History

Mission Woods has grown into a unique and exceptional urban community of 80 distinctive homes on four tree lined streets that are adjacent to a charming church, four premium office buildings and private school properties. This ideal neighborhood is centrally located alongside State Line Road, separating Kansas and Missouri, within walking distance to the Country Club Plaza and less than 15 minutes from bustling downtown Kansas City.

 

In 1860, long before any town was established, the first private home was a log structure built south of what is currently the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Mission Woods Terrace. It was the home of Alexander Johnson, who was the son of the Rev. Thomas Johnson. Thomas was a Methodist missionary who served the nearby Shawnee Indian Mission from 1839 until 1862 and was murdered in 1865 by Southern sympathizers angered by his allegiance to the Union.

 

By 1926, the Johnson family sold a portion of their 2000-acre Mission property to Mission Hills Country Club for a proposed addition to its golf course. When the Great Depression intervened, the club was forced to sell the property north of the existing golf course—now Mission Woods—to keep the club afloat.

 

It was 1937 when J.C. Nichols, a Mission Hills Country Club member, bought the land the club surrendered and began developing the property. It was advertised as "a choice bit of tree-studded ridged fairways" which inspired the name Mission Woods. Nichols built one of the first homes in his new subdivision at 5307 Mission Woods Road as a wedding gift for his daughter Eleanor. Regrettably, the marriage was called off and it was sold to a physician.

 

Then in 1949 Mission Woods was officially incorporated at the same time as the surrounding suburbs of Fairway, Westwood, Westwood Hills and Mission Hills. The first city election was held September 29, 1949, in the garage of 5325 Mission Woods Road, then the home of the late Nettleton Payne, resulting in E.J. Rychel, Jr. elected Mission Woods first mayor.The following decades saw home building continue at a fast pace along with supportive commercial growth as northeast Johnson County boomed.

 

In 1967 the iconic H.D. Lee Jeans building with its distinctive tulip columns was constructed at State Line Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway, later becoming home to the Marley Company and then Layne Energy. Soon after, the neighboring two office spaces were constructed and, shortly after, Country Club Bank was erected to the south.

 

Since 2000 Mission Woods’ commercial properties have welcomed new owners and enjoyed impressive redevelopment. Karbank magnificently restored and refurbished the former Lee property, renaming it The 1900 Building, along with the neighboring ‘green’ Barney Building. During the past decade, the mission revival style St. Philippine Duchesne church underwent a meticulous renovation, and Pembroke HIl school developed attractive athletic fields. Mission Woods was selected to participate in the country’s first rollout of Google Fiber. Aging infrastructure, including sewage lines, paved streets and street lights continue to be upgraded in design and function.

Mission Woods’ small town flavor adds to the character of the city.   All of its citizens share a strong community/neighborhood identity.