Speculating for Lake Cities’ Hidden Gems
City officials and community members last month clambered aboard a chartered bus to embark on a discovery tour of Lake Dallas, Corinth, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores.
The third annual Discover Lake Cities Tour is the brainchild of Randy Clark, Lake Cities Chamber board member and leader of the Chamber’s Ambassador program.
“The tour gives exposure and highlights the Lake Cities Communities. The exposure is to the citizens, showing the different businesses and areas that are highlighted on the tour and it gives the businesses exposure to people who might not normally get out and experience the Lake Cities,” Clark said.
Prior to departure, the 50+ city officials and residents fortified themselves by feasting on a generous spread laid out at Thousand Hills Church in Hickory Creek. Before its spiritual transformation, the massive building served the community as a movie theater. Pastor Ben De Boef now leads attendees in holistic worship and community outreach, while spreading the Gospel beyond the silver screens.
Filled with good food and wanderlust, the passengers set off on a 4-hour tour, a 4-hour tour. Mayor Lynn Clark entertained the group with fun facts, testing their knowledge of Hickory Creek history and bringing them up to date with its progress over the years.Clark said real economic development started for the city once road improvements came to fruition–one of the bigger ones was the expansion of Tuberville from a 2-lane road. “Now, Hickory Creek is all about sidewalks and walking trails,” she said.
A French village is in the works to further embellish the European flare of the 40-acre Olana landmark, a former private mansion that became part of the Walters Wedding Estate venue. The village will serve as a one-stop shopping site for wedding planners, also offering fine dining and retail. Oui! The Olana itself is already in the process of expanding its stunning wedding venue to include a luxury hotel and spa that will open for individual booking in 2025.
Hickory Creek may boast of its French fanfare, but it’s all Greek to the city of Corinth now that the Commons at Agora is officially open. The word, Agora, is Greek for gathering place which is what the space across from Corinth City Hall has become. Agora has created a central hub for community activities, events, and music festivals to be enjoyed by all.
Corinth City Manager Scott Campbell was a happy camper aboard the Discovery tour.
“Even though I work for the city of Corinth, you don’t always know what’s going on in your neighboring cities,” he said, explaining the value of the night’s tour. “It’s also about the camaraderie of a bunch of people who love their community.”
Lake Dallas Mayor Andi Nolan proclaimed Silva’s Mexican and American Food restaurant as hands down having the best onion rings in the Metroplex.
“If you haven’t yet, you have GOT to give them a try,” she said as we drove by the iconic eatery on S. Lake Dallas Rd. I hear their burgers make a mean side dish!
Maybe it is due to its diminutive presence, but few are aware that Lake Dallas houses the first tiny home village of its kind to be built inside the city limits from the ground up. The miniature community is built on 13 lots with the tiny homes on wheels restricted to a maximum size of 8.5 feet wide and up to 40 feet long. Blink and you’ve passed the whole community!
One glimmering gem found nestled deep within Shady Shores is The Hidden Valley Airpark. The gated community of 951 homes sprawls across 300+ acres of prime real estate that offers its residents the closeness of Lake Lewisville, an equestrian center and of course a 2,600-foot, lighted runway to land residents’ planes in time for dinner.
A couple of Hidden Valley planes paid tribute to the motor coach tour as they flew overhead, tipped their wings and buzzed the delighted Discovery Tour members.
With tanks running low, the charter bus tour made a pit stop at the Netze Homes warehouse in Lake Dallas. Netze Ceo and founder Nejeeb Khan did not disappoint weary travelers, providing tables laden with tasty dishes from Chasin Tail BBQ and Walter’s Tavern and coolers filled with cold beverages and wine.
The rejuvenated travelers were treated to a demonstration of recycled steel digitally cut to precision to provide the steel framework for the striking Netze homes built with style and sustainability in mind. Netze is currently building these steel, energy efficient homes in The Oaks development in Corinth.
The Discovery Tour came to a dramatic end with the sun setting in a beautiful array of color at the Oakmont Country Club in Corinth. The Lake Cities’s tourists recounted the night’s discoveries over a last drink and some were already looking forward to next year.
Clark said he hopes more area business owners see the value of the Discovery Tour experience and jump in right away to say they would like to be a part of it.
“I’d like to see this grow to where we need two motor coaches, we split the mayors up, meet in the middle then switch communities.”
Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce gives special thanks to the mayors, Lynn Clark, Hickory Creek; Bill Heidemann, Corinth; Tom Newell, Mayor Pro Tem, Shady Shores; and Andi Nolan, Lake Dallas for sharing their cities’ destinations. Thank you to sponsors, Atmos Energy, Title Sponsor, Community Waste Disposal, Denton Mazda, Alpha & Omega Equipment Sales and Rentals, Thousand Hills Church, Netze Homes, Oakmont Country Club, Walters Tavern and Chasin Tail BBQ. We were honored to also have Commissioners Bobbie Mitchell and Kevin Falconer, Judge Andy Eads, and House Representative Richard Hayes join us. Thank you to Roadrunner Charters and driver, Steve for transporting us throughout the night.
