Welcome to the relaxed living at LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY. This is a beautiful residential area. It is one of, if not the most, desirable place to live NW Tennessee. Residents include - Professionals, business owners, teachers, and retirees.
The native trees are so tall they seamlessly reach out to touch the sky. The temperature at Lakewood is always a few degrees cooler than the city because of it's rolling hills and natural shade. All the roads in Lakewood are private roads and most end in a private cul-de-sac. You can walk to the waterfront from almost all the properties at Lakewood.
Lakewood is a community of active friendly people who love to walk, boat and fish. You won't be disappointed if you're looking for a place to raise your family with the security of the country feeling and yet close enough to town to get all your living necessities. We have room in Lakewood just for YOU!
History of Lakewood
Lakewood was developed by Jere Kirk back in the mid 1980's. Jere built 5 lakes on the acreage with some of them connected to each other. Back before this area was developed, the northern part of the city was ocasionally bothered by flash flood problems but much of this has ceased as these lakes take up the runoff water upstream.
One of the real achievements by Mr. Kirk was convincing the state to relocate an historic bridge that used to span the Obion river. I can remember as a child riding with my dad across this bridge in our car. When it was built in 1917 by the Vincennes Bridge Company spanning the Obion River on CR S8025 west of Lenox, the Lenox Bridge reflected the growing importance of over the road commerce and paid respect to the region's dominant method of transportation during this era-steamboats. After serving the area for over 60 years, the bridge was closed and the Army Corps of engineers needed to move the concrete support column. While doing so, Corps archaeologists discovered that the Lenox Bridge was the only surviving "swing span, pony Pratt through truss bridge" in the country thus giving it significant historic importance.
Located since 1987 at the entrance of the Lakewood subdivision in Dyer County, people from all over the world have visited to see the impressive structure that stands as a symbol of respect for the spirit and ingenuity of those who helped develop West Tennessee into a productive farming region. Kirk's interest in obtaining the bridge stemmed from his grandfather, A.A. Kirk, who helped build the span by hauling steel from railroad yards to the construction site in 1917.
Another factor contributing to Kirk's selection was the cost of relocating the structure. The site offered by Kirk, Lake Residential Development, is located three miles north of Dyersburg and is less than 10 miles from the bridge's original location. In September 1987, a relocation and restoration contract was awarded to the Dement Bridge Company of Jackson. Soon after its successful move in November, sand blasters, ironworkers, and reassembly crews started work on the bridge at the Lakewood site. Sparkling with fresh paint in a landscaped park surrounded by new homes and plush forests, Lenox Bridge now spans a boat canal between two scenic lakes. The site of the bridge has become the first public park within Dyer County. Lenox Bridge was reopened for pedestrian traffic on June 27, 1988, with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony featuring a high school chorus, U.S. Air Force Color Guard, and guest speaker, Representative Ed Jones, D-Tennessee, and Army Colonel O'Brene Richardson, Memphis District Engineer. Following the dedication ceremony, Kirk threw a barbeque and boat ride party for the more than 500 people attending. Today, Lenox Bridge represents an important link to the region's transportation past and stands as a symbol of respect for the spirit and ingenuity of those who helped develop West Tennessee into a productive farming region.
Today, Lakewood is the home to many homeowners with prices for homes averaging from $200,000 and up. Many workers across the river in Missouri and Arkansas chose to live in Lakewood because of the short drive to I155. Also, I am relocating a lot of Florida residents to Lakewood because they want waterfront without the hurricanes and because the prices here are just so much cheaper than other parts of the country including Florida.
