Lake Forest
A well-kept secret that neighbors the Dogwood Trail, Lake Forest is perched on a hill where many homes provide a view of the Great Smoky Mountains
Lake Forest is just off of Chapman Highway, about 4 miles south of downtown and 5 miles from UT campus. The neighborhood is bounded by May Apple to the North, Red Bud Road to the West and Lindy Road to the East. In other words, if you’ve passed Kay’s Ice Cream, you’ve gone too far.
Lake Forest is a pretty well-kept secret as far as established Knoxville neighborhoods go. The fact that it’s so under the radar is even more surprising since it’s located on the Chapman Highway section of Knoxville’s prestigious Dogwood Trail; a drivable, marked route that takes visitors on a self-guided tour of some of the most gorgeous Spring foliage you’ve ever seen. And since it’s perched up on a hill on the south side of town, many homes in Lake Forest also have some pretty picture-perfect views of the Great Smokey Mountains.
The majority of homes in the neighborhood were built in the 1940s and 1950s and there is a nice mix of 40s style cottages and 50s style ranchers. Many homes also have nice, charming features like original hardwood floors and arched doorways.
If Lake Forest residents ever get tired of the scenery from their front porches, they can head across Chapman Highway for a stroll on the .8 mile Gary Underwood Greenway or an afternoon of fun at Gary Underwood Park, which has a football field and soccer field in addition to picnic areas and shelters.
Hungry Lake Forest residents can head right down to the hill to the aforementioned Kay’s Ice Cream for some of the yummy cold stuff or even a burger and fries. If they’re in the mood for something a little meatier, they can head a little further South down Chapman Highway to Ye Olde Steak House, a true Knoxville institution that you don’t even have to dress up for.
Lake Forest is currently zoned for Mooreland Heights Elementary School, South Doyle Middle School, and South Doyle High School.