My favorite street in the Kansas City area, by far, is State Line Road.
First of all, how many cities have a State Line Road? Ours is the only one I’ve ever heard of. On top of that, it’s so damned interesting, cleaving through several cities and featuring all manner of residences; at least one park and one golf course; a wide range of businesses; and one massive institution.
But let me clarify something: When I say State Line Road is my favorite street, I’m not talking about all of it. I’m talking only about the two-lane part that starts at 75th on the south and trails off at Eaton Street on the north, near 35th Terrace.
South of 75th, where it becomes four lanes, it’s just another big road taking you where you need to go. And the north bookend, where it resumes in the West Bottoms, has little to commend it.
The most variegated part is that 40-block stretch I’m talking about, where it’s two lanes and bordered by seven cities, by my count. (Besides KCMO, the bordering cities are Prairie Village; Mission Hills; Westwood Hills, KS; Westwood, MO; Westwood, KS; and Kansas City, KS.)
So, are you ready for a tour? Alright, then, hop in the hybrid, put on your seatbelt and let’s go!
I admit it doesn’t start off in very good fashion at 75th, where, on the Missouri side, there are two convenience stores. (Both were charging the same price, $2.89, for a gallon of gas today.)Just south of 64th Terrace, on the Missouri side, is what is known as “the Bixby House,” because it was commissioned by the late Walter E. Bixby Sr., who helped establish Kansas City Life. The house was the setting for some scenes from the 1990 movie “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge,” which starred Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward. The house, which we in the neighborhood call “The Ship,” was for sale for more than a year before being purchased within the last few months. It has been gutted, and a remodeling is underway.On the southwest corner of 63rd Terrace — in Mission Hills — is the First Lutheran Church. North of the church, across 63rd Terrace, which becomes Tomahawk, is Mission Hills City Hall. (No identification sign needed; this is Mission Hills.) At Mission Drive, just south of Shawnee Mission Parkway, there are two private clubs. One is Mission Hills Country Club. Other than attending a golf tournament there once, this is as close as I ever get to the course. On the Missouri side is the Carriage Club. I’ve been to one or two events inside the clubhouse, and I once ice skated on their rink, but I’ve never played on their tennis courts or swum in their pool. Shawnee Mission Parkway is the biggest intersection, by far, that this stretch of State Line Road crosses. On the southwest corner is the Mission Hills branch of Country Club Bank. Across from the bank is the “The Barney Building,” a.k.a., the Karbank Real Estate building, named for company founder Barney A. Karbank, who died in 2005.On the northeast corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway is Pembroke Hill School, one of the most exclusive private schools in the KC area.
At 50th Street are the Westwood Hills shops, anchored, if you will, by Annedore’s Fine Chocolates (first awning at right). Another claim to fame for these shops is that George Brett’s wife Leslie once operated a business out of one of these store fronts.On the northeast corner of 47th Street is Westwood (MO) Park. On the Kansas side, 47th Place goes up a steep hill to the Woodside club, formerly Woodside Racquet Club. I played there many times years ago and was a member for a year or two. At 43rd Avenue, which picks up where Westport Road ends, is the Twin City Tavern, so named because it is in KCMO but borders KCK. As much time as I’ve spent on Westport Road, I’ve never been inside Twin City Tavern, at least not that I remember. For several years after I arrived in Kansas City, I drank a lot, and I cannot recall all my explorations during those years. Approaching 39th Street (39th Avenue on the Kansas side), the University of Kansas Health System commands the ground and the sky. The “campus” continues north of 39th, enveloping the northwest corner of 39th Avenue and State Line Road. A block or so to the west, the campus snakes down the hill on Rainbow Boulevard. When I arrived in Kansas City in 1969, about all there was to KU Med Center was the main building on the southeast corner of 39th and Rainbow.Now here’s one of my old haunts. When I first came to Kansas City, one of the first bars I went to was Jimmy’s Jigger, on the southeast corner of 39th Street. For years, all it consisted of was the bar and several booths on the westernmost wall (to the right of the front door). In the ’70s, it began expanding to the east, and a dance floor, a small stage and an upper bar were added. I remember meeting a very nice girl there — name was Nancy Gillespie — who was crazy about me and which I failed to appreciate until it was too late…The place is now called Papa Vic’s Jigger. For many of us, The Jigger it will always be. North of 39th, State Line Road starts petering out. All of a sudden, there’s far less traffic and not much to look at. Past 35th Terrace, the road curves to the left and becomes Eaton Street. (Eaton starts a few car lengths north of where the white vehicle is.) It’s an anticlimactic but fitting interruption point for a singular road.
Another reason why I wish Kansas City would have selected State Line Road to honor Martin Luther King Jr. — to challenge Kansas and the various towns to buy into renaming the road, raising consciousness. Although maybe I’m glad my idea was hardly considered, now that you point out the uniqueness of the current name, What a wonderful photo essay!
Great post, Jim. I concur that State Line Road is one of the most significant and unique thoroughfares of the metropolitan area. Yes, it is a busy and sometimes cluttered roadway south of 75th Street. But it’s development tells the story of Kansas City’s southward growth. Early to mid 20th century between Eaton and 75th Street. 1950s and 60s between 75th Street and I-435. ( Rockhurst High School moved to its location there in 1962 and Prairie Village and north Leawood took off) Then you have the 1970s and 80s from I-435 to 123rd Street, and the more recent growth and retail boom along 135th Street.
But yes, give me the charm of the section of State Line Road north of 75th Street. And I concur with Kaler Bole about sledding at Westwood Park.
Great KC story! Yes, mostly a street north of 75th. More like what some call a “Stroad” south. A Stroad is a combination of a street and a road with mostly the worst features of both.
For a year or two I worked at Greenwood’s Restaurant Supply, a part of Select Brands, on the Boulevard. If State Line Road projected down to it, it would go through it. Part of that building was is in Kansas and part in Missouri. I’m not sure what it is now.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Interesting topic on a subject we all take for granted. My favorite memory is sledding the hill at Westwood Park — such great fun.
Another reason why I wish Kansas City would have selected State Line Road to honor Martin Luther King Jr. — to challenge Kansas and the various towns to buy into renaming the road, raising consciousness. Although maybe I’m glad my idea was hardly considered, now that you point out the uniqueness of the current name, What a wonderful photo essay!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Vern. It was a good project on a hot day.
Proposing to rename State Line Road would have generated a chorus of outrage from whites, Blacks and everyone in between. That street is sacrosanct.
Loved the tour – of course I frequent Twin City and the Jigger…
I would expect nothing less from someone with the handle “Midtown.”
Great post, Jim. I concur that State Line Road is one of the most significant and unique thoroughfares of the metropolitan area. Yes, it is a busy and sometimes cluttered roadway south of 75th Street. But it’s development tells the story of Kansas City’s southward growth. Early to mid 20th century between Eaton and 75th Street. 1950s and 60s between 75th Street and I-435. ( Rockhurst High School moved to its location there in 1962 and Prairie Village and north Leawood took off) Then you have the 1970s and 80s from I-435 to 123rd Street, and the more recent growth and retail boom along 135th Street.
But yes, give me the charm of the section of State Line Road north of 75th Street. And I concur with Kaler Bole about sledding at Westwood Park.
Great KC story! Yes, mostly a street north of 75th. More like what some call a “Stroad” south. A Stroad is a combination of a street and a road with mostly the worst features of both.
I’d never heard the term stroad, but south State Line Road fills the bill.
For a year or two I worked at Greenwood’s Restaurant Supply, a part of Select Brands, on the Boulevard. If State Line Road projected down to it, it would go through it. Part of that building was is in Kansas and part in Missouri. I’m not sure what it is now.