RIVER OAKS – HOUSTON TX

When picturing the city of Houston, you are forgiven if skyscrapers, expressways and heavy, noisy traffic are the first things that come to mind. Right in the middle of the big city chaos, however, is an oasis of quiet, winding, shady streets lined with some of the most exclusive homes in Texas. This community, nestled alongside Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park in west-central Houston, is called River Oaks and is also home to the River Oaks District, a premier shopping, dining, arts and cultural destination.

The upscale residential neighborhood began with an idea and the purchase of 200 acres of land in 1923 by Michael Hogg and Hugh Potter, followed by another 1,000 acre purchase by Hogg’s brother Will the following year. Anticipating the population growth and expansion of Houston over the next ten years, the developers planned a restricted residential suburb that would be equally accessible to those of differing economic, if not ethnic, backgrounds. Care was taken to restrict the number of intersections in the community, and to preserve the environmental integrity and natural beauty of the area. Underground utility lines, rigid building codes and a ban on commercial traffic further enhanced the desirability of the neighborhood.

In addition to homesites, the original plan for River Oaks looked to the future by setting aside acreage for a school and two shopping centers. Today, the shopping mecca of River Oaks District is known for its fashionable, high-end shops, fine dining and cultural opportunities while River Oaks Shopping Center features stores and businesses that meet everyday needs, such as a bookstore, a barbershop, a nail salon and a vision center, as well as clothing stores and niche businesses.

The most famous house in River Oaks is Bayou Bend. It was the home of renowned Houston resident and philanthropist Ima Hogg and is now a house museum and part of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Many celebrities have called River Oaks home including Mary Lou Retton, Jim Parsons, Molly Ivins, Roger Clemens and George Foreman.

River Oaks was annexed by the city of Houston in 1927, adding nearly 3,500 acres to the suburb. Today, it is one of the richest neighborhoods in the United States.