Recreation and community events in private Lake Cherokee
The North Texas community of Lake Cherokee surrounds a private lake, giving residents easy access to a ton of recreational amenities and community events. Residents here are called “shareholders,” because each one owns a share of this community managed by the Cherokee Water Company. "The Cherokee Water Company has a very driven ethic to keeping shareholders' property values up, so you do kind of pay a premium for what you're receiving as far as the lake patrol, the clubs, the amenities, things like that, but it's a great community," says Realtor Abby Adkisson, who's a Star Provider, meaning she's completed a course on the rules and regulations of Lake Cherokee. "Once people come out here and find this lake, it's generational. People don't want to leave."
Homes in waterfront and wooded areas starting at $200,000
As a shareholder-owned community, each residence gets one vote in community operations, and only shareholders access amenities. Shareholders own and pay property taxes on their houses, but the Cherokee Water Company owns and pays taxes on the land. Residents pay dues to the Cherokee Water Company, which maintains the amenities and has a lake patrol keeping the water safe. Lake Cherokee has a 1 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, below the national average of 4. Manufactured, ranch-style and New Traditional homes range from about $200,000 to $500,000. Adkisson says the residential streets are tree-lined and pretty, with a mix of waterfront and wooded areas.
Longview Independent School District one of three that serve the area
Students can attend one of three school districts here: Longview Independent School District, Kilgore Independent School District or Tatum Independent School District. Longview ISD gets an A-minus grade from Niche and is home to Hudson PEP Elementary and Foster Middle, both A-rated. Afterward they can attend A-minus-rated Longview High School. The district has a gaming science and digital arts program that teaches students about game development, e-sports and AI.
A private lake and recreation clubs
Only shareholders can put their boats on the lake. "Safety is a really big feature," Adkisson says. "You obviously see all the time in the news crowded lakes on holiday weekends. You have no idea who is in the water, if they've ever driven a boat before, if they know boat safety and water safety. There's a certain level of security involved that gives people peace of mind that the people they pass on the water are registered shareholders." The lake is divided so that half is open water for water skiing, jet skiing and tubing, and the other half is boat lanes for fishing. The Cherokee Golf Club has a nine-hole course in the community. Lake Cherokee has clubs for activities including fishing, photography and bridge.
Fish fry Fridays at Lee's Creek, dining at the Cherokee Club
Lee's Creek Grocery & Grill is a small restaurant with an all-you-can-eat fish fry every Friday night. Cherokee Club is a private waterfront club with a restaurant serving American fare. The nearest grocery stores are the Brookshire Brothers in Tatum and the Dollar General, Spring Market and Walmart Supercenter in Longview.
Summer Fun Fest, chili cookoff and meeting neighbors
Community groups host events throughout the year. "Nothing is put on for profit," Adkisson says. "It's shareholder-driven. We vote and discuss. It's about providing events that people on the lake want to see." Annual events include a summer Family Fun Fest with waterslides and inflatables, a chili cookoff in November and Wet and Wild, an event where residents ride their boats from house to house to get to know their neighbors. "It's a really great way to meet people if you're new to the lake," Adkisson says. "Five or six boathouses will host, and you go in your boat to all the different boathouses. They have different themes and food and drinks, and you draw dominoes at different houses. At the end, they have a cookout with prizes for the highest and lowest dominoes." The community publishes a monthly newsletter updating residents on news and events.
Nearby towns and East Texas Regional Airport
Adkisson says that most residents can get to a nearby town – Tatum, Kilgore, Lakeport or Easton – within 20 to 30 minutes. "Clients move from out of town and know they want to move to a lake in Texas," she says. "One big plus is that it is closer to town. You're not having to drive an hour to go to shopping, hospitals and restaurants." CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center is less than 20 miles away in Longview. Less than 10 miles away, East Texas Regional Airport offers commercial flights to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
