln, Nebraska. Although its 350 residents are 3 miles from Lincoln amenities, the rural landscape gives Walton a remote feel. According to Anita Rockenbach, a desirable location drives the housing market. “It’s like an extension of Lincoln, but it’s out in the country,” says the Realtor with Home Real Estate, who has over 30 years of local experience. “And it’s very close to the interstate, so it’s an easy drive to Omaha. You wouldn’t have the same conveniences on the west side of the city.” A large swath of the multiuse MoPac Trail runs through the community to broaden its appeal to cyclists, runners and equestrians.
Custom contemporary homes on multiacre properties
Walton is a patchwork of fields, forests and farmland. Except for a few centrally located properties, most homes include plenty of land. “It’s an acreage community, not really a town,” says Ben Bleicher, a sales associate with BHHS Ambassador Real Estate who has 11 years of local experience. New Traditional and custom-built contemporary homes occupy manicured lots with young trees, shrubbery and driveways. Some have fenced areas and stables for horses, especially in the Windhoek subdivision. “Streets in that development are named after horses — Seabiscuit, Secretariat,” Bleicher says. Many homes in the central area date to the early 1900s, but most luxury properties were built within the last five years. Inventory is low, and home sales are infrequent. Recent sales include a large contemporary custom-built house that fetched $1.5 million and a smaller split-level that sold for $310,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score for Walton is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4. Residents contend with severe winter weather, including ice storms, and tornado risk is relatively high. Properties near South 120th Street and Stevens Creek might be prone to flooding.
Outdoor recreation includes horseback riding, hiking and golf
Hikers, cyclists, runners and horseback riders can access the MoPac Trail East from the trailhead on South 118th Street. Vehicles are prohibited on the 22-mile crushed limestone trail, an abandoned corridor of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Equestrians can board their horses at Falkland Stables near the Charles L. Warner Trailhead, another convenient starting point. The home field for the Lincoln Blackhawks, a community baseball league, is located in Walton, and Prairie Pines Nature Preserve offers hiking and birding opportunities about 3 miles away. The golf courses and other amenities at Hillcrest Country Club and Firethorn Golf Club are members-only, but the course at Crooked Creek Golf Club is open to the public.
Run Four The Pines and Scout Center highlight outdoor life
In August, families hit the trails at Prairie Pines during Run Four The Pines. Runners can choose from a 4- or 1-mile race, with proceeds supporting the nature preserve. The event added a human-dog duo option in 2025. Walton is also home to the Outdoor Education Center for the Cornhusker Council of Scouting America. Scouts participate in Woodbadge training and other activities, and the Center is available for camping and event rentals.
Year-round sports and activities at Waverly High School
Most students start at Eagle Elementary School, which receives a Niche grade of B. They’ll move to Waverly Middle School, rated B-plus, followed by Waverly High School, rated B-minus. Waverly High offers over 20 sports and extracurricular activities, plus sports and band camps in the summer.
Highway 34 paves the way to Lincoln’s amenities
Residents are roughly 3 miles from Lincoln’s outskirts and 4 miles from the health care services at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. U.S. Highway 34 paves the way for the 8-mile drive to downtown Lincoln and the 14-mile trip to Lincoln Airport. On-demand shuttle service is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Friday from Lancaster County Public Rural Transit, but riders have to make reservations at least one day in advance. Commuters to Omaha can start the 55-mile drive on Interstate 80, about 6 miles away.
Residents are 5 miles from Lincoln’s largest shopping center
Walton is a rural community with no downtown. “It has no gas station, no place to eat, no services to speak of,” Bleicher says. However, Lincoln’s largest shopping center is about 5 miles away. The Gateway Mall has dozens of department and clothing stores, a bowling alley, escape rooms and chain restaurants including Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Panda Express. The closest grocery option is Aldi, around 3 miles away.
Community ties at Grace Lutheran Church
Grace Lutheran Church is a community gathering space that hosts Sunday school at 9 a.m. and services at 10 a.m. The church’s quilting group stitches together quilts for organizations like Friendship Home of Lincoln, Veterans Home and Lutheran World Relief.
