Druid Hills / Emory

Druid Hills is an Atlanta oasis. Its park-like setting, wooded lots, and graceful curving roads are in sharp contrast to the urban sprawl found in the suburbs. Recognized as an historic district by the National Park Service, this neighborhood is one of the finest examples of urban planning in the Southeast.

At the end of the 19th century Atlanta developer Joel Hurt's vision of a large tract of land saddling the Ponce de Leon corridor was largely responsible for this incredible development.  To ensure that his vision maintained its abundant greenery, in 1892 he hired Frederick Law Olmsted, one of America's foremost landscape architects.  This project, one of Olmsted's last, represents the final evolution of his thinking about the relationship between suburban and urban areas.

Olmsted's vision of majestic trees, roads that do not dominate the landscape but blend into the natural topography, and homes on large plots of land was a revolutionary departure from the city living of the time.  Narrow lots and crowded homes would not be a part of this suburb.
Olmsted's associates who gained their experience from Druid Hills later worked on Ansley Park, Morningside, Garden Hills, and Avondale Estates. So, Druid Hills' beauty and lush landscape are no accident. 

Druid Hills residents quickly realized that their suburb was definitely unique.  By 1938 Druid Hills residents had formed a civic association to safeguard the integrity and heritage of the neighborhood.  A drive through Druid Hills is testimony to their success.  The architecture has been preserved; there are no cluster homes; the large, roomy lots have not been subdivided. 
One major commercial district in this area is the small collections of shops and restaurants clustered around the entrance to Emory University.  This area, known as Emory Village, caters to the university community, but is heavily patronized by residents of Druid Hills and beyond.

Emory is also famous -- or notorious (depending on how you feel about using apes in medical research) -- for the Yerkes Primate Institute.  You will find very little mention of it outside of researchers' resumes or publications; however, as they would like the general public to forget it's there.  On a more positive note, however, is the recent opening of the new Win ship Cancer Institute building there.  This is Emory's major thrust to regain the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation that it lost several years ago. 

The Olmstead Linear Park (previously called the Ponce de Leon Linear Park) comprises, from Briarcliff Road on the west to the Seaboard railroad tracks on the east, Springdale Park, Virgule Park, Bright wood Park, Shady Side Park, Dellwood Park, and Deepdene Park.   You will find a wonderful bicycle/walking path through these parks, starting at Virgule Park and ending at Dellwood Park.