Olivette

 

Located just 10 miles west of St. Louis' city limits, the open space and rustic character of Olivette give this small city the charm of a rural municipality. The grandeur and style of the city's homes can only be matched by the community's public spaces. Large parks, winding running trails, and scenic pavilion settings make up the 11% of city land that is for public use. Residents have access to vast expanses of natural beauty. The neighborhood group Olivette in Bloom ensures that the municipality remains beautiful and that community gardens are well-tended and colorful. That homeowners take pride in their parklands and open spaces demonstrates that this Olivette's charm lies in its abundant, picturesque spaces.

 

Olivette was settled in the mid-1800s along an old Native American trail. The community became a major way station for westward travelers, due to its location between the Port of St. Louis and Howell's Landing, an outpost on the Missouri River. The section where the westward trail met this settlement, now the intersection of Price Court and Old Bonhomme Road, was home to St. Louis County's first brick schoolhouse. The city was incorporated in 1930 and quickly transitioned from a small outpost to a thriving residential suburb. Because of the city's premier location, a 10-minute drive from either St. Louis City or Lambert International Airport, Olivette quickly became both desirable and prestigious. However, Olivette's roots as a rural outpost are never buried in the past. In the tulip and jonquil bulbs of early spring and in the rose bushes of summer lie idyllic reminders of Olivette's rural past.

 

Olivette provides ideal housing for the enjoyment of the municipality's natural beauty. Much of the housing stock is new and pristine; many older ranch homes have been replaced by two-story frame houses. Large lawns provide homeowners with ample opportunity to show off their landscaping taste and affinity for natural beauty. The rustic character of Olivette, apparent when exploring the municipality's spacious parklands, is just as apparent when touring the winding, tree-lined streets of a residential subdivision.

 

There are a variety of picturesque, natural attractions on display in Olivette. The city operates 5 public parks, encompassing a remarkable 80 acres of parkland. Stacy Park hosts an annual Party in the Park, which brings residents together to enjoy the beautiful scenery, cultivated and improved by the work of Olivette in Bloom. This yearly event is home to free pony rides for children, fantastic food and drink for all, and a nighttime movie to accompany a picnic in the park. Stacy Park's prairie is also notable in its own right, displaying three acres of the native grasses and wildflowers that covered Missouri before European settlement. The city's location, just north of Ladue allows homeowners to enjoy the world-class facilities of St. Louis Country Club in addition to Olivette's natural amenities. A short, 10-mile drive links this residential suburb to downtown St. Louis and all of the commercial and retail conveniences located in the area.

 

Students in Olivette are served by the Ladue School District. Epstein Hebrew Academy and Immanuel Lutheran Day School, conveniently located within the city limits, provide private, faith-based options that rank highly in both St. Louis County and the state of Missouri.