Iowa Park is a small town with strong ties to Wichita Falls
People move to Iowa Park for its schools, sports and community spirit. A rural bedroom community of Wichita Falls, Iowa Park was built around the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway in 1888 and became a shipping center for crops such as wheat and cotton. The town continued to grow throughout the 1950s with the discovery of oil fields and the opening of the Sheppard Air Force Base. Today, over 6,000 residents enjoy a short commute to the big city while having a low cost of living and top-notch education. “The school district is probably the biggest draw. We have so many people moving from Wichita Falls to Iowa Park specifically for the schools,” says Victoria Wilkinson, a lifelong resident and transaction coordinator for the Brittany Ratliff Group. “We always say that we’re all Hawks, and we all bleed green.”
Traditional styles, manufactured homes and custom builds
Most older houses were built in the 1960s and are found on city blocks south of the highway. Small fixer-uppers range between 600 and 1,000 square feet and can cost between $30,000 and $100,000. Traditional and manufactured homes are also common, and many have carports, small gardens and pecan trees. Brick exterior houses with covered patios, two-car garages and quarter-acre to 10-acre lots can range from $100,000 to $400,000, while those with fireplaces and in-ground pools are between $400,000 and $500,000. Craftsman and custom homes with 2,000 to 4,000 square feet can have 5 to 24-acre lots and sell for $500,000 to $750,000.
A-rated schools in Iowa Park CISD
The Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District earns an A-minus on Niche and is highly rated for its teachers, academics and athletic programs. Kidwell Elementary serves kindergarten through second grade and earns a B-plus. Bradford Elementary teaches third through fifth grade and earns an A-minus. W.F. George Middle School has a Gifted and Talented program, and Iowa Park High School has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a 95% graduation rate. Both schools also have A-minus ratings.
Flights from Wichita Falls to DFW Airport
Wichita Falls is around 12 miles east via U.S. Route 287. There, car-dependent Iowa Park residents can park and take the bigger city's public transit system. Falls Rides buses travel to destinations throughout the city, including the hospital United Regional Healthcare System. “Most people work in Wichita Falls, but they choose to live in Iowa Park,” Wilkinson says. “They want that small-town feel, but they still have access to some high-level jobs at the hospital and the Air Force base.” The Wichita Falls Regional Airport has a connecting service to the DFW International Airport over 120 miles southeast, which flies out to over 200 destinations worldwide.
Family-owned eateries, florists and fast food establishments
Most restaurants are situated by the main highway and the business loop through town. Rafter J BBQ & Cajun Eats is a family-owned restaurant that’s been smoking brisket, ham and pulled pork for 15 years, while Harvey’s Family Restaurant has build-your-own burgers and loaded hot dogs. Carlitos Mexican Restaurant specializes in fajita enchiladas, chimichangas and chile rellenos, and Ken’s Pizza serves pasta, buffalo wings and calzones. There are also a couple of fast food restaurants and floral shops, as well as an Ace Hardware. Grocery stores include Lowe’s Market and Dollar General.
Fireworks, fishing and family-friendly festivals
Parkfest is held on the first Saturday of May and features food trucks and a car show. The Pig Pen Mud Volleyball Tournament takes place over the summer, and fireworks pop off over the lake for the Fourth of July. The Whoop T Do street festival offers food, carnival games and live music after Homecoming, and Kids Fish welcomes local youth for the one-day fishing event in October. The Light Up Christmas parade kicks off in early December and has festive refreshments with Christmas carols.
Three lakes, parks and a prehistoric-themed pool
Iowa Park is home to three lakes: Gordon Lake, Lake Iowa Park and the North Fork Buffalo Creek Reservoir. There are a few camping grounds where people can pitch their tent or park their RVs, and some like to take their boats out to go fishing for largemouth bass or trout. “There’s a lot of hunting,” Wilkinson says. “Dove is really big here, and so is white-tailed deer.” Several parks around the community have playgrounds, and the city pool has a dinosaur-themed splash pad with water slides. Nearby Wichita Raceway Park has hosted drag races since 1956.
