Mockingbird Valley Homes for Sale – 40207

Mockingbird Valley in Jefferson County (40207) is located of Zorn Avenue, accessible from Brownsboro Road or Mockingbird Valley Road. Realtors consider this neighborhood to be the very definition of status, featuring timeless architecture from the most prominent luxury builders in the region. As the wealthiest section of Kentucky, it consistently ranks among the top 10 American real estate markets with “highest income-per-capita.” Less than 200 people are fortunate enough to call this country enclave home, enjoying the best life has to offer – big, beautiful estates in a quiet, natural setting among river valley bluffs and mature trees, less than 10 minutes from downtown Louisville down the I-71S.

The first Mockingbird Valley home, the Rock Hill Mansion, dates back to 1840 and still stands today. This region attracted its first settlers with scenic river bluffs overlooking the Ohio River, and fertile soil for agriculture. Business moguls Atilla and Carrie Gaulbert Cox (the namesakes for Cox’s Park) built their summer vacation home in Mockingbird Valley in 1907.

A year later, after the interurban railroad allowed for commuting to Downtown Louisville, Annie and Stuart Duncan built a stunning Colonial Revival home surrounded by beautiful gardens as their year-round estate at 404 Mockingbird Valley Road. It was updated in the 1940s and the late 70s, but remains on the National Register of Historic Places. The Louisville Country Club, built and designed by noted golf course architect Walter Travis, anchored the border of Mockingbird Valley in 1905, adding to the value of the emerging community.

Jarvis became the first planned subdivision in 1912, with homes built on narrow lots, similar to what you see in Norton Commons, which borrows from these historic design elements. The next subdivisions, the Green Hills neighborhood of 1924 and Overbrook of 1929, featured larger lots, set back from the road, without alleys. There was no such thing as “deed restrictions” back then, but early developers were sensitive to their environment, following the influence of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and sons. Building materials, setbacks, and sidewalks were all regulated for uniformity. Development slowed in the years that followed, to preserve the beauty of the countryside. 

Mockingbird Valley incorporated into a home-rule-class city in 1940. The 2006 Mockingbird Valley River Bluff development plan was the last approved subdivision, adding 15 lots on 54 acres to the area. The development history of Mockingbird Valley is very similar to other wealthy bedroom communities like Glenview and Anchorage.

Rolling hills, rock outcroppings, steep slopes, mature trees, floodplains, and perennial streams define the 0.2 square miles that comprise Mockingbird Valley. There are few evergreens in the area; towering tree canopies come from native hardwood like oak, maple, sycamore, tulip poplar, birch, and elm. You will also find many ornamental tree species, such as dogwood, redbud, and viburnum. Given the natural setting, Mockingbird Valley is home to resident wildlife, including: white-tailed deer, red fox, blue herons, great horned owl, raccoons, groundhogs, opossum, salamanders, skinks, and the occasional coyote.

The man-made aspects of Mockingbird Valley feature traditional, early 1900 design aesthetics that most modern neighborhoods try to emulate. On a Sunday drive down the winding, two-lane Mockingbird Valley Road, you’ll see magnificent brick or stone facades facing the road, with large setbacks and rolling manicured lawns. Garages are to the side or rear, as to not diminish the “curb appeal” of these impressive estates. Brick or stone walls and columns, as well as wrought iron fencing often demarcate property borders.

The homes for sale in Mockingbird Valley generally range from $400,000 to over $2.5 million. The area’s finest craftsmen have constructed each home to impress the most discerning buyers, with custom woodworking, exquisite moldings, meticulous detailwork, and stunning architectural features. Soaring great rooms and chef’s kitchens are a given. Most homes include landscaping with verandas, patios, in-ground pools, gardens, cabanas, carriage houses, or tennis courts.

One of the great aspects of living in Mockingbird Valley is that you can move into a large mansion, and then later downsize to a maintenance-free condo with views of the Ohio River in Mockingbird Terrace, without leaving the community.

Homes in Mockingbird Valley are desirable because of their architectural styling and seclusion. Yet, this quiet enclave is also surprisingly close to other parts of town. Commercial corridors like River Road and Brownsboro Road are just a 5-10 minute drive.

Mockingbird Valley is home to three private clubs: the Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club and Sports Complex, the Lebanese-American Cultural Center, and the Louisville Country Club. Country Club members enjoy access to 18 holes of championship golf, dining facilities, outdoor swimming pools, and tennis courts. Other recreational facilities include the Crescent Hill Golf Course, the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, Twin Park Open Space, and Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park to the south, and Riverfields/Caperton Swamp to the north. The Ohio River Greenway system links up with River Road, allowing residents to bike downtown.

There are no schools within Mockingbird Valley itself, but children can attend highly-rated facilities nearby: Goldsmith Lake Elementary, Chenoweth Elementary School, Kammerer Middle School and Waggener Traditional High School. A number of private schools serve the area: Ballard High School, Highlands Latin School, Holy Trinity School, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Leonard, and Trinity High School.

Churches like Broadway Baptist, Second Presbyterian, and St. Leonard Catholic service the community. Nearby hospitals include the Veteran Affairs Medical Center across Zorn Avenue, and Baptist Hospital East and Suburban in St. Matthews. Residents can pick up groceries at Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Market or dine at one of the many area restaurants -- Porcinis, Mesh, Napa River Grill, and Kingfish, to name a few.

All that Downtown Louisville has to offer – employment opportunities, zoos, museums, science centers, art galleries, music, sports, horse culture, bourbon, dining, and shopping -- is just 10 minutes away. Mockingbird Valley’s perfect location makes it the ideal retreat from big city life, without sacrificing the convenience and amenities life has afforded you.

Make your dream home a reality today by contacting an experienced luxury Realtor from Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty for a tour of Mockingbird Valley estates.