Hooks is a rural community that embraces a slow pace of life
Hooks has no catch. The Bowie County city near the Texas-Arkansas border is as it appears: rural, residential and proud. Several of its nearly 2,500 residents work at the town's Red River Army Depot, which focuses on the maintenance of tactical systems and ground combat vehicles. Other residents commute elsewhere. Though Hooks has its own restaurants and green spaces, the city’s location provides access to commercial centers like Texarkana and New Boston — without the additional noise and traffic. “There’s not a whole lot of people moving there from outside the region,” says Holly Craigen, a Realtor with Fathom Realty LLC who visits the city daily. “It’s people who work at the Army Depot or locals who know the vibe.” That vibe, Craigen says, is serene and slow, a place where people still support mom-and-pop businesses, and each other.
Ranch-style and New Traditional homes, plus large parcels of land
The city’s traditional ranch-style homes often range from $115,000 to $285,000, while its larger New Traditional properties commonly run from $330,000 to $400,000. Small manufactured houses can go from $50,000 to $100,000. Large parcels of land are also available, usually from $5,000 to $17,000 per acre. “If you go out a little further, you can find houses on 1-2 acres, or you can buy 5, 10 or 15 acres and build on it,” Craigen says. The community’s asphalt streets are narrow, and residential roads usually lack sidewalks. Woods and farmland surround the area. Streetlights can be far from one another. Yards are mostly grass, but can have small or medium trees and small bushes near the house.
The Downtowner is popular for lunch, and grocery stores are close
Most restaurants sit along or near Main Street. The Downtowner Restaurant serves homestyle meals and desserts. “It’s like the restaurant from ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ It’s where everyone goes for lunch,” Craigen says. Scooter’s Pizzeria bakes fresh traditional and specialty pies. Acadiana Jeaux’s brings the flavors of Louisiana to the region. There are also fast-food eateries like Sonic. The community has Cash Saver and Dollar General locations, and Walmart and Brookshire’s can be found in New Boston.
Dual-credit classes at Hooks High, and a school choice voucher program
Most students are served by the Hooks Independent School District. They can attend Hooks Elementary School, which holds an A Niche score. Hooks Junior High gets an A-minus. Hooks High School offers dual-credit classes through a partnership with Texarkana College and receives an A rating.
A few homes east of Precinct Road are zoned for Leary Independent School District, which only has one option: Leary Elementary School, for kindergarten through eighth grade, which holds a B Niche grade. Craigen says students who graduate from the school can attend a high school of their choice.
Starting in 2026, Texas’ school choice voucher program will send eligible families about $10,000 to use on private school tuition and other expenses. The closest private school is Texarkana’s Trinity Christian School, around 20 miles away, which gets a B-plus grade.
A few miles from golf, playgrounds and Bringle Lake Park West and East
Hooks City Park is anchored by youth baseball and softball fields, and churches like Hooks First Baptist Church are located throughout the region. Nearby, Oak Grove Golf Club offers public tee times for its 18-hole course and hosts special events like weddings. A few miles west in New Boston, Tapp Park has a splash pad, ball fields, a jungle gym and swings, and T&P Trailhead Park has cycling and walking paths.
Close to 15 miles away is Bringle Lake Park West, which features a boat ramp and volleyball courts. It connects with Bringle Lake Boardwalk and Bringle Lake Park East, which offers a fishing pier, bike trails, picnic areas and a playground.
Pork on a Fork fills stomachs and raises money for charity
Runnin’ WJ Ranch, a therapeutic horseback riding nonprofit, hosts the Pork on a Fork event. It combines a barbecue with line dancing and live music.
Access to Interstate 30 and Downtown Texarkana
Interstate 30 cuts through the community, and U.S. Route 82, known locally as Avenue A, runs along its southern border. A railroad sits just south of it. It is close to 15 miles to Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital and Downtown Texarkana, which sits on the Texas-Arkansas line. Texarkana Regional Airport, on the Arkansas side, is around a 20-mile drive. Craigen says impactful weather events like tornadoes and flooding are not a concern for the community.
