Cottleville, Missouri embodies the small-town Midwest charm. This thriving town in St. Charles County is made up of over 5,600 people, including many families. As it’s grown in population in recent years, it’s also grown in its reputation for being friendly and welcoming to all. Cottleville was named the safest place to live in Missouri in a 2024 report.
Cottleville has a captivating historic downtown filled with small, family-owned businesses including an independent market, a locally owned coffee shop, and even a craft store. It has a rich history as the oldest town in St. Charles County, founded back in 1798. Cottleville has been an important stop for Americans over its 100-year history, welcoming families in covered wagons, stagecoaches, and even pony express riders.
The town is a place to escape busy, bustling cities and enjoy nature. Nearly 10% of the town is designated natural parks and recreation spaces. It boasts nearly 250 acres of parks and lakes to explore and enjoy. It’s an ideal place to foster tight-knit community ties, with plenty to see and do within the town limits. Read ahead to learn why you should consider making Cottleville, Missouri your hometown.
Cottleville prides itself as a “green community,” with plentiful neighborhood parks in which to make memories. There are playgrounds for children to explore, paths for community 5Ks, sports courts for teams to gather, and open pavilions to celebrate life events such as graduations, birthday parties, and family reunions. Cottleville has four main parks throughout the town to enjoy: Legacy Park, College Meadows Park, Scott A. Lewis Park, and Hansen Park.
Legacy Park is the most popular park in the heart of Cottleville. This park is right down the street from Cottleville’s historic downtown and offers everything from:
Legacy Park has beautiful natural features to explore through its nearly one dozen trails, including the Podhorn Memorial Trail and Vantage Lake Trail, which take people around Harmony Lake and Vantage Lake respectively. There are all sorts of wildlife to see in the area while exploring these trails including deer and, even on occasion, bald eagles!
McGuire the bald eagle came to visit Legacy Park tonight. Thank you World Bird Sanctuary for sharing your knowledge and stories about McGuire and everything you do! 🦅 🇺🇸 ❤️
Posted by City of Cottleville, Mo on Tuesday, May 7, 2024
If you don’t find wildlife during walks, bike rides, or runs on the area trails, the town sometimes arranges for wildlife encounters to be brought straight to the community. The historic log cabin on park property is often the spot for special events like a live owl display. When the weather cools down, Mrs. Claus has even been known to stop by the cabin and read stories.
Legacy Park’s Cottleville Weldon Spring Rotary Park Amphitheatre is also a hot spot for family fun and entertainment. Bands perform on “Twilight Tuesdays” during the warmer months and family-friendly movies are shown there, as well. If kids need to get their energy out during these community events, there’s a playground within walking distance with a space for kids of all abilities to play. It includes a swing made especially for people in wheelchairs.
On the northern end of the city near St. Charles Community College is the 80-acre College Meadows Park. The main feature is an 18-hole disc golf course, which, according to the city, is only the third disc golf course to be made in the region. It’s a hot spot for local disc golf leagues and tournaments. One annual league called the “League of the Future” by St. Charles County Parks is made for children in high school or younger to learn how to play disc golf. A glow-in-the-dark disc golf tournament has also been previously held at the park.
On the eastern side of Cottleville is Scott A. Lewis Park, a place known for water activities. Dardenne Creek partially surrounds the park, but its focal point is the 18-acre Buchheit Lake. This space offers standup paddleboard rentals along with kayak rentals. It has a boat ramp for easy access to the water, although it’s important to note only small boats such as canoes, longboards, and those with electric motors are allowed on the water.
Buccheit Lake is a go-to spot to get away and enjoy fishing. The lake has a variety of fish, such as bluegill, catfish, bass, sunfish, and more. The city semi-regularly stocks this lake and Vantage Lake, so whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice fisher, there are great opportunities to catch something here and build your repertoire of fishing stories.
While smaller than some of the other parks in the city, Hansen Park is the perfect size for some of Cottleville’s littlest residents. The park has an inclusive playground, made specifically for children of all abilities to enjoy playtime. The playground includes a castle-like fortress complete with four leaf clovers for children to explore. Rumor has it that there may be a pot of gold somewhere near the castle. The space is also outfitted with adaptive swings, a modified merry-go-round, and even a misting station for warmer summer days.
The local school district is a big draw for families and the reason some move to Cottleville. Francis Howell School District is considered one of the top school districts in the state and a top school district in St. Charles County. Education website Niche ranks it in the top 15 school districts out of 450+ public school districts in Missouri. The school district is made up of:
The district boasts a 96% graduation rate, up from the state average of 89%. Classrooms in the district have an average ratio of 15 students to one teacher, and the district has earned five National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence as of 2024. After high school, nearly 80% of graduates go to a 4-year college or 2-year college.
Cottleville is also home to St. Charles Community College, which has been around since 1987 and provides students an affordable way to begin their higher education. The two-year community college has nearly 6,000 students taking courses full-time and part-time. The main campus in Cottleville has one dozen buildings. The school also expanded in 2017 and now has a second campus called Dardenne Creek Campus in Dardenne Prairie.
St. Charles Community College offers a variety of degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways, which can be used to finish schooling at a 4-year university. St. Charles Community College students get a college experience afforded to 4-year university students with opportunities to live on campus, participate in musical and theatrical productions, and join intercollegiate sports teams such as baseball, soccer, and track and field. The community college is known for its safety and affordability.
Cottleville’s small-town charm shines through its family-run businesses sprinkled throughout the city. It has everything from a locally-owned grocery store, to a mother-daughter home decor business, to a collective market highlighting local artisans. By living in Cottleville, you have the unique opportunity to truly get to know small business owners and witness the positive impact your support of these businesses makes on the local community.
Located in the heart of Cottleville’s historic downtown on State Route North, often called State Highway N, the grocery store Mannino’s Market is a key part of what makes Cottleville the community that it is today. The business has been around since 1929 and is run by the fourth generation of the Mannino family. The hometown meat market sells many local products and the family prides themselves in hand-picking produce. The store is well-known within the community for selling exceptional meat including filets, ribeyes, pork tenderloin, and more. Mannino’s Market has its own parking lot.
Cottleville has not one, not two, but three locally-owned flower shops within city limits. The Flower Stop, The Potted Plant, and Rogue Floral Design all call Cottleville home.
The Flower Stop is also right off State Route North, located right next to Mannino’s Market. It has been a staple business in Cottleville since 1955 and is family-owned and operated. The Flower Stop has a parking lot on the side of the building on Chestnut Street.
The Potted Plant serves as more than a flower store in Cottleville. It also includes a 1.5-acre garden center and a gift shop where you can buy home and garden decor. You can visit it on Mid Rivers Mall Drive. It has a parking lot attached to the property.
Rogue Floral Design is a family-run store specializing in flowers for big events such as weddings. The floral shop is located in a strip mall on State Route North. It has a parking lot that is shared among other businesses within the building. The entrance to the business is on the back of the strip mall, facing away from the street.
Cottleville has many other local, non-brand name retail shops where to buy clothing, gifts, and even furniture. Many businesses sell artisanal goods made by people living locally within St. Charles County. The town has compiled a complete list of retail shops, but here are highlights of some local shopping spots to check out:
A big reason to consider living in Cottleville is the wide variety of entertainment it has for residents to enjoy and experience. This Missouri city has its own theatre, an arsenal of athletic opportunities, axe throwing, and, if that’s not enough, it takes less than an hour to visit bustling suburbs and the city of St. Louis!
Watch the arts come to life at the Shook Theatre building on the St. Charles Community College campus. The 400-seat theatre has two main theatre groups: Center Stage Theatre and the Young People’s Theatre. Center Stage Theatre is a community theatre open to both students at the college and adults, while the Young People’s Theatre is for children ages 8 to 18. Both theatre groups perform all types of shows ranging from musicals to plays. Tickets for these shows are affordable – just $12 a show!
Tonight (Thursday) at Frankie Martin’s Garden:
Trivia in the Beer Barn at 7pm with Think & Drink Entertainment
Live…
Posted by Frankie Martin’s Garden on Thursday, May 2, 2024
A distinctive spot in Cottleville is Frankie Martin’s Garden. The atmosphere is great for families and friends. Known as a food truck destination, spending time at Frankie Martin’s Garden is more of an experience. There’s food and drinks (including a whiskey house and beer garden) along with live music. But it doesn’t end there; the property is nearly 3 acres complete with pickleball courts and sand volleyball for those looking to do something more active. Frankie Martin’s Garden is on St. Charles Street just north of the historic downtown and has a wide parking lot out back.
If you’re looking for a fun date night or outing, the Cottleville Wine Seller in historic downtown Cottleville is a beautiful outdoor area to enjoy a glass of wine. The space has over 200 different labels of wine and is on a unique property outfitted with waterfalls, heaters, and fire pits when the weather cools down. It also has an assortment of food including charcuterie boards, salads and sandwiches, and even a chocolate truffle bomb. The space has live music weekly and puts together special events like the “Sip and Shop,” where people can shop from different vendors while enjoying a glass of wine. It is open seasonally.
If families are looking for an easy day trip to a busier city, St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis, is just a 30-minute drive away. Located right along the Missouri River, St. Charles has a beautiful riverwalk, a plethora of restaurants, and museums including a classic car and soda museum. If you’re interested in antiquing, there are numerous shops to explore. St. Charles also has beloved yearly festivals including the Halloween festival, “Legends and Lanterns,” and “St. Charles Christmas Traditions”, which has been around for 50 years. If you’re looking for more of a city experience, St. Louis is less than an hour drive from Cottleville.
Cottleville has a range of restaurants with varying cuisines. It has some familiar chain restaurants, but what makes it stand out is its wide selection of locally-owned food spots to taste and try throughout the city.
You can never go wrong with a cinnamon latte…
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#cinnamonlatte #coffeeshop #coffeehouse #coffeeaddict #coffeelovers #espresso #latteart #latteartswan #weareupshotcoffee #upshot #swanPosted by Upshot Coffee on Friday, May 12, 2023
It’s said breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and in Cottleville, there are wonderful spots to start your day. For coffee drinkers, UpShot Coffee is located right in the heart of downtown Cottleville. Upshot Coffee opened in Cottleville in 2019 and has since become an award-winning roastery. If you go to get a cup of coffee, don’t forget food, too. The business sells pastries, sandwiches, and sweets. It has street parking right outside the business off Oak Street.
Right next to St. Charles Community College in the strip mall on Mid Rivers Mall Drive is Old Town Donuts. This family-owned donut shop has been serving the community for over a decade. It’s got everything from glaze twists to cinnamon cake donuts. If you’re not feeling a donut, they also have pastries including mouth-watering apple fritters and cinnamon rolls. If you have a hankering for a donut and this shop is closed for the day, the shop’s original location in Florissant is open 24 hours a day!
Other breakfast spots include J+B Wellness Company, which offers vibrant and healthy superfood bowls, juices, smoothies, and more. It is in a strip mall right off State Route North and has indoor seating. For another sit-down breakfast experience, there’s the Pink Willow Cafe, which is just a block away from Upshot Coffee. It has both indoor and outdoor seating with breakfast and lunch options. The cafe sells Messenger Coffee Company coffee, which is a business that started in Kansas City.
Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or a nicer, fancy dinner spot, Cottleville has local restaurants that fit the mold. It has a variety of cuisines including Italian and Mexican spots. Below is a list of some of the restaurants available to eat at throughout the city.
Cottleville has plenty of places for those who have a hankering for something sweet. Cottleville Cookies and Cream in downtown Cottleville has a variety of ice cream flavors and creations inspired by family recipes. You can try anything from banana pudding ice cream to mocha almond fudge. Any ice cream ordered there can be turned into a cookie sandwich or float.
Over in Mid Rivers Mall Drive is a Silky’s Frozen Custard. It has a simple, yet delicious menu where you can build your own sundae, concrete, or shake. Or you can order a specialty one like the “Elvis Pretzely,” which includes pretzels covered in both chocolate and caramel.
If you want a dessert that will transport you somewhere far away, try Lizzy Lou’s Shaved Ice. The owner Lizzy is a former flight attendant who now lives in St. Charles County. As a lover of Hawaii, her shaved ice includes flavors like Tahitian treat, Hawaiian hibiscus, and coconut cream making it easy to experience Hawaii without having to step on a plane.
There are so many benefits to living in Cottleville. This Missouri city offers the best of both worlds. Families can raise their children in a small, Midwestern town, while being less than an hour from bigger cities such as St. Charles and St. Louis. Cottleville provides more opportunities and experiences than other cities of this size. It is part of a top-tier school district and has all sorts of activities for children and adults alike from sports such as pickleball and disc golf to community theater. We’re happy to help you build your dream home in Cottleville. Reach out to us to start making Cottleville your hometown.
