Lake Jackson

Texas lore is full of characters, perhaps none more colorful than Brit Bailey, a veteran of the War of 1812, Texas pioneer and the original settler of Bailey’s Prairie, Texas. Ever the rowdy rancher, Brit was notorious for his legendary humor, quick temper and ubiquitous jug of whiskey; so it came as little surprise to friends and family when, prior to his death in 1832, Bailey dictated that he wanted to be buried standing up, with his rifle over his shoulder and his jug of whiskey in his hand. That way, none could ever pass his headstone and say, “There lies Brit Bailey.” Bailey’s widow followed his instructions, objecting only to the jug of whiskey, claiming he had already enjoyed enough to last two lifetimes. According to legend, old Bailey emerges on cold nights to search for his lost jug, the floating orange glow of his lantern bobbing across the Texas prairies. “My five-year-old son saw him,” says Tammie Bell, a resident and the owner/broker of TBT Real Estate. “It was probably just some hunter spotlighting deer, but to this day, he’s convinced it was Brit Bailey.” Bailey’s Prairie has retained its Texas ranch roots; even two hundred years after the death of Brit Bailey, the landscape is defined by prairie lands and horse ranches under vast open Texas skies. The homes – nearly all of which rest on the southern corner of the neighborhood – fall into two primary categories: traditional ranch homes built in the 1970s on huge rural lots behind the cascading leaves of Spanish moss and pecan trees; and newer custom-designed Farmhouse homes with manicured lawns in sepia colored suburban cul-de-sacs. “The newer areas are more suburban, though I wouldn’t describe them as subdivisions,” says Bell. “All the other homes are on several acres of land. It could be 2 acres or 20.” Prices typically range from $300,000 to $700,000, though waterfront properties on Lake Jackson and sprawling ranch estates can catch up to $800,000. Bailey’s Prairie is located less than one hour south of Houston, neatly tucked above the mouth of the Brazos River as it fans out into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a rural Texas town, so residents rely on their vehicles, but the nearby city of Lake Jackson provides a full array of dining, retail and entertainment. The Brazos Mall is anchored by Dillard’s, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, and features a large AMC theater perfect for rainy days and date nights. Surrounding the Brazos Mall are various retail stores, including Target, Home Depot and Academy Sports & Outdoors, as well as grocery stores like H-E-B and Walmart Supercenter. Nearby dining options are limited to familiar chain restaurants – Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Olive Garden and Whataburger – so many locals prefer to make the 30-minute drive to Freeport, where locally owned establishments like Taqueria Daisy and On The River line the banks of the Brazos River. Bailey’s Prairie may be best known for its immediate access to the great outdoors. Neighborhood parks like TJ Dunbar Junior Park and Buffalo Camp Park are great spots for evening playdates and weekend sandlot-style baseball games, all within walking distance of the southern part of Bailey’s Prairie. Book a tee time at the Wilderness Golf Course, bring your binoculars to the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, or take the boat out on Brazoria Reservoir for world-class bass fishing. The beaches in nearby Freeport are far less crowded than in Galveston; buy a beach parking pass for $12, and you can back the truck onto the beach, stake out a spot and spend the entire day soaking in the sun. The Urban Air Trampoline Park is perfect for birthday parties and rainy days, featuring trapeze courses, climbing walls, arcade games and plenty of trampolines. Students in Bailey Prairie begin their education at Westside Elementary School – a large school with small class sizes and an overall B-plus-rating on Niche – before graduating to Lake Jackson Intermediate School, which boasts an overall B-plus-rating on Niche. The town gathers on Friday nights to cheer on the Wildcats of Angleton High School, a B-rated school on Niche with deep traditions and close ties to the local community.