Small town pride and outdoor fun in Daingerfield
Daingerfield is a small, rural Upper East Texas city of about 2,500 where homes often sit on multiacre lots, outdoor lovers stay busy and Mickey Mayne Tiger Stadium is filled on Friday nights as proud residents cheer on the local high school football team. The Tigers put this Morris County community on the map in 1983, when they won the state championship with the most dominant defenses in Texas high school football history, and the community still brims with Tiger Pride today. Along with a tight-knit community feel, residents also find just about everything they need in town, like groceries and farm supplies. And with Mt. Pleasant and Longview about 20 and 40 miles away, respectively, people don’t have to travel far for more.
Homes with land offer privacy and space for outdoor activities
Homes in Daingerfield include ranch-style, New Traditional and manufactured. They sit on grass lawns flanked with mature trees along quiet residential streets. Most homes have driveways and carports or garages. Prices range from around $100,000 to around $350,000, with higher priced homes often sitting on multiple acres. Karen McEntire, a Realtor with Mayben Realty who sells throughout East Texas, says abundant land is a big draw to the community, especially for buyers who are looking to get more for their money and use it for hunting, ranching, hobby farms or just plain solitude. “You’ll have people who say, ‘We’re looking for five to ten acres. We can afford to have the property, and we want privacy,’” she says.
Kids schools within Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD
Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District serves the city, rates a B-minus on Niche and offers limited school choice. Families rely primarily on open enrollment within district schools, subject to space availability and district policy. Out-of-district transfers are possible but require approval. There are no magnet programs. Kids can attend B-plus-rated West Elementary, then head to C-rated Daingerfield Junior High and B-minus-rated Daingerfield High. Both the junior and high schoolers participate in “Sources of Strength,” a program within their Social Studies classes designed to help them build resilience, grow healthy habits and create stronger bonds with their peers.
For kids who want to stay close to home after graduation, Northeast Texas Community College is in Mt. Pleasant. “They have a good rodeo team and really good softball and baseball teams,” McEntire says.
Outdoor recreation includes playgrounds, hiking, boating and golf
Residents head to Daingerfield State Park for its many amenities, including boating, paddling and fishing in its large lake, hiking through its many trees; and camping. Land O’ the Pines Lake is nearby and is a top boating, fishing and swimming destination. Within the city, Daingerfield City Park features a playground, small pavilion and many picnic tables and benches. Irvin Park has ball fields and is currently undergoing revitalization which includes new bathrooms and renovated dugouts. Daingerfield Country Club offers a semi-private, nine-hole golf course.
Brookshire’s, shops and local restaurants in town
Residents head to Brookshire’s and Dollar General for groceries and essentials. Other shopping in town includes Tractor Supply Company and locally owned spots like Something Special, a boutique selling clothes and gifts, and Daniel’s Feed & Farm Supply. Dining out options include local spots like Outlaw’s Bar-B-Que, a favorite for its brisket and smoked turkey, and Hawkin’s Family Restaurant, a laid-back diner that McEntire says is a popular meeting spot for residents. “The older gentlemen [in town] meet for breakfast for some hometown conversation. If you want to visit with some of the older people in town, go to Hawkins in the mornings.” The Morris Theatre, a small retro movie house, screens current films for $1.50 a ticket and is a go-to for evening entertainment. For additional shopping and dining, residents head to Longview or Mt. Pleasant.
Daingerfield State Park hosts festive and nature-filled events
Daingerfield State Park lights up in December for Christmas in the Park, which features a drive-thru light experience and a visit from Santa. The park also hosts B.A.R.K. Halloween Hike, where attendees bring their costumed dogs with them for a morning walk, and America’s Wonders, a nighttime Fourth of July event with a hike to scout for animals and insects, and telescopes for admiring the stars.
Main roads connect Daingerfield to nearby towns and services
There is no public bus line in Daingerfield, so most residents get around by car. Linda Drive, Broadnax Drive and W.M. Watson Boulevard run through the city and connect to nearby communities. The closest hospital with an emergency room, UT Health Pittsburg, is within 20 miles of the city via W.M. Watson Boulevard. The closest major airport is Texarkana Regional, about 70 miles away.
Storms and flooding are possible in this East Texas city
The city is vulnerable to tornadoes, hailstorms and flash flooding. Daingerfield’s website has resources to help residents stay informed before and during inclement weather.
