South Lake - Overland Park, KS Area Guide

The city of Overland Park traces its roots back to 1905 when railroad tycoon William B. Strang Jr. surveyed land along an old military road in order to build his rail line west of Kansas City. Strange built several subdivisions within Overland Park until his death in 1921. Remnants of Strang's era still remain near downtown.

Overland Park became a full-fledged incorporated city in 1960 with a population of more than 28,000 residents. Retail developments and shopping centers were built in the 1960s and 1970s. The city reached 100,000 residents in 1988, and eventually grew to contain more than 175,000 residents as it became the second-largest city in Kansas.

Many local restaurants, shops and retail outlets exist near South Lake. Restaurants include exotic ethnic foods alongside Greek, Italian, Mexican and American choices a few blocks to the north. A few doughnut shops and coffeehouses serve breakfast. Two bars sit within walking distance of the neighborhood for nightlife options. Mr. Gyros Greek Food and Pastry has been a Kansas City-area tradition for 30 years. As the name implies, gyro sandwiches are the specialty of Ted Jovaras' family recipes. Try the standard gyro with tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce to get a feel for the place. The KC strip gyro turns a hometown cut of steak into a Mediterranean delight with lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce wrapped in pita bread. For a taste of traditional Greek food, the combination plate contains servings of dolma, pastichio, spanakopita and horiatiki with gyro meat and tzatziki sauce. Mr. Gyros is a truly authentic culinary experience like none other in Kansas City. Elsa's Ethiopian Restaurant serves spicy and savory meat and vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner. Injera, an exotic flatbread, forms the basis of many meals, including salads. Try the robust dinich wat, made of red potatoes simmered in berbere sauce. For a fusion of flavors, check out the awaze tibs features prime beef cuts sauteed with tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic and berbere spices. Key wat is the most savory dish on the menu, made with spicy beef stew that contains ginger, garlic, onion and herbal butter cooked in berbere sauce. Key wat comes with a side of ayb -- specially made cottage cheese. Elsa's is one of just five Ethiopian restaurants in Kansas City, and the only one in the Kansas suburbs. Customers know Wok 'n Roll Express for its General Tso's chicken, made with crispy, dark meat chicken and the perfect blend of sweet and spicy sauce. Egg rolls are thick, hearty and packed with meat and vegetables. Employees mix their own version of mustard in-house, so dip your food in some spicy, savory goodness that clears your sinuses. Except for the lo mein noodles, each meat or vegetable dish comes with a choice of white, brown or fried rice. The take-out restaurant also has delivery, but picking up your items means you'll get your food fresher and faster. The Peanut on Santa Fe marks an offshoot of the original speakeasy founded in 1933 as Kansas City's oldest bar. Open until 2 a.m. seven days per week, The Peanut serves a wide range of bar favorites from wings and sandwiches to salads. For a special treat, try brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings until 2 p.m. The famous single BLT forms the backbone of the bar's sandwich selections and comes with bacon, cheddar cheese, red onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo on toasted whole wheat bread. For wings, try the special house bleu cheese dressing. Maloney's Sports Bar & Grill is another choice for a neighborhood bar near downtown Overland Park. Buckets of beer flow weekly as the joint stays open until 2 a.m. every night. Plenty of televisions mean tons of sports on the tube, from football and baseball to basketball and hockey.

South Lake streets have plenty of sidewalks, so pedestrians have no problem walking on foot to restaurants, schools or nearby shopping centers. Major thoroughfares may not accommodate bicycles very well, but side streets and residential areas contain driveways to lessen street parking problems. Downtown has plenty of parking spaces for businesses and public places.

Santa Fe Drive, 83rd Street and Metcalf Avenue all go through South Lake as major streets in Overland Park. Santa Fe Drive connects to U.S. Highway 56/Interstate 35 for access to Kansas City proper. If you need a cab, several companies service the area; alternately, you can use your smartphone to schedule Uber drivers at any time.

Johnson County Transit, also known as the JO, stops at 80th and Marty along route 556 starting at 5:42 a.m. every weekday, and the last stop occurs at 5:40 p.m. Route 664 also picks up passengers near downtown Overland Park. JO routes take riders to downtown Kansas City regularly.

Local parks focus on the history of the area. Santa Fe Commons Park contains the Strang Carriage House and the Overland Park Historical Society. Cast your fishing line at South Lake Park, towards the southern end of the neighborhood. You can bring a leashed dog to either of these parks.

Enjoy free, live music every Sunday evening during summer months at Santa Fe Commons Park. Bring your family along for a picnic dinner and visit with your neighbors in a relaxed setting. The Overland Park Fall Festival also occurs at Santa Fe Commons Park in September, featuring a parade, artist booths and high school band performances. This community gathering celebrates the city's history and rich heritage in Santa Fe Commons Park.

The cost of living in South Lake is slightly higher than in downtown Kansas City due to the area's large amount of government services, great schools and higher living standards. A one-bedroom space runs an average of $640 per month.

A one-way fare on the JO bus system costs $2.25, and the commuter express runs $3.50 for a one-way trip. A gallon of gas goes for 15 percent lower than the national average. A pint of beer at a local watering hole costs around $3.50.

Plenty of retail centers and small boutiques dot the downtown Overland Park landscape. A cluster of small retail stores sit just north of South Lake in a six-block area. Two Price Chopper locations, one to the southwest and one to the north, mark the closest grocery stores. Walk to the downtown farmers' market just five blocks north of the neighborhood.

Linda White, owner of Doris' Wig Boutique, uses her licensed cosmetology skills to shape, cut and style the wigs she sells for women who suffer hair loss due to illnesses or medical treatments. This unique store opens for appointments only Tuesday through Saturday, so customers have the privacy, time and attention they deserve. White has been running the place since 1991. The store sells custom-made wigs, human-hair wigs, synthetic styles and blends to go along with mono-top, hand-tied and lace-front wigs.

Yarn Shop and More sells everything you need for fiber crafts to make a home, including yarn, needles, books and patterns. Basic knitting classes occur every two weeks so you can start your new and rewarding hobby. Specialized classes such as Beginning Crochet, Crochet Embellishments, and Knit and Purl give you a chance to gain experience in yarn-based artistry. Teachers help you complete various projects to make socks, mittens and scarves for winter wear.