Shadybrook in East Texas offers several residential settings
Shadybrook is an East Texas destination that features gated community living in several different settings. Residents move there “for the lake and for the schools,” says Rene Griffin-Perry of Re/Max Tyler, who has sold dozens of homes in the area. Secluded and mostly rural, Shadybrook stretches from the shores of Lake Palestine to neighboring Bullard, known for its top-rated school district. The namesake gated community is the area’s largest. Its two sections are divided by FM 346, a Farm to Market road that provides access to more populated destinations. “The area is located south of Tyler,” Griffin-Perry says. “It’s a country community that’s not too far from anything you want.”
Wide variety of housing options include waterfront, golf course homes
In between the two sections of the Shadybrook residential community are the smaller communities of Lakewood and Eastdale Acres. Like Shadybrook, Lakewood offers waterfront homes among its options, with those offerings near a small private lake. Eastdale Acres specializes in wooded lots. In addition, Eagle’s Bluff is a private golf course community near Lake Palestine that features high-priced homes in an exclusive, amenities-filled setting. Outside of the golf course community, ranch-style homes and new contemporary homes – both model and custom – are available. “The housing is pretty diverse,” Griffin-Perry says. “You’ve got site-built homes and manufactured homes. There are acreage properties on country roads. Usually, the lots are bigger out in the rural areas, but in the community subdivisions they are mostly smaller lots.” Lakewood has more of a cozy neighborhood feel than Shadybrook, whose waterfront properties typically feature private docks and boathouses. Eagles’ Bluff has the highest resident fees, while the other three require modest monthly payments to their POAs. Prices in Eagle’s Bluff, which includes 55-plus villas, range from about $450,000 to over $800,000. The rest of the housing typically ranges from around $90,000 to nearly $400,000. The area’s CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10 is lower than the national average of 4. Residents can expect a climate characterized by hot, humid summers and plenty of rain, especially in the spring.
Fishing, boating, duck hunting popular on Lake Palestine
The area’s biggest appeal is its proximity to Lake Palestine. “They have a lot of fishing tournaments,” Griffin-Perry says. “It’s known for its fishing and duck hunting and boating. It’s a big lake.” Nearly 26,000 acres to be exact. As for the specific residential settings, Shadybrook’s amenities include two swimming pools, lakefront piers, a clubhouse and a playground. Lakewood’s amenities include a pool and a recently renovated clubhouse. The community has also added new street signs to make it easier for emergency services when responding to calls. “It’s an up-and-coming area,” Griffin-Perry says. “They’re definitely making improvements, and it has come a long way.” Griffin-Perry attributes the growth to increased development south of Tyler. Homeownership in Eagles’ Bluff comes with a social membership to Eagle’s Bluff Country Club. That includes access to resort-style amenities such as on-site dining, a pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse that hosts social gatherings. Residents can upgrade to a golf membership for exclusive access to the 18-hole layout.
Bullard Independent School District gets an A-minus
The Bullard Independent School District, which earns an A-minus from Niche, consists of six schools. Bullard Early Childhood covers pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, and Bullard Primary teaches first and second grades. Both get B grades from Niche. Bullard Elementary covers third and fourth grades, Bullard Intermediate teaches fifth and sixth, Bullard Middle has seventh and eighth. All earn A-minus ratings. Bullard High also gets an A-minus and offers a wide variety of career and technical education courses. Bullard ISD is a closed district, but it accepts applications for out-of-district transfers based on per-child tuition rates.
Bullard, Jacksonville and Tyler offer shopping and dining destinations
Residents can grab a bite to eat at Cotton’s at East Lake, a convenience store along FM 346. They can also gas up there for a trip to the grocery store in nearby Bullard, which offers a variety of shopping and dining destinations. Big-box retailers and an array of restaurants can be found in Jacksonville and Tyler.
Conveniently located to Tyler and its amenities
Shadybrook is a car-dependent community. Tyler is a little over 20 miles away, and Athens is about 35 miles away. Interstate 20 is north of Tyler and connects to Dallas, the closest metropolitan area. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is about 25 miles away. It provides jet service to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which is about a 130-mile drive from the community. UT Health in Jacksonville is the closest hospital, about 15 miles away. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is also in Jacksonville, and UT Health has a campus in Tyler.
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Written By
Matt Pallister
