Chickasaw Gardens

Welcome to Chickasaw Gardens

Overview

Few Memphis addresses carry the quiet distinction of Chickasaw Gardens. The neighborhood sits between Poplar and Central Avenues in the heart of the city. Gently curving streets, a canopy of mature trees, and park-like common grounds make it feel like a private retreat, yet Midtown, East Memphis, and the University of Memphis are only minutes away. Every resident belongs to the Chickasaw Gardens Homes Association, which has protected the character of the neighborhood for generations.

History and Architecture

Chickasaw Gardens began as the grounds of Clarence Saunders' estate. Saunders founded Piggly Wiggly, the self-service grocery store. In 1922 he started building his pink Georgia marble mansion, now the Pink Palace Museum. He lost his fortune in 1923, before he ever lived there. His creditors sold the property to the Garden Communities Corporation. In 1926 that company gave the mansion and about twelve surrounding acres to the City of Memphis and developed the rest as Chickasaw Gardens.

Some of the neighborhood's best-loved features began as part of Saunders' estate garden: the Chickasaw Gardens lake, Cypress Creek, and the Cherry Orchard. Most streets carry Native American tribal names, including Catawba Lane, Iroquois Road, Chickasaw Parkway, and Natchez Lane. Decorative street lanterns and landscaped islands appear throughout. Early advertising stressed private restrictions and architectural standards, a newer idea in Memphis at the time, and the Homes Association still reviews plans today.

The neighborhood took decades to fill in, so the homes mix 1920s and 1930s Tudor and Colonial Revival designs with refined mid-century houses. Prominent Memphis architect George Mahan designed a number of them.

Lifestyle

Life here moves at a gracious pace: morning walks around the lake, evening strolls under the lanterns, and neighbors who know one another. Fenwick and Tishomingo Lane help screen the neighborhood from busier streets. Even so, Poplar Avenue's dining, shopping, and cultural institutions are within easy reach.

Schools Nearby

Nearby schools include Presbyterian Day School and St. Mary's Episcopal School on the Poplar corridor. Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis are close by. Public school assignment comes from Memphis-Shelby County Schools and depends on the address. We always recommend confirming zoning with the district for a specific home.

Nearby Amenities

• Pink Palace Museum (Memphis Museum of Science & History)
• Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
• Memphis Country Club
• Audubon Park, the Memphis Botanic Garden, and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens
• Laurelwood and Oak Court shopping and dining
• Liberty Park and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium area

Who It Suits

Chickasaw Gardens suits buyers looking for a historic, architecturally protected setting with shared green space, a lake, a central location, and an established homes association.

Why Work With Myers Cobb

Homes in Chickasaw Gardens rarely come up for sale and are often sold privately. Each one also comes with association design guidelines that affect renovation plans. Marq Cobb and Brittany Myers Cobb know this pocket of Memphis well, and our concierge team handles the details for you: showings, inspections, contractor introductions, and design-review timelines. We handle it.

Thinking about Chickasaw Gardens? Call Myers Cobb Realtors at (901) 552-4036 or schedule a private consultation. We'll show you what's available, including homes not yet on the market.