Madisonville is a small town between Houston and Dallas
With Buc-ee's, a decked-out Christmas store and a massive mushroom festival, Madisonville is an easily distinctive small town just off the Interstate 45 corridor connecting Houston and Dallas. While thousands visit annually for the Texas Mushroom Festival, the town's steady population of around 4,600 enjoys a quaint downtown, community parks and highly rated schools year-round. "It's a cozy small town," says local Realtor Jamie Prejean of Century 21. She's sold homes across the region for nearly a decade. "There are things to do, but it's not huge. It feels like country-living." Since its 1853 founding, Madisonville has become a center of agricultural trade, surrounded by ranches and farms, and is home to the biggest mushroom producer in Texas.
Home of the Texas Mushroom Festival
The Texas Mushroom Festival is easily this community’s largest celebration. The one-day event brings thousands in to celebrate the massive mushroom production at local employer Monterey Mushrooms. The festival kicks off with a Shiitake 5K, followed by Texas wine and craft beer tastings, a silent auction at Woodbine Inn and Restaurant, live music and a kids zone.
Established homes on sizable lots
Madisonville offers widely varying property sizes and housing styles. Most here were built in the mid-to-late 20th century. While ranch-styles are common, there are also several recently constructed, contemporary houses. The median sale price is around $670,000. Property around the downtown area tends to be around a quarter-acre, while options away from the city center can be quite large. Local Realtor Zulma Cuevas of DBL Real Estate says many buyers use their land for hunting or farming. "We sell a lot of land," says Cuevas, who has sold homes across the region for over five years. "We sell a lot of small tracts and a lot of large tracts. Up to 100-plus acres."
Downtown Madisonville has several locally owned shops and restaurants
Among downtown Madisonville's tightly packed historic buildings, Walker's Café stands out with its hanging flowers, neon signs and seafoam paint. The café's breakfast foods, from huevos rancheros to chicken fried steak, keep it busy until closing time at 2 p.m. Downtown Madisonville also has locally-owned shops, including Vintage Finds, where folks grab collectibles, jewelry, home décor and books. The historic Woodbine Inn and Restaurant is a big draw for fine dining, known for its Victorian styling, English pub and robust menu. Folks also enjoy dinner at Lalo's Mexican Grill. Residents head to Brookshire Brothers or Walmart for groceries.
Hopping off I-45 for Buc-ee's and holiday decor
Several fast-food restaurants are available east of downtown, near Interstate 45, including TX Burger and McDonald's. Madisonville is also home to a Buc-ee's, a massively popular gas station with prepared foods, clothes and plenty of snacks. Folks stopping at Buc-ee's also pop in Madisonville Christmas Company, a holiday-themed shop with décor and gifts.
Madisonville Consolidated ISD is highly-regarded on Niche
The Madisonville Consolidated Independent School District, with nearly 2,400 students, scores an overall A-minus on Niche. The district uses the ParentSquare app to communicate efficiently with parents and guardians, sending emails and texts with updates. Pre-kindergarten through second-grade students attend Madisonville Elementary School before advancing to Madisonville Intermediate for third through fifth grade. The schools have a B-plus and an A-minus, respectively. Madisonville Junior High and Madisonville High School both receive a B-plus. The high school offers several student clubs and organizations, including automotive technology, yearbook and student council.
Local parks and golf courses get folks outside
Lake Madison Park sprawls across nearly 250 acres at the heart of the community, offering baseball fields, a splash pad, sand volleyball pits and a fishing pier. "My kids love to go fishing at Lake Madison," Cuevas says. Local leagues, like the Madison County Soccer Club and Madisonville Little League, typically use the park's sports facilities. Marian Anderson Park is a bit more lowkey with a covered basketball court, playground and paved walking trails. Fannin Oaks Golf Course and Event Center, located about 4 miles southwest of downtown, offers a nine-hole, public course with live oaks and ponds.
Navigating Madison County
Madisonville is a car-dependent community home to a network of highways. Commuters have access to State highways 21 and 75, and U.S. Route 190. Interstate 45 cuts through the community's east end, connecting the area with Dallas about 145 miles north and Houston around 97 miles south. St. Joseph Health Madison Hospital is the community's primary medical facility, and Easterwood Airport in College Station is about 45 miles away.
Written By
Brennen Martin
