East Bernard’s educational roots
People move to East Bernard because of the strength of its school system. The first school was built in the 1880s when this farming town of around 150 people opened its first steam gin, mill and general stores. By 1956, the East Bernard School District grew to three campuses and accepted students across the county. Nearly seven decades later, it’s still the biggest draw of the area, rated the No. 1 school district in Wharton County by Niche. “It’s a small town where people know and look after everybody,” eXp Realtor Nikki Jackson says. “You’re not just a number – the community cares about you and knows your kid’s names." With youth sports, recreational amenities and diverse housing options, East Bernard is a tight-knit rural community 50 miles southwest of Houston.
Highly-rated public schools and preschools
The East Bernard Independent School District earns an A-minus on Niche and is at the center of the community. East Bernard Elementary has a preschool inside its campus, while East Bernard Junior High offers a Gifted and Learning program. Families show up at East Bernard High’s Memorial Stadium every fall to support their Brahmas. All three schools are located within the same building and have A-minus grades on Niche. There’s also a few faith-based institutions by the highway that include the Little Brahma Barn Preschool and Little Arrows Christian School.
A local river with a park and pool
Located east of the San Bernard River as its namesake implies, East Bernard is a popular destination for boating, fishing and birdwatching with over 300 unique species. The city park on the northeast end has a nature-themed playground along with a butterfly garden and sports fields for soccer, baseball and volleyball. The Leonard Horelica Pool has a splash pad and water aerobics classes, while books can be checked out at the East Bernard Library.
Rural homes with a lot of acreage
City blocks are situated southeast of the main intersection with larger homes found farther out in the outskirts. “In a rural town, you could have a trailer house, and you can have an $800,000 house on the same street, and you can have a 100-year-house right down the road,” Jackson says. “We have a little bit of everything.” Mid-sized traditional homes have two-car garages and quarter-acre lots and range between $150,000 and $350,000, while ranch-style and craftsman homes have up to 1-acre lots and cost $450,000 to $600,000. Larger farmhouses and country homes with 2-12-acre lots, barns and in-ground pools will be between $625,000 and $850,000, while $1-$1.5-million custom homes are built on up to 40-acre lots.
Hospitals and airports between Eagle Lake and Houston
East Bernard has two highways running perpendicular to each other. Traveling 16 miles west on the alternate route for U.S. Highway 90 leads to Eagle Lake, which has the closest 24-hour hospital with the Rice Medical Center. Driving 50 miles in the opposite direction leads to Houston, while the George Bush Intercontinental Airport is around 69 miles northeast. Going 7 miles north on State Highway 60 takes drivers to Wallis, and Hungerford is around 9 miles south. The Colorado Valley Transit offers public transportation around the city when reserved 24 hours in advance.
Country kitchens, coffee shops and kolaches
There are a handful of local restaurants by the highway intersection. Lupe’s Mexican Cafe is a local favorite that serves tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Vincek’s Smokehouse uses pecan wood to smoke their brisket and sausage and serves freshly madede kolaches, cakes and pies from its bakery. The Highway Country Kitchen offers burger and wing specials alongside karaoke nights, and Glory Bean is a small coffee house that offers bagel and biscuit sandwiches for breakfast and deli sandwiches for lunch. The few stores in this area include antique shops and tractor dealers, as well as a Lowe’s Market grocery store.
