Take a drive down the rose-lined parkway leading into south Overland Park’s Wyngate neighborhood, and you may be tempted to play a game of “remember when.”
Remember when every kid walked to school? When summer meant riding your bike to a day at the pool? When neighbors weren’t strangers, but friends? When you could take a leisurely stroll in nature without ever looking over your shoulder?
It’s memories like these that inspired Rodrock Homes CEO Brian Rodrock to develop Wyngate, a south Johnson County community where modern-day amenities create a relaxed, easy lifestyle that harkens back to a simpler era. “When you come home to Wyngate, we want you to feel like you’re entering an insulated castle of time,” says developer Rodrock, “a place so peaceful, so right, that you know you and your family are exactly where you should be.”
Indeed it’s difficult not to feel like you’re where you belong after you enter Wyngate’s charming enclave at Overland Park’s 159th and Grant. Shaded pergolas, soothing waterfalls, and a winding parkway lined with blooming red roses greet residents; together, they form the elegant, modern-day equivalent to the 1950s white picket fence.
A Special Community
“This is not your average concrete-on-concrete neighborhood,” says Rachel Pine, a five-year resident of Wyngate who feels fortunate that the community updated with urban amenities has remained insulated from urban sprawl. Although it’s close to Highway 69 and the best in business, shopping, and entertainment in the area, Wyngate is nestled quietly between woods to its west and a tree line to its east; it also boasts an unheard of 9 ½ acres of parkland that evoke a beauty and solitude that’s reminiscent of days gone by. “It’s a secluded community. With no apartments or strip malls nearby, you can go for a jog on the trails without thinking twice,” says Rodrock.
But solitude and seclusion doesn’t mean isolation for Wyngate kids, who get to share in a rare luxury enjoyed by their parents decades ago: the simpler time to walk to nearby schools. Wyngate’s backdoor access to three top-rated schools—Blue Valley West High, Pleasant Ridge Middle, and Cedar Hills Elementary—gives homeowners both the community and convenience they crave.
Schools Are Important
“There’s literally a parade of neighborhood kids walking to school together every morning,” says Jeff Reglin, Chief Marketing Officer of Wyngate’s development company, Rodrock Homes, “so we created a paved walking trail leading from the neighborhood to the schools, and a monument to mark the way.”
Easy access to schools is more than nostalgic for Wyngate resident Carla Bingham, who agrees the convenience creates more quality time—like shared meal times–for busy families like her own. “My daughter gets home more quickly and easily from after-school sports practices than ever before,” says Bingham.
In addition to nearby schools, shared amenities and events create a sense of community between families and neighbors that hearken back to an earlier time. Two sport courts, a sand volleyball court, a clubhouse with exercise and party facilities, a children’s playground, and a zero-entry swimming pool with fountains and a waterslide means residents of all ages can play, socialize, and exercise together. Wyngate-sponsored community events are also a hit with homeowners. “My favorite is our annual Memorial Day picnic at the pool,” says Bingham, who finds the red-white-and-blue event a perfect way to start off her summer and catch up with friends and neighbors.
More Choices of Floorplans
Yet while Wyngate’s community spirit radiates 1950s-ease and friendliness, its luxurious, state-of-the-art homes are decidedly modern. Tour its reverse, 2-story, and 1 ½ story floor plans created in partnership with Twigs’ Interiors and you’ll see that cramped interiors, dated décor, and one-size-fits-all housing have become strictly a thing of the past.
“Our goal is to provide clients with the latest and best in home construction and decor, all customized to their unique satisfaction,” says Jeff Gifford, Rodrock Homes’ Chief Operating Officer. To that end, Gifford ensures that Wyngate homeowners get modern-day luxuries like stone and stucco exteriors, three-car garages, upstairs laundry rooms, his and hers vanities, and double shower heads as common features.
And although many Wyngate homes bear the gracefully arched doorways of our parents’ abodes, they also feature enviable updated details that an earlier generation never would have imagined: dark wood wine bars—wine chillers included—built into hearth rooms, bright and airy floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in pantries, hewn-wood barn-style doors, stone fireplaces, covered porticos, and even fifth bedrooms.
With a generously sized 3,000 square-foot home beginning around $500,000, modern luxury has never been more affordable. While Wyngate has seen a surge in buyers in recent months, some walkout, daylight, and treed lots are still available. “We’re offering some of the lowest-priced home sites in all of Blue Valley,” says Brian Rodrock, who encourages interested homebuyers to come see for themselves. “If you want to recapture a simpler time with a community spirit and enjoy luxury at an old-fashioned value,” says Rodrock, “then Wyngate’s the place for you.”
