Weekends in Winnsboro turn vacationers into full-time residents
About 100 miles northeast of Dallas, the small town of Winnsboro sits between Lake Cypress Springs, Lake Fork and Lake Bob Sandlin, with its own smaller lakes in town. This central location between lakes and proximity to Dallas attract DFW buyers looking for a weekend escape. “A lot of people have weekend homes, so they can get away from the city,” says lifelong resident Francell Burnett, who’s been selling real estate in Winnsboro for 41 years. “Most of them are from DFW, but we have out-of-state people from California, Washington and different places. A lot of them come here permanently. It’s a small town, which has good and bad points, but very few people that I’ve met don’t like Winnsboro and move back to the city.”
Ranch-style homes and farmhouses on acreage properties
Winnsboro has a mix of single-family homes and land for sale, with most properties sitting on at least an acre. “A lot of people want acreage,” Burnett says. “Even 3 acres is more than what they have in the city.” Ranch-style and farmhouse architecture are common. Since Winnsboro has many small bodies of water in the area, some homes sit on private or shared lakes. Home prices start around $65,000 and can reach as high as $1.6 million, while land starts around $7,000 and can go for as much as $700,000.
Earning college credit in Winnsboro Independent School District
Winnsboro Independent School District receives an overall B-plus grade from Niche. Winnsboro Elementary School and Winnsboro Memorial Intermediate School get B-minuses, Winnsboro Junior High School receives a B, and Winnsboro High School gets a B-plus. Through Winnsboro High School’s College Academy, students can earn college credit while still in high school.
Winnsboro City Park and nearby lakes
Winnsboro City Park is a public park with a playground, a rodeo arena and a pool. There are other small parks scattered throughout town and Pump House Gym, an indoor fitness center. Lake Winnsboro offers opportunities for fishing, swimming and camping. Winnsboro is 17 miles from Lake Cypress Springs, 23 miles from Lake Fork and 24 miles from Lake Bob Sandlin. These lakes are bigger than Lake Winnsboro and offer additional fishing, swimming and boating opportunities.
Local restaurants, Brookshire’s and the Winnsboro Farmers Market
The Barrel House Bar & Grill is a casual American restaurant serving dishes like pork rinds, chicken-fried steak and bourbon chicken. Peraltas Mexican Restaurant serves large plates of Tex-Mex in a colorful dining room. La Conchita is a taqueria serving Mexican dishes and snacks. Fast-food chains in town include McDonald’s, Dairy Queen and Pizza Inn. Residents can get groceries at Brookshire’s and the Winnsboro Farmers Market, which is open year-round on Saturdays.
Proximity to Tyler and Dallas
Winnsboro, Texas, is about 50 miles north of Tyler and 100 miles northeast of Dallas. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is located in town, so residents have convenient access to medical care. The closest commercial airport is Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, 50 miles south, which offers nonstop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
