Gladewater offers antiques and a small-town lifestyle
Vintage stores and old-timey trinkets are a common sight in Gladewater, a rural city known as “The Antique Capital of East Texas.” Located about 12 miles west of Longview, Gladewater was once praised for its oil production, which caused a population boom in the 1930s. Now, the city keeps quiet as a small farming and bedroom community. “It’s close to Longview but definitely [has] a little more country feel as a smaller town,” says Crystal McDaniels, a Realtor with Fathom Realty, who has been selling homes since 2020. “It’s a very good location in regard to being able to hit the road and head into major cities.” A downtown area supports the community, and a nearby lake creates outdoor recreation.
Single-family homes on large lots, near farms or water
Homes in Gladewater are either found along residential streets close to the city’s center, or farther out on acres of farmland. Sprawling ranch-style homes and minimal traditional single-story homes are common, built between the 1940s and 1980s. Most have simple brick or vinyl exteriors, while others are more modern. There are also contemporary and New Traditional single-story homes built in the 2000s to 2020s. These newer properties have Craftsman features such as steep, sloped roofs, front gables and stone accents. Prices range from $110,000 to $450,000, based on property size and location. Roughly 40% of residents are renters – the rest own their homes.
About 3 miles outside the city, many homes are found along Lake Gladewater’s shoreline. Most are multistory homes with traditional vinyl siding and wrap-around balconies, though some are cabin-inspired. These properties cost between $315,000 and $900,000.
Shops, restaurants and antiques downtown and on US 80
Dozens of shops and restaurants are lined along downtown’s Main Street corridor. As the “Antique Capital of East Texas,” Gladewater has an entire district dedicated to perusing old-timey goods. “If you like old stuff, it’s your place,” McDaniels says. “It’s basically a section of town with multiple antique shops and vintage stores, where people can park and go shop at all of them.” Downtown also has gift shops and novelty stores like Three Roots Boutique, which sells beauty and wellness products. Skipper’s Pier is a restaurant specializing in Cajun meals and crawfish.
For more options, U.S. Highway 80 has a commercial corridor in the city’s eastern region. Brookshire’s is the main grocery store and is surrounded by retailers like Ace Hardware and CVS. Fast-food eateries in the area include Domino’s and Chicken Express. In the city’s western region, The Sasquatch’s Trading Post is another grocery store selling products at wholesale prices. Bodacious Bar-B-Q is another local restaurant, and The Stockyards Steakhouse nearby offers casual dining among a western theme.
Staying active at city parks and on Lake Gladewater
Small city parks are scattered throughout Gladewater. Bumblebee Park has a splash pad and basketball court, while Everett Park has paved walking trails through its forested area. The Gladewater Youth Sports Complex has everything from baseball and soccer fields to an Olympic-sized running track and indoor and outdoor basketball courts.
Garland P. Ferguson Park is one of the city’s main recreational spaces, located on the western shoreline of Lake Gladewater. There’s a swimming area, fishing pier and boat dock for getting out on the water. “Even though there are lots of homes on the lake, anyone can put their boat in and use it,” McDaniels says. Those staying on land can enjoy the park’s playground, baseball field and courts for basketball and tennis. An RV Park in the area allows camping.
Gladewater’s high quality public schools
The Gladewater Independent School District is the city’s main education system. Gladewater Primary School enrolls Kindergarten and first grade, earning a B grade from Niche, while the C-plus rated Weldon Elementary School teaches grades two through five. From there, students can head to Gladewater Middle School and Gladewater High School, which both earn Bs. High schoolers can choose to study different careers as part of the Career and Technical Education program, including agriculture, education and law & public service.
Small areas of Gladewater are zoned to Union Grove Independent School District and Sabine Independent School District.
Annual events that bring the community together
A handful of events are held every year to celebrate the community. In April, East Texas Gusher Days takes over the town with food vendors, live music, a car show and chili cookoff. A bass tournament is also held during the festival at Lake Gladewater. Another popular event is the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo in June, which has everything from bull riding and barrel racing to a Mutton Bustin competition.
Navigating around Gladewater by car
The city of Gladewater is located at the intersection of U.S. highways 80 and 271. US 271 travels north and south, while US 80 can be used to head 12 miles east into Longview or west to downtown Dallas. As such, driving is the preferred way to travel around the city. Gladewater Municipal Airport is about 2 miles from downtown, but most travelers will have to use Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, 33 miles away.
