Pass Christian or better known as “The Pass,” is another one of my favorite towns on the MS Gulf Coast. Again, I may be biased since my grandmother has owned park view and beach view property here since the 1960s! I grew up playing in the War Memorial Park when the slides were made of the rough HOT metal vs. the new soft plastic slides the park offers today.
The Pass is known for its breathtaking Scenic Dr., which is a 2.5 mile stretch of beautiful historic estates and magnificent oaks overlooking the beach. These homes were once second homes to the wealthy families primarily living in New Orleans during the mid to late 1800s and the early 1900s. Across from Scenic Drive is the impressive new harbor but this harbor really isn’t so new. It was originally formed in 1956 and possessed some of the finest oyster reefs in the world. The Pass Christian Oyster Reefs have been documented on maps leading back to 1699, and early French maps of the area refer to the reefs as Passe aux Huitres (Oyster Pass). These reefs fueled the economy of Pass Christian, which is what began drawing buyers to this area.
The locals are warm and inviting, the schools are award-winning, and the city is simple yet extravagant. Pass Christian’s “main street” is called Davis Ave, which has really begun to boom in the last few years. You can find great coastal shops walkable to the beach, harbor, and War Memorial Park on Davis. This area offers various goods such as oils, soaps, gifts, frozen yogurt, and some delicious restaurants. Just a block over, between the famous Second St. and Scenic Dr., is the War Memorial Park, made up of acres of ancient oaks, playgrounds, picnic tables, a gazebo, and several donated memorials. Locals from all over visit the park during the Pass Market held every Saturday morning. Popular annual events in the park are Jazz in the Pass, Art in the Pass, Christmas in the Pass, and Paws in the Pass. Many beautiful homes are surrounding this park. Second Street is parallel to Scenic Drive, and between these two roads is a very popular stretch of properties highly sought after for their location.
Pass Christian has many picturesque neighborhoods scattered throughout the city, but one of the most inquired qualities from out of state buyers is waterfront property. There are two well-known waterfront neighborhoods in Pass Christian, Timber Ridge, and Pass Isles. Timber Ridge offers several canals and Bayfront properties and many other homes that may not have water-frontage but have access to the Timber Ridge boat launch. For a small HOA fee, Timber Ridge offers several amenities including, a clubhouse, park, tennis court, and a private boat launch into the Bay of St Louis. Pass Isles, better known as “The Isles,” are two islands very close to Pass Christian’s shore. The Isles have always offered some of the Bay’s most beautiful views, but with that beauty comes a hefty price tag! Believe it or not, many of these million-dollar vistas are second homes.
If I had to explain Pass Christian in one line, I would say it is a proper yet very relaxed area to live in.
-Resources-
History of the War Memorial Park
Annual Events Not To Miss
- Art In The Pass - First week of April
- Jazz In The Pass - Memorial Day weekend
- Christmas In The Pass - First Friday in December
- Crusin' The Coast
- Jeepin' The Coast
Find out more here: http://passmainstreet.com/events/
The Pass Christian Yacht Club
www.PassChristianYachtClub.org/
Pass Christian School District
Golf In Pass Christian
Both The Oaks and Timber Ridge subdivisions offer golf courses within their “gated” communities. You can join the golf clubs without living in the subdivision but aren’t automatically included because you live there. These subdivisions have an HOA with a small annual fee, but there is a separate fee for joining the clubs.
Cruisin' the Coast Annual Event
"America's Largest Block Party." Crusin' the Coast is a festival celebrating classic cars and the nostalgia they invoke. It began in 1996 with only 374 registered vehicles. In 2017 that number has grown to over 8,000 cruisers from 41 states.
Vogue Magazine Article on the MS Gulf Coast
www.vogue.com/article/mississippi-gulf-coast-travel-guide
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