Sunset Hills

Sunset Hills is a city located in St. Louis County with a population, at the time of the 2010 census, of 8,496. Covering 9.14 square miles, the city has a population density of nearly 933.6 inhabitants per square-mile. During the last three centuries, the region encompassing present-day Sunset Hills was known under an array of names such as Carondelet, Gravois Settlement and Heutelville.

The area’s history extends back to prehistoric times, with a variety of historical artifacts located within different streams and creeks near the Meramec River. Members of American Indian tribes who erected burial mounds were said to have populated the land in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many of their remnants were excavated during the construction of present-day strip malls.

In the early 1900s, the area served as the ideal location for Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch to build a social and dining club. He was hopeful to find a hilly, wooden and undeveloped site that would sanction privacy and the opportunity to bask in the outdoors … while enjoying, of course, an Anheuser-Busch product. In 1910, Adolphus acquired 26 acres to construct the Sunset Inn, while his son, August Anheuser Busch Sr., purchased additional land and formed the Sunset Hill Country Club adjacent to the Sunset Inn’s location.

A major staple of the Sunset Hill Country Club was the inclusion of a brand-new golf course that was designed by the Foulis brothers – Robert, Jim and David. The three brothers had designed some of the most prestigious courses in the Midwest, including Bellerive, Glen Echo and Bogey Club golf courses. The eldest brother Jim was the very first golf professional in the western United States during the late 1800s, serving as a professional at the Chicago Golf Club. The addition of the golf course and the expansion of the Sunset Hill Country led to even more inhabitation in the area throughout the 1900s.

Eventually, the area covering Sunset Hills earned a reputation of a commuter town thanks to its close proximity to the city of St. Louis. The city was incorporated in the summer of 1957 as Sunset Hills, which was named in honor of the area’s trademark country club.

Residents of Sunset Hills are served by the Kirkwood and Lindbergh School Districts.

Sunset Hills Official Website

Traditions

Panera Bread, a famous American chain of fast casual restaurants, has its headquarters located in Sunset Hills. Founded in 1987 under the name St. Louis Bread Company, the restaurant is known for serving a wide array of soups, pasta, bakery items and salads.

Sunset Hills’ Laumeier Sculpture Park is a 105-acre park museum that holds more than 60 outdoor sculptures and an indoor art gallery. Operating on a budget of $1.5 million, the nonprofit park attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year and offers educational art programs

Mellow Mushroom’s only Missouri location is right in the heart of Sunset Hills on South Lindbergh Blvd. A vacationer’s hot spot, the hippie-inspired pizza restaurant was founded in Atlanta in the mid-1970s and has more than 200 locations across the United States. Mellow Mushroom’s take on pizza and calzones is a big draw, along with its tie-dye uniforms and colorful mushroom décor.

Along the Sunset Hills’ border with Crestwood is Kitun Dog Park, a spot dedicated to our furry friends. Kitun Park has two separate areas for both small and large dogs and welcomes both residents and non-residents year-round.