Pilot Point

Pilot Point was put on the map after a high-stakes bank robbery – a fake one, anyway. In 1967, the film crew for "Bonnie and Clyde" rolled through the city to stage a scene, and Pilot Point’s time-warp downtown has been the site for several movies ever since. It’s the oldest settlement in Denton County, located about 52 miles, or an hour's drive, north of Dallas. The community has kept its history well-preserved, with Pilot Point Square landing on the National Register of Historic Places.

In Pilot Point, it’s no surprise that styles and construction eras vary drastically. Walking down the town sidewalks, speckled with shadows from huge trees, you can see renovated traditional ranch homes with decorated porches and painted restored Victorians. As its residential popularity has risen, new construction has moved into the area, with large contemporary brick homes and sleek board-and-batten modern houses popping up in small subdivisions. If you’re looking for space and privacy, the town center is surrounded by farmland, and developers have been building on lots as large as 10 acres. The median selling price for single-family homes is $390,000, which trends slightly above Texas’ average of $350,000. You can find brand new three and four-bedrooms between $390,000 and $430,000 – large price spikes generally come from how much land you’re getting and the amount of restoration in historic homes.

Pilot Point Independent School District handles all the public institutions, and when children are ready to begin their educational journey, they’ll start at Pilot Point Elementary. It receives a B grade from Niche and is in the top 100 for best elementary schools in Denton County. They’ll move on to Pilot Point Selz Middle, which gets another B grade overall. They focus on making sure children have a well-rounded experience in school, and they have a diverse list of extracurriculars, including several leadership and academic programs. Students finish primary education at Pilot Point High, which picks up a B-minus grade from Niche and above-average scores for college readiness and equity compared to previous years, according to GreatSchools. Preparing students for higher education is one of their biggest goals, so they have many avenues to set them up for success, from scholarships to career programs and dual college credit.

This isn’t a neighborhood with substantial shopping plazas and supercenters. Rather, you’ll find residents walking around downtown, picking up jars of jam from Martin General Store or stopping into Pelzel’s barbershop for a trim. Sitting at the iron-wrought tables on the porch of Pilot Point Coffee House, you can sip a latte with a perfect view of the historic town square and walk over to Leo’s Pizzeria to grab a hand-tossed pie before heading home. The main thoroughfare of Route 377 will have your essentials – gas stations, banks and the like – but it’s also the road you’d take to get to more commercial-dense areas, such as Cross Road and Oak Point.

One of Pilot Point’s undeniable strengths is its connection to scenic natural areas – the Ray Roberts Lake State Park has nine major shoreline units, and the Jordan Unit and Isle du Bois are located just minutes west of downtown Pilot Point. There are miles of trails dedicated to hiking and biking through woodland packed with post oaks and cedar elms, and designated areas for camping overnight. The shores of the lake system are filled with locals and tourists alike out for swimming, kayaking and fishing. If you need a quick trip, Old City Park has an expansive playground and splash pad for the kids, along with a basketball court and picnic areas.

The Pilot Point Square is unsurprisingly the site for most large community events, from autumn festivals to holiday lightings and celebrations. The most prominent event, however, must be Bonnie & Clyde Days, which happens annually in October. From live music to film re-enactments and car shows, the whole community shows up to celebrate one of their city’s most well-known attributes. Pilot Point cares deeply for its history and for its residents, all with a classic Americana flare.

Written By

Kaitie Lamb

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Benham

Video By

Drew Webster