Eagle Lake spreads its wings in south central Texas
Everything unique about Eagle Lake comes from the 1,400-acre body of water that it’s named after. Before it was incorporated in 1888, Eagle Lake was abounding with wild game such as ducks and geese, and at one point was even referred to as the “Goose-hunting Capital of the World.” But during the reconstruction era, Eagle Lake became a major exporter of sugar cane after establishing a mill on the east side of the lake, with agriculture continuing to play a part over a century later. “We’re big on rice farming,” city secretary and local resident Lina Ferguson says. “That kind of put us on the map, and that sticks with us to this day.” With natural amenities, local restaurants and a low cost of living, Eagle Lake is a small rural Texas town with love for the land and wildlife.
Hunting, fishing and boating west of the Colorado River
Hundreds of bird species flutter between the David Wintermann Wildlife Area and the Veterans Memorial Park in the commercial historic district. “We have a lot of birding at our municipal park,” Ferguson says. “You can see the lake from where you walk down the boardwalk.” The nine-hole public golf course features Bermuda Tiff greens and a pro shop, while ancient artifacts and photographs can be seen at the Prairie Edge Museum. Boating, fishing and kayaking occur 5 miles east at the Colorado River. While Eagle Lake itself is privately owned, properties can be leased out during fishing or hunting season.
Lakeside homes varying in architecture and acreage
Older single-family houses occupy both sides of the main highway, while large ranch houses are built on acreage farther on the outskirts. It’s walker-friendly with plenty of sidewalks between city blocks, and several homes are shaded by tall, thick Mesquite trees and accented by small shrubs and cacti. Many of the traditional, Victorian and ranch-style homes have small lawns, sheds and chain-link fences, costing between $120,000 and $300,000. Larger two-story Craftsman homes will be $300,000 to $550,000 and have up to 6-acre lots to park their boats and RVs. A few waterfront properties have docks and lake access.
Rice schools catering to rural Texas communities
Eagle Lake is zoned for the Rice Consolidated School District, which has a B-minus on Niche. “Rice consists of three different communities – Garwood, Sheridan and Eagle Lake,” Ferguson says. “The high school is about 12 minutes away from our town.” Preschool begins at the Eagle Lake Primary School before elementary students advance to the intermediate school, both of which respectively have B and B-minus ratings. Rice Junior High School has a Gifted & Talented program, while Rice High School has a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Both schools have C-plus ratings on Niche.
A regional airport, transit and highway to Houston
The main highway in and out of Eagle Lake is an alternate route for U.S. Highway 90, which leads over 38 miles west to Hallettsville or around 65 miles east to Houston. The Colorado Valley Transit provides fixed-route transportation to city services and surrounding communities such as Columbus and Weimar. The Rice Medical Center is based on the west end and is open for 24 hours. Besides the regional airport to the north, Eagle Lake’s closest airline option is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 80 miles northeast.
Annual events around Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake hosts a farmer's market on the square the third Saturday of every month between March and July and October and December. The Eagle Lake Fireworks show pops off every July. In late September, the chamber hosts the annual Eagle Lake Wild Festival where attendees play pickleball, run in a 5K, jump in bounce houses, check out a car show and enjoy food from local vendors. Every December, Santa and his reindeer always show up for the annual Christmas Parade.
Family-owned restaurants and Texas-famous franchises
Local restaurants and storefronts are mainly clustered in the commercial historic district close to the highway. Louisa’s Pancake & Waffle Shoppe is the newest brunch restaurant that opened in early 2025, while Lamberto’s Main Street Italian Restaurant specializes in pasta and pizza. Taco Tony’s is a popular Mexican restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1976, and the Texas fan-favorite Buc-ee’s welcomes travelers on their way through town. Local grocery stores include Brookshire Brothers, Maxwell’s Meat Market and the Eagle Lake Supermarket.
