Bullard

Cedar Bay is a quiet rural enclave with towering pine trees overhead and the lapping shores of Lake Palestine below. Residents enjoy the tranquility and seclusion provided by the large housing lots and the lack of commercial activity in the area. Summer days are spent on the lake, where many explore the miles of open water by boat. Lakefront estates and smaller manufactured homes may serve as weekend retreats for some, but the majority of residents stick around for endless recreation and access to highly rated public schools. “I would say there are definitely way more full-time homeowners than weekenders,” says Shelia Cooper, local Realtor and owner of RE/MAX Impact. “Most of the neighborhood is in Bullard, and that’s going to get them into Bullard [Independent School District], which is preferred around here.” Lake Palestine is the neighborhood's main attraction and serves as the hub for recreation all summer. Days on the lake consist of waterskiing in the main channel and cruising through the winding coves. Many homeowners have private boat docks, but residents on dry lots can still access the waters via the Lake Palestine Marina, under 2 miles away. The 18-mile-long reservoir is renowned for its game fishing and hosts multiple bass fishing tournaments. For recreation on dry land, Emerald Bay Club is a private golf club community featuring an 18-hole championship course. Other amenities include tennis and basketball courts and a swimming pool. Cedar Bay's wide streets and expansive lots provide privacy and seclusion. Manufactured homes with vinyl exteriors and front patios are the predominant style, though expansive waterfront estates with private boat docks can also be found. Classic ranch-style dwellings and rustic Tudor revivals fill in the gaps, and housing is split between waterfront and dry lots. Pickups parked in the front driveways are a common sight as they are required to tow boats to and from the marina. No matter where homebuyers end up, Cedar Bay offers an accessible way into the Lake Palestine area. “For people wanting to live near the lake, this community is an affordable option,” Cooper says. "It's sandwiched between Emerald Bay and Eagle’s Bluff, and they’re much more expensive neighborhoods.” Prices for manufactured houses range between $125,000 and $400,000, while larger single-family builds on the water sell for up to $750,000. Cedar Bay is entirely residential, and its rural nature means residents have to drive a ways to reach shopping and dining. Dollar General and Family Dollar are the closest stores 2 miles away. Chain restaurants like Taco Bell and Sonic Drive-in are the nearest eateries, while local favorites like Catch Me If You Can Restaurant are farther down the road. Emerald Bay Community Church is one of numerous houses of worship serving the area. For more extensive commercial districts, the historic shops and restaurants of Downtown Tyler are under 20 miles away. Students can attend public schools in the Bullard Independent School District. Bullard Early Childhood Campus received a B rating from Niche and serves kindergarteners. Bullard Primary School (1-2), Bullard Elementary School (3-4), Bullard Intermediate School (5-6) and Bullard Middle School (6-8) all received an A-minus rating on Niche. The B-plus-rated Bullard High School maintains a 1:1 technology initiative for student learning and offers numerous career and technical education courses. Brook Hill School is a private education option for parents to consider. Downtown Tyler is 20 miles and can be reached via State Highway 155. Dallas is the closest major city, 100 miles to the east, roughly equal to a 2-hour drive. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is 19 miles away and services numerous daily flights to DFW International Airport.

With the official state nut of Texas in its name, the gated community of Pecan Valley Ranch evokes the spirit of the Lone Star State. The neighborhood, located in Bullard, features lot sizes comparable to those of an actual ranch, with many topping an acre. Large, ranch-style houses sit on top of these lots and provide residents with rural seclusion and surprising views of the East Texas landscape. “The big thing about Pecan Valley Ranch is being able to have the views,” says Stephanie Miller, a local broker and Realtor with Standard Real Estate. “The terrain is a little different, and to be on top of a hill with an overlook is not very common in this area.” However, this seclusion is an illusion, as the local shops and restaurants of Bullard are just a quick drive away, and the historic centers of downtown Tyler are 16 miles north. Bullard Kids’ Park is the closest green space and features playgrounds and picnic areas. Farther down the road, the Green Acres Sports Complex offers multiple athletic facilities, including soccer fields, softball diamonds and an 18-hole disc golf course. The neighborhood sits between Lake Palestine to the east and Lake Tyler to the west. Many residents enjoy spending a day on the water, with both lakes being a popular spot for fishing and watersports. Golfers swing away on the well-manicured 18 holes at Oak Hurst Golf Course, under 5 miles away. Behind Pecan Valley Ranch’s gates, large rural estates sit on expansive grassy lots. Ranch-style builds with brick exteriors and gabled roofs are the predominant style, and the average single-family home size is well above the national average at almost 3,500 square feet. Modern farmhouses can also be found scattered throughout the neighborhood. Lots often run over an acre, and many are empty, providing an opportunity for residents to build their own dream homes. Most houses have multi-car garages and backyard swimming pools. Prices for three-bedroom builds range between $500,000 and $700,000, while larger four-to-five-bedroom estates sell between $900,000 and $1.2 million. The neighborhood has an HOA that maintains the recreational spaces and fishing ponds. Bullard Independent School District serves the neighborhood and received an A-minus rating on Niche. Younger students begin their education at Bullard Early Childhood Campus, which received a B rating. Bullard Primary School (1-2), Bullard Elementary (3-4), Bullard Intermediate School (5-6) and Bullard Middle School (6-8) all received an A-minus rating. The B-plus-rated Bullard High School is a hub for extra-curricular activities ranging from agriculture and engineering to culinary arts. It maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Parents looking for a private school option may consider the Brook Hill School, which received an A-plus rating and specializes in college prep. “It looks like a college campus when you drive by it,” Miller says. “People from all over the world send their kids here.” Downtown Tyler is 16 miles away and can be reached via US-69, which runs parallel to the neighborhood. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is 24 miles away and services multiple daily flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Dallas is around 115 miles away, roughly equal to a 2-hour drive. Pecan Valley Ranch is entirely residential but is close to Bullard's local shops and restaurants. Hondo & Shorty’s is a popular no-frills burger joint serving tasty cheeseburgers and chicken fried steak. Down the street, visitors can get a hot cup of joe at Coffee Around the Corner or try some smooth glasses of red and white at Moody Family Wines. Bullard also has plenty of chain restaurants, including Whataburger and Sonic Drive-In. Brookshire’s provides the neighborhood with fresh produce and weekly groceries. The Village at Cumberland Park is 10 miles away and features over 45 premium retail stores and dining shops. Residents are close to the vibrant community events held by the City of Bullard. The annual Red White & Blue festival has been ongoing for over 20 years and focuses on honoring veterans with a day of music, car shows and parades. The event is usually held the first week of November. Other celebrations include a Fourth of July fireworks show and Octoberfest.