The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story.
From natural beauty to a strong sense of community and an array of amenities, Leon Valley is truly a resident’s delight. Nestled into just 3.5 square miles where Bandera Road intersects Loop 410, an increasingly tight-knit community of more than 11,000 enjoys easy access to all the big-city opportunities surrounded by abundant lush oak trees and scenic views of the Hill Country across the valley.
Love is what lured me to Leon Valley. My in-laws retiring to Air Force Village in 2010 rendered the family home an ideal spot for my husband to return to the cul-de-sac ranch house purchased by his parents upon returning from stationing in Germany back in 1972.
The warm smiles and helping hands of our gracious neighbors and the excellent schools immediately made us and our two young sons feel so welcome and embraced from the moment we arrived. It didn’t take long for my mom to join us, and the Leon Valley Senior Center opened the doors wide for her.
Quickly, we realized that the city’s library was the heart of this community with abundant children’s programming, a T’ai Chi Chih group, drum circles, yoga and more. Across the street, the crown jewel of the city’s park system, Raymond Rimkus Park boasts 27 acres of recreational fun. The adjacent Huebner-Onion Natural Area showcases another 36 acres of wild, pristine green space and nature trails across Huebner Creek. And a new hike and bike trail will soon connect us to San Antonio’s Greenway Trail system.
There are so many ways to get involved in the community here. The weekly e-newsletter keeps us informed and the quarterly “Lion’s Roar” mailing cultivates awareness of the local happenings and volunteer openings.
“Coffee with the Mayor” is a quarterly event hosted at the Leon Valley Conference Center. As the founder of the San Antonio Coffee Festival, it’s one of my favorite events.
The Earthwise Living Day environmental festival just celebrated its 33rd year in March. It’s a superb opportunity to learn and connect with eco-friendly businesses and environmental enthusiasts. In that same spirit, our community sustainability picnic debuted this year, along with a new speaker series with afternoon tea at the library.
At last year’s Town Hall meeting, interest in reviving the Leon Valley Jazz Fest was high, so in partnership with San Antonio’s own “Jazzman” David Muñoz, sweet sounds cascaded through the park, featuring local and regional musicians. And, more recently, the 27th annual 4th of July Festival brought thousands together for a classic parade, Pioneer Firecracker Run/Walk, performance by The Spazmatics and fantastic fireworks.
It’s the juxtaposition in Leon Valley that’s especially captivating for me. There’s such firmly grounded respect for the city’s history, like the renovation of the Huebner-Onion Homestead, built in 1862 by the Heubner family from Austria. At the same time, the city leadership has a keen forward-looking focus on guiding progressive growth and development, while endeavoring to preserve a sense of natural harmony.
This prevailing cultural sentiment is embodied in the city’s new tagline “Deep Roots. Big Ideas.” The swoosh in the new logo symbolizes Leon Valley’s outstanding natural areas and illustrates progressive movement.
While not without challenges over the years, a sense of camaraderie continues to be nurtured by Leon Valley’s own mayor, city manager, council and staff. Together with residents, many lessons have been learned. Admittedly, relationships have been strained at times, but healing and compromising are empowering the community to strengthen and forge ahead striving for collaborative progress.
Leon Valley sure has come a long way from that stagecoach stop to Bandera in the 1800s, when mountain lions basked in the creek area known as Valley of the Lions. Incorporating in 1952, the city is now bustling with thriving businesses serving the community with such cultural richness and diversity. Local eateries and markets showcase cuisines from all over the world. Even a fabulous craft brewery with veteran-roasted coffee, Longtab. A few of our family favorites are Moroccan Bites, Gin’s, Thai Taste, Pho Hong Phat, Machu Picchu and Stix & Stones.
Leon Valley is an exceptional place to call home for families just starting out all the way up to retirees hosting their grandchildren for a long weekend. The city’s natural beauty, strong sense of community and abundant recreational opportunities offer a comfortable and satisfying lifestyle. With its unwavering desire for preserving its heritage while progressing toward the future, Leon Valley is a city that showcases the best of both worlds, attracting and retaining residents who are grateful to be part of such a charming Texan community.
