Wake Village is a rural community near Texarkana with top schools
Wake Village was founded in 1944 as military housing. The opening of two Army facilities in Bowie County, the Red River Army Depot and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, meant workers needed somewhere to live. The area's other amenities developed over time. Today, the Lone Star plant is closed, but the Red River depot remains open. Some residents still work there, but a military connection is not a prerequisite for living in the community. Instead, people often move to Wake Village for its rural atmosphere and location near big-city amenities. “Not even two minutes and you’re in the Texarkana city limits,” says Holly Craigen, a Realtor with Fathom Realty. “You can go to microbreweries and speakeasies, or you can go Downtown.”
Ranch-style and New Traditional homes that are being revitalized
The city’s brick ranch-style homes can run from $120,000 to $285,000, while New Traditional houses often range from $230,000 to $375,000. “There are a lot of homes being flipped as the area is revitalized,” Craigen says. “There are a lot of neighborhoods, so it’s not a quick process.” More than half of Wake Village residents are renters. The community’s asphalt and concrete roads are often wide and consistently have streetlights, making the area walkable despite having few sidewalks. Parking along the curb is a common practice in some neighborhoods. Yards are grassy and can feature small trees, bushes and shrubs; Taller trees surround the streets.
Mexican entrees, American classics, fried chicken and Albertsons
The city’s restaurants are mostly in its southeast corner. Loca Luna Mexican Grill serves a mix of authentic and Tex-Mex entrees. Golden Chick, a regional chain, focuses on fried chicken and Southern-influenced sides. A few miles northwest is Texas Chuck Wagon, an American eatery with indoor seating and a drive-through for pick-up orders. The community has Walmart, Albertsons and Dollar General locations.
Texarkana ISD and a school choice voucher program
Students are served by the Texarkana Independent School District. They can attend Wake Village Elementary, which holds a B-plus Niche rating. Texas Middle School earns a B score. Texas High School students can enroll in The Ross Perot STEM Academy, a problem-solving and project-based learning curriculum. It receives an A grade.
Starting in 2026, Texas’ school choice voucher program will send eligible families nearly $10,000 toward private school tuition and other expenses. The closest private school is Texarkana’s Trinity Christian School, about 8 miles away, which gets a B-plus score.
Play sports in town or drive north to visit Bringle Lake and its parks
The city’s lone recreation space, King Park, has baseball and softball diamonds, jungle gyms and swing sets. To the east, the Southwest Community Center/Park hosts basketball leagues and tennis and volleyball lessons in its multi-purpose gymnasium. Around 6 miles north is Bringle Lake Park West, which offers a boat ramp and volleyball courts. It connects to Bringle Lake Park East, which features a fishing pier, bike trail and picnic areas. The two parks are next to Texarkana Golf Ranch, a public 18-hole course with elevation changes of up to 50 feet. Churches like First Baptist Church Wake Village tend to sit toward the edges of the community.
Holiday celebrations include fireworks and a visit from Santa Claus
King Park hosts an annual 4th of July Celebration. The city provides a fireworks show, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. The park is also the site of the community’s Trunk or Treat event each Halloween, which features a costume contest. Santa Claus visits Wake Village City Hall each holiday season, bringing cookies and punch to share with young residents.
Access to Interstate 369 and Texarkana Regional Airport
The community is bordered by Interstate 369 and U.S. Route 67, known locally as West 7th Street. Texarkana consists of twin cities split by the Texas-Arkansas state line, with each state governing its side. Downtown Texarkana, which straddles the line, is about 4 miles away, as is Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital. Texarkana Regional Airport, on the Arkansas side, is less than a 10-mile drive. Craigen says weather events like tornadoes and flooding are not a significant concern for the city.
