Westover Hills continues to fuel growth on far West Side

In the past two decades, the Westover Hills area has experienced a substantial amount of growth. This community on San Antonio’s far West Side was the vision of real estate developer Charles Martin Wender. Wender helped turn what was once ranchland into the booming mixed-use development it is today. In the

‘80s, Wender helped the city land the deal for SeaWorld San Antonio, and he facilitated the construction of Texas 151 to support the venture. The highway has been key to this area’s continuing growth. Westover Hills is about 16 miles from downtown San Antonio and approximately 9 miles from Lackland Air Force Base.

These days, if you drive through this side of the city, you’ll see numerous single-family homes, apartments, hotels, data centers, call centers and medical offices. Major employers include Wells Fargo, Chase, QVC, Frost Bank, The Hartford, and Nationwide Insurance. Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, Baptist Emergency Hospital-Westover Hills are both located off Texas 151 near Wiseman Boulevard. Methodist ER Westover Hills, a freestanding emergency center at 5538 W Loop 1604 N, opened in 2019. Methodist Healthcare has announced plans to build a new medical campus in Westover Hills.

SeaWorld San Antonio remains a popular tourist attraction and is open most of the year, while its water park, Aquatica, operates only during the summer. Less than two miles from SeaWorld, is the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa. The secluded resort at 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive has a 27-hole golf course, nature trails, several dining facilities and a five-acre water park with a lazy river and waterslide.

Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, the Westover Hills area has plenty of single-family homes and apartments. There are several gated communities such as Stonegate Hill, off Texas 151 and Wiseman Boulevard. This gated community is about 25 years old and has amenities including tennis and basketball courts, a community pool, and playgrounds. HOA board president Doug Handlin has lived in the neighborhood with his wife, Susan, for 10 years. Handlin said Stonegate has a family atmosphere. It’s a community where residents work together and care about each other.

Susan Handlin is the community activities director. Neighbors gather throughout the year for planned events such as the Fourth of July celebration, Cowboy Carnival, and Easter egg hunt. Stonegate residents have even turned the subdivision’s park into an enchanted winter wonderland of lights, games and holiday fun.

Handlin, who is from Montana, said schools and shopping areas are easily accessible from Westover Hills, and he and his wife have no plans to move.

“It feels like home every time I get to the gate, even before I get to the house,” he said.

Legacy Trails, Enclave at Westover Hills, Westover Forest, Reserve at Westover Hills, and Aviara are among other subdivisions in the area. Current homes on the market include a three-bedroom, two-bath, 2160 square-foot house built in 2002. The list price is $250,000. A four-bedroom, 2-bath, 2872 square-foot-home built. This two-story home, built in 2006, is priced at $315,000. Also for sale, a 3131 square-foot, two-story home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. This home, constructed in 2013, is priced at $484,500.

Village Parkway is a new Westover Hills development by Habi Homes. The homes is near Raba Elementary within the Northside Independent School District. NISD is South Texas’ largest school system.

Northwest Vista College, 3535 N. Ellison Drive, held its first classes in 1995. One of five colleges in the Alamo Colleges District, it now serves more than 17,000 students.

Those looking for a rental have multiple options, including many luxury apartments. These apartments have amenities such as resort-style pools, electric car charging stations and gourmet kitchens.

Residents in Westover Hills don’t have to drive far to find major shopping centers and restaurants. Mexican restaurant Viola’s Ventanas and Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q are on Westover Hills Boulevard.

The nearby Alamo Ranch shopping center has many fast-food and chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse, and In-N-Out Burger. Retailers include Bath and Body Works, Kirkland’s, Old Navy, JCPenney, Best Buy and Super Target.

Santikos Entertainment’s Casa Blanca movie theater on Alamo Ranch Parkway opened in 2016. The theater has 16-screens, auditoriums with reclining seats. Patrons can also enjoy bowling in one of 16 lanes or check out the arcade.

Development in the Westover Hills area is far from complete. A new Veterans Affairs health clinic is under construction at Texas 151 and Rogers Road. The new VA facility will offer a range of primary care and mental health services. It is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Lisa.harrison@express-news.net