Big skies and small-town pride make this itty-bitty city Paradise
Paradise is in the periphery of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, surrounded by rural Wise County’s rolling prairies. A highway runs through the little city, parallel to the quaint Main Street, which anchors what residents know as Downtown Paradise. Around the local churches and eateries at its heart, Paradise has quiet streets lined by houses and mature, leafy live oaks. Subdivisions with new construction homes are developing on the outskirts, where the horizon stretches out of sight, dotted by mesquite, juniper and thickets. Folks are drawn to the community for elbow room, small-town pride, a highly rated school district and dark night skies full of stars.
Older cottages and new construction houses spread out prices
“It’s a ranch-style community,” says lifetime local Andra Beatty, a Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall-of-Famer and owner of Andra Beatty Real Estate. “Country living, hobby farms and outdoor entertainment.” Paradise’s homes tend to sit on big lots, the median size exactly an acre. The median cost is around $470,000, up about 6% from last year. Listings sell more slowly than the national average of 53 days, taking almost a month longer to leave the market. Early- and mid-20th-century ranch-style houses and cottages rarely sell, but when they do the prices fall between the low $200,000s and low $300,000s. Newer homes, from expansive 1990s farmhouses to new builds, range from the mid $300,000s to about $800,000. New construction typically features New Traditional architecture, offering a sleek, contemporary take on classic Craftsman and Minimal Traditional styles.
Paradise ISD offers strong academics and competitive athletics
“Paradise has its own school district, which is small. The teachers know their kids, know their parents,” Beatty says. “I have a granddaughter who plays volleyball out there. The schools are really nice, and they’re in a little conglomeration.” Paradise Independent School District (ISD) is highly rated and serves the town with four highly rated schools: Paradise Elementary School, Paradise Intermediate School, Paradise Middle School, Paradise High School
All grade levels in Paradise ISD are at capacity, so open enrollment and transfers from out of the district are currently unavailable. Families can apply for inter-district transfers. “As far as academics, [Paradise High] is considered a strong school, and with athletics, they’re competitive, and pretty well-known for their baseball and volleyball teams.” Youth sports leagues typically practice at Leone Park or Kennedy Fields, offering ballfields, soccer fields, and tennis courts.
Where locals dine, spend time and celebrate in Paradise
Dollar General is right off Highway 114. The little downtown area is home to a couple of churches, the local post office, a bank, the volunteer fire department and Veterans Park. Folks can find good eats, too, at locally owned spots, such as:
- Cafe’ Grace, a classic Southern eatery with breakfast and lunch entrees, pastries, drip coffee, lattes and more
- Daily Donuts, a community favorite for creative donuts and savory, hearty rolls
- Gigi’s Grill, a popular food truck serving Tex-Mex, from burrito bowls to loaded nachos
- The Cafe on Main, a new addition that offers burgers, chicken patties and more sandwiches with a side of fries and fruit
Family‑friendly festivals that anchor life in Paradise
Two family-friendly events take over downtown. Highlights of the Paradise Main Street Festival in September include car and quilt shows, live music, raffles and auctions. In early December, Christmas in Paradise brings holiday specials, festive tunes, a petting zoo and pony rides to the community as they count down to the annual Paradise tree lighting. “Paradise is rural, it’s a lifestyle you choose,” Beatty says. “There are great, close-knit neighborhoods, and the annual celebrations really pull it together. Plus, who doesn’t want to say they live in Paradise?”
Highway 114 connects residents to major North Texas cities
Paradise is car-dependent, and Highway 114 is the main way in and out of town when commuting to bigger cities, including Bridgeport (about 6 miles away), Decatur (about 10 miles away), Fort Worth (roughly 40 miles away) and Dallas (under 70 miles away).
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Written By
Micaela Willoughby
