A small Springfield neighborhood with lots to see and do, historic Galloway Village makes a charming day-out destination. Stretching south of Battlefield Road on Lone Pine Avenue, in a valley along Galloway Creek, the neighborhood’s public face is steeped in tradition and character. This area along Lone Pine features great ways to get outdoors, shop boutiques, be creative, relax and meet up with friends.
Here are five reasons to explore Galloway Village on your next day out.
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We help you to explore our town with Neighborhood Guides, an occasional series highlighting five ways to find things to do, see, eat or drink in a selected section of Springfield. Some sections are broad, others more compact.
We’d love to hear your suggestions for neighborhoods or spots to highlight. Send ideas to Managing Editor Brittany Meiling at bmeiling@hauxeda.com.
Dine out on Lone Pine
For a small village neighborhood, Galloway has an array of dining options for any taste. And all are accessible along the Galloway Creek Trail (but each has ample parking, too). Bambinos Italian Cafe is at the corner of Battlefield. The second location for this Springfield favorite (2810 E. Battlefield Road, Suite D) offers salads, soups, pizza, a variety of pasta dishes and even some Greek-style fare.
At the other end of South Lone Pine is the neighborhood veteran, if you will, aptly named Galloway Grill (4211 S. Lone Pine Ave.). This trail-friendly indoor/outdoor eatery serves up casual fare that’s perfect after a ride or for gathering with friends. They serve classic American grill fare like hot dogs, burgers, grilled cheese, chicken and more, plus soups, salads, a variety of apps — and even PB&J for picky young eaters.
Between those two are a couple of newer eateries. The Rock at Quarry Town (4018 S. Lone Pine Ave.) is a gathering place with seasonal deck dining. Its menu features traditional fare and innovative offerings, including plenty for veggie lovers, such as zucchini chips and spicy buffalo cauliflower appetizers to start. Meals range from creative salads and “fit bowls” to steak, salmon, chicken and tacos, gourmet mac and cheese, pizza, burgers and sandwiches.
If you’re in the mood for Japanese fine dining or sushi – or both – you’ll find it at Niji Sushi Bar & Grill (3938 S. Lone Pine Ave.). Not that you have to dress up here. Besides a wide range of sushi, the menu includes bento boxes, ramen noodle soup, hibachi selections, main dinner courses and more. (Get take-out for that picnic in the park.)
Get outdoors
A Lone Pine Avenue centerpiece, Sequiota Park (3500 S. Lone Park Ave.) draws neighbors and visitors, families and nature lovers from around the city — along with plenty of ducks and geese. Sequiota is a pretty park, with stone and metal bridges, picnic tables, a nice shelter, playgrounds, walking paths and a lake. The park’s most notable feature is Sequiota Cave (once called Fisher Cave), home to migrating gray bats. The cave is closed to visitors except when the Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s Outdoor Initiatives offers guided johnboat or kayak tours.
The park is also a trailhead for the Galloway Creek Greenway Trail, a popular stretch to ride, run or walk. For a fun day out, start or end your trek at the park with a picnic. (Or pick something up at one of Lone Pine’s eateries.) You can head north or south on the trail from the park. North eventually leads to Pershing Middle School, passing the recycling center, creek areas, a giant wheelchair sculpture and more. Heading south takes you by the quarry, swings around a pet cemetery, goes under the highways, passes by a trail to the Nature Center and eventually connects with the James River Greenway Trail at the old iron bridge.
Make time for yourself
Self-care therapy is a thing, isn’t it? Whether you prefer to immerse yourself in a creative pursuit or sink into muscle and mind relaxation, you’ll find it in Galloway Village.
One of our city’s first make-it-yourself craft studios, Firehouse Pottery has been at 4150 S. Lone Pine Ave. for 25 years. Drop in anytime to relax with refreshments while you glaze-paint your choice of pottery, including tiles, mugs, dishes, ornaments, figures, holiday décor and more. Studio staff will fire it for pick-up a week later. If you want creative “group therapy” (a.k.a. to book a pottery party with friends or kids), they offer that too.
Perhaps your idea of “me” time is an hour (or a day) at the spa. Acacia Spa (4058 S. Lone Pine Ave.) offers everything from massages and facials to manis and pedis (hand therapy!), to “med spa” services like Botox, peels and more. For more energized time to yourself, try Pure Hot Yoga in the Galloway Creek Building, 3938 S. Lone Pine Ave.
Meet friends with beverages
While Galloway Village restaurants offer libations, the neighborhood also boasts two craft breweries. Across the road and a bit uphill from Sequiota Park, 4 By 4 Brewing Company (2811 E. Galloway St.), is a casual, friendly spot for hanging out or ending your trail ride. Check out one of its many planned events like Mama’s Night Out, Yoga and Brews, sports watch parties and craft nights.
Down the road and next to The Rock, Great Escape Beer Works (4022 S. Lone Pine Ave.), has a Colorado-meets-treehouse local bar vibe. Its elevated outdoor deck has a view of the Galloway Creek Trail (great for sunsets and people-watching!). The brewery also hosts events, like Friday night Tiki Parties (with music), Wednesday trivia and specialty nights (hello Mardi Gras!).
Too early for a beer? Pop in for a gourmet brew of a different kind at Black Lab Coffee (3541 S Lone Pine Ave.). The little shop directly across from the park makes specialty drinks named after dogs (of course!) like The Black Lab (toffee, nut and chocolate), Goldendoodle (caramel and brown sugar) and Snoopy (white chocolate). It’s the perfect spot for picking up coffee-to-go for enjoying on a park bench at Sequiota.
Retail therapy anyone?
Whether looking for a gift or shopping for yourself, Galloway Village has several unique boutiques to peruse. Pine at Galloway is a quaint shop stop along the trail. Housed in a little cottage just south of the park, at 3830 S. Lone Pine Ave., Pine exudes a connection to nature. You’ll find a mix of home décor and gifts, plants and pots, clothing, accessories, jewelry, gifts for kids, lotions and oils, natural cleansers and more.
A few more one-of-a-kind shops include two at the corner of Lone Pine and Battlefield. The Polish Pottery Shoppe (2802 E. Battlefield Rd.) is filled with colorful old-world dishware products from makers in Boleslaweic, Poland, that are practical for modern kitchens. Within steps, shop for a cause while updating your closet at Inspired Boutique by Abilities First, an upscale resale store that features women’s clothes and accessories, household items and more. Sale proceeds benefit people with developmental disabilities through the nonprofit Abilities First.
And sharing a building with Niji and Hot Yoga at 3938 S. Lone Pine Ave., Culture Flock sells colorful original-print tops and accessories, both online and with limited hours at their brick-and-mortar shop.
Learn more about Galloway Village's history (Click to expand)
The rich history of Galloway Village was featured in this SGF Neighborhood News article, and on Ozarks Alive in this article. We gleaned some historic tidbits to share here.
Sequiota Park, a Lone Pine Avenue centerpiece, has its own history. The park’s cave, once called Fisher Cave, was an entertainment destination for locals two centuries ago. The state of Missouri purchased the parkland in 1920 for use as a fish hatchery, then donated the park to the city in 1959. In the 1980s, it was designated a historic site.
Galloway Village was once an actual village about six miles from Springfield. In the 1880s it was a place for mining, nearby quarry workers and railroad employees. In fact, it was a stop for the Chadwick Flyer. At one point, U.S. 65 went through the village along what is now Lone Pine, bringing shops, gas stations and cafes. Its initial bustle went bust when the highway moved east. Springfield annexed the village in 1969 and Galloway later became known as a quaint shopping and outdoor destination. Today it blends old and new places to live, work and play.
