Wathena is a rustic environment close to St. Joseph
In Wathena, quiet residential streets shaded by towering oak trees lead to an assortment of well-established homes. This small Kansas community is known for its pastoral feel, yet it’s less than 10 miles from St. Joseph, Missouri, the area’s anchor city. Housing prices here are also lower than in St. Joseph and other nearby areas. “The cheaper prices would definitely be a draw to that area,” says local Realtor Carime Reeves, who’s with Top Line Realty LLC and has 10 years of experience in the industry. “You’re not so close to St. Joseph so you have more of a country feeling in Wathena. It’s not as busy, busy, busy.”
Older homes offer a variety of options
Most of Wathena’s houses were built in the early to mid-20th century. The inventory includes an assortment of colonial-, bungalow- and ranch-style homes. “There’s a lot of mix in that area. I’ve sold some first-time homes there. A lot of people that I’ve sold to over there are looking for ranch homes and can’t find them over here, so they go over there, because there are a ton of ranches over there,” says Reeves, who’s based across the state line in Savannah, Missouri. Floor plans in Wathena average roughly 1,500 square feet. With their age, Reeves estimates that about half the community’s homes are already updated, while the other half still needs work. Prices range from $100,000 to $300,000, with a median of $145,000.
Riverside schools have standout sports programs
Wathena is zoned for Riverside Unified School District 114, which maintains a B grade on Niche. “People really like the school system over there,” Reeves says. Riverside Elementary and Riverside Middle also share B ratings. Riverside High has a B-minus grade. The district fields multiple successful athletic teams across its campuses, from a middle school football team that recently went undefeated to a varsity softball team that claimed a regional championship.
U.S. Route 36 is an important pathway for commuters
Drivers in Wathena can hop right from the area’s sleepy residential streets onto U.S. Route 36 for commutes toward St. Joseph. Route 36 carries travelers over the Missouri River via the Pony Express Bridge. Fom there, they can use Interstate 229 to get to downtown St. Joseph — the trip is about 8 miles in total. The Mosaic Life Care hospital is 12 miles away on Route 36 and Riverside Road. Kansas City International Airport is a roughly 40-mile drive from Wathena using Route 36, I-229 and I-29.
Dining options include local stalwarts and well-known chains
Star 36 Diner is one of the local favorites for food within Wathena. The diner opens at 6 a.m. seven days a week, and its popular breakfast menu is available all day. Dairy Barn, just off Route 36, is a hotspot for ice cream. Wathena also has locations of chains including Casey’s and Godfather’s Pizza. There’s a Dollar General on Route 36, too, but St. Joseph is the place for more big-box shopping, and much of it is along Belt Highway. That’s where shoppers can find stores like Walmart Supercenter and Target.
Local park and pool provide outdoor recreation options
Wathena City Park gives area kids quick access to a playground, basketball court and a pair of ball fields. The park neighbors the Wathena Community Building, which is available for rent. Wathena’s Municipal Swimming Pool, 1 mile from the park, is open in the warmer months, starting around Memorial Day. The pool includes two slides, and locals can pay to reserve it for pool parties. Local anglers can tackle Browning Lake and the Missouri River, and catfish and bass are common species. The 236-acre Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area is open for hiking, cycling and hunting.
Fall festival is an annual fixture
The Wathena Fall Festival is a signature event here, held on Labor Day weekend. “That is a huge event,” Reeves says. The three-day festival features a parade, a carnival, live music and more along St. Joseph Street at the center of the community.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
