Storms haven’t shaken Waveland’s enduring spirit and scenery
The community of Waveland, home to roughly 7,000 on the Mississippi Sound, has weathered its share of storms. Two devastating hurricanes forced many to relocate. Those who stayed behind have grown closer from living through tough times. “We come back, we rebuild,” says Susanne Ashman, broker and owner of Ashman-Mollere Realty. “My parents moved us here when I was 7. Now, I have my son and my granddaughter working with me. Four generations. How’s that for resilience?” Waveland’s natural scenery is equally enduring, featuring white sandy beaches, murky bayous and dense hardwood forests. The city lies in rural Hancock County, just over 20 miles from a major employer, John C. Stennis Space Center. “They test rocket engines, so every now and again, everything rattles,” Ashman says with a laugh.
Ground Zero Museum honors decades of storm survival
Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. Waveland was devastated by Hurricane Camille in 1969. In 2005, it was “ground zero” for Hurricane Katrina, which brought a 26-foot surge. “That area close to the beach, south of the railroad tracks, was destroyed. Most of us came back to slabs,” Ashman says. After Katrina, the historic Waveland Elementary was the only public structure left on the main road, Coleman Avenue. Having survived two hurricanes, the building was repurposed, renovated and later reopened as the Lili Stahler-Murphy Ground Zero Museum, a testament to Waveland’s resilience.
Verandas and lanais add beachy charm to Waveland homes
Home prices here span a broad range, from less than $100,000 to $1.2 million. While the median is around $460,000, most recent sales fall between $120,000 and $400,000. Most homes sit on lots under a third of an acre. Properties close to the Gulf on the south side, and along the north side’s Bayou Philip, tend to cost more. The city features a variety of classic coastal styles like cottages, bungalows and stilt houses. Cape Cod and Colonial Revival influences can be seen across many houses as well, especially New Traditional properties. Verandas and lanais are popular fixtures. Many homes are inside special flood zones, requiring flood insurance for federally backed mortgages.
Waveland schools earn solid grades and early college access
Two school districts serve Waveland, but most of the city falls within the boundaries of the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, which earns an overall A-minus on Niche. Schools in this district include Waveland Elementary, North Bay Elementary and Bay Waveland Middle – each graded B-plus. Bay High has an A-minus. Some parts of northwest Waveland are zoned for the Hancock County School District, also graded A-minus. South Hancock Elementary, Hancock Middle and Hancock High earn B-plus grades. Pearl River Community College offers high schoolers the chance to start earning college credit early with its dual-enrollment program.
Outdoor recreation includes camping, crabbing and birding
Waveland has several neighborhood parks and playgrounds where residents can bring their kids to play or their dogs to run. Waveland’s public beach features free parking and sand volleyball courts. It’s also home to a lighthouse, a pier and the city’s Veterans Memorial. Some miles down the coast, Buccaneer State Park is a hub for outdoor recreation, spanning over 340 acres. It has hundreds of campsites, a disc golf course, a nature trail and a water park. Visitors can kayak, bird watch and even go crabbing. Sweet Bay Hollow Nature Preserve, an ideal birding spot, is a scenic area established post-Katrina to revitalize the area’s Southern hardwood forest and bayhead swamp ecosystems.
Southern comfort food and po’ boys at Dat Kitchen Too
Fueling up, running to the bank and other errands take residents to the main road, U.S. Route 90. Walmart Supercenter and Claiborne Hill Supermarket are grocery-shopping go-tos. The thoroughfare is also lined with chain restaurants, such as Sonic Drive-In, Subway, Arby’s and Papa John’s Pizza. Local joints include Dat Kitchen Too, a family-owned eatery popular for po’ boys, fried catfish and other Southern comfort foods. For waterfront dining, Bay Saint Louis has several restaurants around its harbor. The neighboring city also has the nearest hospital, Ochsner Medical Center, less than 5 miles away.
Amtrak line links New Orleans, Gulfport and Mobile
Waveland is car-dependent, but a train station is nearby in Bay Saint Louis. Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service runs from New Orleans, LA, just over 55 miles west, to Mobile, AL, just under 100 miles east. The line also connects to Gulfport, about a 20-mile drive away via U.S. Route 90. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is just over 30 miles away.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
