Award-winning home available in lush, historic Shawnee community

Spring is in full bloom throughout Kenneth Estates, a picturesque Shawnee community that combines historic roots with a rare opportunity to find new construction inside the Interstate 435 loop.

Kenneth Estates is named for Kenneth Smith, who was known worldwide for his custom-built golf clubs coveted by golfers from Sammy Davis, Jr. to President Eisenhower. At one time, the property hosted a 9-hole golf course where Smith’s famed clients could try out their new golf clubs.

Several of the course’s natural features were preserved for Kenneth Estates, including two large ponds and 20 acres of dedicated greenspace. A network of walking trails connects the three neighborhoods of Kenneth Estates and creates scenic paths through the community, giving homeowners a chance to immerse themselves in peaceful, scenic surroundings.

“Water and tree views are getting harder to come by in many Kansas City area communities,” said Kerwin Holloway, who markets Kenneth Estates with Brian Andrew for ReeceNichols Real Estate. “We have some truly incredible options throughout Kenneth Estates.”

Now, Kenneth Estates is also home to award-winning floor plans. During the recently concluded Spring Parade of Homes, one of the community’s first-ever Parade entries received both a Gold Award in the Pick of the Parade and Second Place in Distinctive Plan and Design.

The furnished, move-in-ready reverse 1½-story, built by JFE Construction, features four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, and a layout that Holloway said “is ideal for entertaining.”

“The home offers plenty of space, both inside and outside,” Holloway said. “The covered deck includes a fireplace to help maximize outdoor entertaining opportunities.”

Other features of the home include a spacious breakfast area with a soaring vaulted ceiling and an inviting lower-level rec room complete with an eye-catching accent wall and stone columns. Thoughtful, polished details are evident everywhere both inside and outside, including a striking front elevation that effortlessly combines stone, wood, and wrought iron accents. The home is priced at $989,900 and is located at 7217 Richards Dr.

Or tour a two-story from J.S. Robinson Fine Homes, complete with four bedrooms and four bathrooms and priced at $745,425. A welcoming foyer offers an adjoining flex space that can easily serve as an office, a dining room, a library, or whatever you prefer. An already-open main level is made even more spacious with 10-foot ceilings, and convenient features like a large pantry and a built-in boot bench add function to the livable layout. The second level includes an owner’s suite and three additional bedrooms. The lower level includes over 600 square feet of finished space and can be built out to add more living space as needed. Visit the home, currently at the framing stage, at 7250 Richards Dr.

Wherever your explorations take you within Kenneth Estates, you’ll be instantly charmed by the community’s lush surroundings and prime Johnson County location. Tucked along 71st Street between Quivira and Pflumm, the history-filled property is close to the shops, services, and attractions of Shawnee yet surrounded by trees, water and carefully preserved green space.

Visiting Kenneth Estates also gives you a chance to experience each of the community’s three neighborhoods. Spacious, estate-sized lots are exclusively available in The Residences, the ideal backdrop for a custom-built home. Current homesite inventory includes walkout and cul-de-sac locations, as well as a select number of homesites that back to water or trees. Homes in The Residences are priced from the upper $800,000s, and as previously noted, buyers are welcome to work with outside builders pending developer approval.

Elsewhere in Kenneth Estates, prospective buyers can choose from homes and homesites in two additional neighborhoods. In The Cottages, free-standing villa homes offer the convenience of maintenance-provided living with prices from the $500,000s. And in The Manors, single-family homes on walkout, daylight, and level homesites are priced from the $600,000s. Home styles include reverse story and a half, one and one-half story, and two-story plans, depending on a buyer’s needs.

A team of renowned local builders, including J.S. Robinson Fine Homes, JFE Construction, Olympus Custom Homes, and Crown Builders, is hard at work as Kenneth Estates comes to life. Several speculative homes are underway in The Cottages and The Manors for occupancy throughout this year.

In The Cottages, two reverse 1½-story homes by Crown Builders are under construction and just 10 homesites remain. In The Manors, seven speculative homes are under construction, a combination of reverse 1½-story, 1½-story, and two-story plans. Throughout The Manors, 20 homesites remain. Olympus Homes will soon begin construction on a home in the Residences that will be available for purchase.

“Now is the ideal time to get your name on your favorite homesite,” Holloway said. “We’ve sold half of our available homesites and there are some great locations that remain. We advise interested buyers to act quickly!”

It’s hard to imagine leaving the idyllic surroundings of Kenneth Estates, but the surrounding Shawnee location is just as enticing as the community itself. Schools, shopping and attractions like Tomahawk Hills Golf Course and Shawnee Mission Park are all nearby. Plus, easy access to I-435 and I-35 helps residents get to other destinations throughout the Kansas City area in just minutes.

The community sales office, located on Westgate Street in the Cottages, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Discover your dream home and add a new chapter to this community’s storied legacy.

Kenneth Estates

Prices: Free-standing villas and single-family homes from the $500,000s

Location: 7119 Westgate St., Shawnee, Kansas

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Kerwin Holloway or Brian Andrew, ReeceNichols Real Estate, 913-340-3962

Website: KennethEstates.com

This story was originally published May 15, 2022 at 12:00 AM.