San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Leon Valley
A LITTLE CITY WITH LOTS TO OFFER
According to the City of Leon Valley’s website, the first settlers arrived in that area in the early 1800s, and legend states that the town was once a stagecoach stop between Bandera and San Antonio. Today, the city has a population of about 12,000. Leon Valley is about 10 miles from downtown San Antonio and was incorporated in 1952. Bandera Road and Loop 410 provide access to the community’s thriving businesses
and established neighborhoods. Houses in Leon Valley typically range from the high $100s to the low $200s. The community is part of the Northside Independent School District, the largest school district in South Texas. Northside Learning Center, at 6632 Bandera Road, offers adult literacy and community education programs.
REALTOR® Kennedy Offoegbu with JP& Associates, REALTORS said the city’s proximity to the Medical Center makes Leon Valley a popular location with medical professionals. Offoegbu, who is also a pharmacist, specializes in selling homes near the Medical Center. “The houses in the area have a lot of character and charm and they’re very affordable,” he said. “It’s a hot area at the moment.” Offoegbu said when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions started, some sellers took their homes off the market, but now he’s seeing multiple offers on the same day.
Leon Valley is minutes away from some of San Antonio’s most popular tourist attractions such as SeaWorld
San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. And there are plenty of family-friendly places in the community including the San Antonio Aquarium which has thousands of species, interactive exhibits, bounce houses and arcades games. A short drive away is Raymond Rimkus Park located at Poss and Evers Roads.
The 26-acre neighborhood park, named for the city’s first mayor, has two ADA accessible playgrounds, pavilions, tennis courts, jogging paths, athletic fields, a half-mile track and a community garden. The park is usually the site of the city’s annual July 4th Parade and Festival, but according to the city’s website, this year’s festivities have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next to Raymond Rimkus Park is the 36-acre HuebnerOnion Natural Area Park. Here, nature lovers can spot deer and native birds while hiking along the trail which runs along Huebner Creek. The Huebner-Onion Homestead, a two-story structure along Bandera Road, is a historical landmark. Austrian immigrant Joseph Huebner built the main house in 1862. In those days, the site was used as a stagecoach stop, today it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are plenty of places to grab a bite in Leon Valley. The Leon Valley Café on Evers Road is open, but you must make a reservation to be seated inside. You can dine in or get takeout at Kungfu Noodle on Bandera Road. A flavorful Italian or shaved ice from The Original Ice Factory, also on Bandera Road, is the perfect sweet treat on a hot day. You also can buy smoothies and mini doughnuts.
If you’re looking for a unique gift, there are several shops along Bandera Road worth browsing. Model enthusiasts will want to check out the Alamo City Hobby Shop. The store carries airplane, armored car, railroad models and more. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Once Upon a Child is a consignment shop that sells gently used baby clothes, gear and toys. The Craftiques Mall has a variety of antiques, hand-crafted items and collectibles. K-pop fans will find K-pop albums and merchandise at K-POP SA.
Affordable home prices and a high homeownership rate are among the reasons ranking and review site Niche. com recently ranked Leon Valley one of the best places to live in Texas.