Fritch is a rural community that revolves around Lake Meredith
Fritch is all about the lake life. The city of around 2,000 people sits along Lake Meredith, a national recreation area that draws visitors looking to do everything from fishing to water skiing. Many residents spend much of their free time on the water or exploring the campgrounds, amphitheaters and hiking trails that line it. “As a kid, my family had a pontoon boat, and we would spend every weekend out there,” says Sabre Cofer, a Realtor with eXp Realty. “We would look for white caps on the water. If it was calm, we would sometimes sleep on the boat. It’s really nice.” Back in town, Fritch has most of what residents need, like restaurants and essentials, and larger cities like Amarillo and Borger are a straight drive.
Fishing, boating, hiking and an amphitheater with a waterfront view
Residents get easy access to Lake Meredith. The Harbor Bay Campground has an open boat ramp and a picnic area. It connects with the Harbor Bay Trail, which covers more than 5 miles and goes through wetlands, and the South Turkey Creek Trail, a popular birding path that stretches more than 16 miles round-trip. Other campgrounds and boat ramps are placed sporadically along the coast. Anglers can expect to catch walleye, bass, crappie and catfish in the lake.
The Fritch Fortress Amphitheater often screens outdoor films using the lake as a backdrop. Closer to the town center, Triangle Park and Fritch Community Park have playgrounds, the latter's decorated with zoo animals.
Brick ranch-style and manufactured homes for below-median prices
Traditional brick ranch-style homes are spread throughout the city’s grid-like streets. Some come with carports or garages. There are also a handful of manufactured houses. The median sale price is around $160,000, well below the national median but in line with Borger and other surrounding towns. Properties stay on the market for nearly 145 days, almost tripling the U.S. average. Residential roads are wide, though most do not have sidewalks, and parking along the street is common. Yards are often grassy and can feature small to medium trees and shrubs.
A 4th of July celebration combines fireworks and an outdoor movie
The Fritch Fortress Amphitheater hosts Fireworks and a Movie around the 4th of July. Residents are asked to bring their own chairs and blankets.
Local eateries and chain restaurants along State Highway 136
The city’s few restaurants, a mix of chains and local eats, line Texas State Highway 136, as do several churches. Jesse’s Pizza Co. bakes specialty pies and offers a gluten-free cauliflower crust. Chris’s Kitchen is open for homestyle breakfast, lunch and dinner every day except Sundays, when it closes at 2 p.m. Corner Crossing Co. sells Texas barbecue favorites and has a large snow cone selection. The city has a Dollar General, but no dedicated grocery store; the closest one is Walmart, just over 10 miles east in Borger. “I pay attention to convenience stores because I drive a lot, and Fritch does have one of the newer Allsup’s in the area,” Cofer says.
Sanford-Fritch schools get good marks, but school choice is an option
Students are served by the Sanford-Fritch Independent School District. They can attend Sanford-Fritch Elementary and Junior High schools, which both hold a B-minus Niche grade. Sanford-Fritch High School offers dual credit courses in partnership with Frank Phillips College. It earns a B score.
Starting in 2026, Texas’ school choice voucher program will send accepted families around $10,000 to spend on private school tuition. The nearest private schools are in Amarillo, close to 40 miles away; Holy Cross Catholic Academy, for grades 6-12, receives an A from Niche.
Access to Amarillo and Golden Plains Community Hospital
Texas State Highway 136 cuts through the community as its main thoroughfare. It can also take drivers around 10 miles east to Borger or close to 35 miles south toward Amarillo and the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. Golden Plains Community Hospital, in Borger, has 25 beds. Cofer says she has never heard of the community flooding, and severe storms like tornadoes are rare in the region.
