Carissa Acker

I was out driving on the north side of Denton, Texas and I've always loved the neighborhood around Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. It features homes with large lots and tons of mature trees. It is a family oriented neighborhood with multiple parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, creeks, bike/jogging paths, soccer fields, basketball courts, and more. My favorite thing about this area is there is a home to fit any family's budget; homes on the outskirts of the neighborhood are a bit more affordable and as you get closer to the parks, the prices go up. Another great thing about this area is that all of the homes are established and stable, you don't have new construction going up around you. Most of the residents have lived in the neighborhood for a long time; this is a part of town that people just fall in love with the area and don't want to leave. It is very conveniently located close to Texas Woman's University and the historic downtown square.

Here are some pictures that I took as I was going around the neighborhood:

As you can see, it really is a great neighboorhood. Now a little more about the top rated school, Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Here is a list of their achievments:

Denton’s only five time Exemplary Campus, Recognized Campus 2003-04 and TEA Gold Awards in Math, Writing, and Science. Recognized Campus 2004-05 and TEA Gold Awards in Attendance, Writing, and Science, Recognized Campus 2005-06, Just for the Kids 2004 Honor Roll, Rated as one of the Top 100 Public Schools by Dallas Magazine-2004, 2003-04 TMEA Elementary Honor Choir (second time)

Pretty impressive, huh? Feel free to visit the school's website for more information.

If you want any more information about the Denton area, the top rated Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, great neighborhoods in Texas, or anything else, please email me or visit my website!

Halloween 2009 is quickly upon us and there are many fun and exciting things to do in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton area. Here is a list that I've put together that you might want to consider checking out:

Family Friendly Events:

• Legends of McKinney Ghost Walk - A spooky self-guided walking tour of Chestnut Square and the Historic Downtown McKinney Square with storytellers at each site. Ghostly sightings are not guaranteed...just lots of spooky fun! $12 for adults in advance, $15 the night of the tour. Children are free when accompanied by an adult.
• Encounters from the Past Cemetery Tours - Take a leisurely stroll through Farmers Branch (Keenan) Cemetery and visit some of Farmers Branch's early citizens as local, costumed actors bring the characters to life in the history-rich drama of Encounters from the Past. Tickets are $5.
• Hitchcocktober at Mockingbird Station - October is Hitchcocktober at Mockingbird Station in Dallas. In preparation for Halloween, the Angelika Film Center will screen a different Hitchcock movie Thursday evenings (starting Oct. 1) in the Station’s outdoor pavilion. The outdoor screenings, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 8 p.m.
• Disney Store Halloween “Dress Rehearsal” Party - Disney Stores everywhere will celebrate the Halloween season with a Halloween Dress Rehearsal Party. Join in the fun starting at 3:30 p.m. with games, prizes and a costume parade. Kids ages three and up who show up wearing their favorite costume will receive a free gift (while supplies last). To find a Disney Store near you visit DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798.
• Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge - In October, the sights and sounds of Howl-O-Ween will take over Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. Guests can expect to find tricks and treats around every corner. Daily activities include: MagiQuest-themed Trick-or-Treat Trail, Spooktacular Story Time, Boo Bingo, Witchy Crafts, and pumpkin painting in Cub Club™. October 24 & 31, only: Costume Parade and Monster Bash Dance Party.
• Hall's Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze - Corn Maze, Hay Rides, Farm Animals, Pumpkins, Hay Maze, Hay House and more! Family operated historical 40 acre farm in Grapevine. Hayrides are $2, Corn Maze is $5, and general admission to the pumpkin farm is free.
• Lake Worth Monster Bash - Come out to enjoy hayrides, bison feeding, canoe tours, vendors, festival, monster-tracking, guided hikes & storytelling. $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for ages 3-17. Children under 3 are free.
• Boo at the Zoo - Join in the howling fun at Fort Worth Zoo’s 18th annual Boo at the Zoo! This family-friendly festival is full of treats, animals and not-too-scary surprises. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes for a night of safe and fun-filled activities. The evening’s festivities include a variety stage show, live animal presentations, keeper chats & more! Boo guests will also be able to see some animals on exhibit until sunset. Zoo trick-or-treaters can visit 14 treat stations. $12 general admission, $4 for children under 2, and $5 parking.
• Healthy Halloween Harvest - Enjoy carnival games, a costume contest, a bounce house, a pumpkin-decorating contest, and more! Tickets are 25 cents each or $1 for 5 tickets in this carnival style event in Denton.

Haunted Houses:

• Cutting Edge Haunted House - Crazed clowns, giant alligators, spiders and snakes await at this long-running Fort Worth haunt. This is considered the BIGGEST haunted house in the world! Tickets are $28.50 for adults and $23 for kids 10 and under.
  
• Reindeer Manor Abusement Park - All the proceeds from the Reindeer Manor portion benefit Boy Scout Troop 1, and a portion of the proceeds from the others also goes to the troop. It is located near Dallas and has been around for over 30 years! Many claim it is a real haunted house. There are three attractions housed in one "abusement park": 13th Street Morgue, Dungeon of Doom and Reindeer Manor. Tickets for all three are $35 for adults and $15 for kids 10 and under. Individual tickets to each attraction are available.
• The Boneyard Haunted House - This haunted house in Arlington, Texas features more than 40,000 square feet of creepy special effects, stage illusions and themed rooms. There’s a festival and midway area, a game room and the VooDoo Lounge, where attendees can buy food and beverages. Tickets are $25.
• Haunted Forest of Carrollton - This 12-acre ranch features a haunted forest with trails of terror and a maze of death. Benefits breast cancer research, prostrate cancer research, & The Rya'’s Foundation. Tickets are $15. Visit their website for a $5 off coupon.
• Zombie Manor - Dallas/Fort Worth's most Intense Haunted House is located in Arlington, Texas at Zombie Manor. You should go check out what all of north Texas is talking about. Their highly detailed, movie quality sets, and interactive scare-actors will place you in the middle of your very own Hollywood horror film. The dead live At Zombie Manor. Tickets are $15.
• Slaughter House - BEWARE: This haunted attraction is very graphic and intended or recommended for children under 10 years old. It is located in Dallas, Texas and tickets are $16.
• Texas Scaregrounds - Texas Scaregrounds in Kennedale features the following three haunted houses: Chaos (Voted one of the Best Haunted Houses in the Country by Haunted Attractions Magazine), Nightmares Haunted House, and Asylum Haunted House. The Scaregrounds also feature the Acres of Fear Interactive Haunted Hayride, food, music, games and more. Open rain or shine. Tickets are $30 for all three haunted houses. Visit their website for a $5 off coupon.
• Fear Factory Insanitarium Haunted House - The Rosehill Hotel in The Colony was once a place of equisite beauty. Once it was shut down, Dr. Lucious Blackburn took control over the hotel and turned it into his own personal NUT HOUSE! He performs experiments on his patients, but is now running out of new flesh. He is in search of new patients to fill his insanitarium with. Will you survive a night at the insanitarium or will you become Dr. Blackburns next brutal experiment? Dare to experience the terror as you roam through the halls of the insanitarium. Tickets are $15. Visit their website for a $2 off coupon.
• Thrillvania - For the fourth consecutive year, Thrillvania in Terrell has been selected by www.AmericasBestHaunts.com as one of the best haunted attractions in the United States. Tickets for all 8 attractions are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
• Tayman Graveyard - Tayman Graveyard is a complex of four haunted attractions located between Midlothian and Cedar Hill brought to you by and benefitting Troop 202. Their concession stand is open nightly with hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, drinks, and more available! The combo pass for all four hanuted houses is $30. Tickets for each individual haunted house are also available.

Live Shows:

• The Rocky Horror Show - The Greater Lewisville Community Theatre presents the famous Rocky Horror Show live on stage. Patrons are encouraged to participate in the show by coming in costume and bringing safe props like noisemakers, party hats, newspapers, etc. No projectiles, food or water pistols, please. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors 65+ and juniors under 18.
• Evil Dead: The Musical - Evil Dead: The Musical is musical comedy adaptation of the infamous 1980s slasher flick. The victims are college students spending the weekend in a spooky cabin, where they accidentally open a portal to an army of terrifying, singing and sometimes, tap dancing, demons. The event will be held in Dallas at the HUB Theater and tickets are $20.
  

Halloween Parties:

• Halloween Party with D'Vine Wine at Firewheel - Enjoy an evening of spooktacular fun on October 31st at 10pm in Garland! Come in costume if you want. No masks, please. There will be wine and Jazz music!
• Grapevine Hallo-Wine Trail - 8 Wineries: Cross Timbers Winery, D'Vine Wine, Farinas Winery, Homestead Winery, Inwood Estates Vineyards, La Bodega Winery, La Buena Vida Vineyards, and Su Vino Winery. Ticket Includes: Three Tastings at each Winery, One Large Crystal Wine Glass, Food Samplings at each Winery, and a Premium Bottle of Texas Wine. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at door. Wine Trail Ticket pick up 10 a.m. on October 31st is at Cross Timbers, 805 North Main St. Grapevine. Costumes are encouraged!
• The Wizard of ZA - Located in Dallas, Hotel ZaZa blends the very best of business travel with the luxury, comfort and theatrical style of a destination resort. This year for Halloween (actually, the night after Halloween), follow the yellow brick road into Hotel ZaZa, as the entire first floor is transformed into scenes inspired by the beloved classic, The Wizard of Oz - with a ZaZa twist. In the spirit of Halloween, costumes are encouraged. Those dressed as a favorite “ZA” character will be entered for a chance to win a myriad of ZaZa prizes. Make it a totally magical night by booking one of Hotel ZaZa’s amazing suites. Who knows what Halloween treat will be found on the night table? Tickets are $20 and will be sold at the door.
• Seton Singles Halloween Dance - Come to the St. Elizabeth Seton Singles Halloween Dance in Plano! All singles 21 and up are welcome and costumes are encouraged. There will be prizes given out for cool costumes. Admission only $15 per person at the door, includes 2 drinks, and delicious food.
• The Wake - Experience the NEW party of epic legend in Deep Ellum! A night of infinite fun, fright, mayhem and adventure! Live music from 6 of Dallas' hottest bands with 7 drop dead gorgeous burlesque performers! DJs and video projections on 3 separate floors. Massive 15,000 sq.ft. 3 story event complex. Including lounge areas and rooftop patio facing downtown. Costume contest with $1,000 in cash and prizes! Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door.
• Flaming Lips' Zaireeka 12th Anniversary Embryonic Halloween Party - This is Good Records in Dallas's third year to host a Zaireeka Halloween Party. In addition to listening to the Zaireeka with the bonus 5th disc on 5 systems, we will also be listening the to the DVD version of the new Flaming Lips double album "Embryonic" in its entirety REAL LOUD. We will cap off the evening with a screening of "Christmas On Mars." We will be also hosting a costume contest with the grand prize being an autographed copy of the DELUXE "furry" edition of Embryonic as well as prizes for 2nd and 3rd places.
  

Theme Parks:

• Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington - It’s Thrills by Day, Chills by Night at Fright Fest. Six Flags Over Texas will be totally transformed into a Halloween playground, Friday-Sunday, October 2 - November 1. You’ll have a ghoulish good time with our hair-raising shows, electrifying street entertainment, and thrilling haunted houses. Plus, experience all your favorite rides in the dark. We’ll also have a special trick-or-treat area just for kids. Adult tickets are $45 and child tickets are $35.

Walking/Jogging:

• Jack-O-Lantern Jog - 5k run and 1 mile walk at North Lakes Park in Denton. Come dressed to run or walk in costume! Best baby, best toddler, best youth, best teen, best adult, and most creative overall get prizes. $15 individual in advance. Call 940-349-8287 for more information.

As you can see, there is a ton to do in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton area for Halloween 2009; come and join in the fun!

It is a great time to buy a house, but with all of the homes for sale here in Denton, Texas, which part of town, which neighborhood is the best fit for you and your family? With this article, my hope is to give you some highlights of the different areas of town to help you make your decision.

I went back and forth as to how to put this blog together and figured the best way was to just give you the bare bones of each neighborhood. I'll be writing further blogs with much more specific information about each area and I'll link them back to this blog once I've written them for your further research. If you'd like more information before I get the next few blogs done, please contact me and I'll be happy to help you. Here are some wonderful neighborhoods with houses for sale right here in Denton, Texas, along with some gems not many folks know about:

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Established neighborhoods: These are neighborhoods here in Denton, Texas with older homes for sale. The area has established trees and a well-known name around town to go with them.

Southridge - As the name suggests, Southridge is on the south side of town. Started in the 1960's, this is a custom-built community with houses varying in size and architecture. The lots average 1/3 acre and have tons of mature trees. This is a very friendly neighborhood conveniently located near I-35. Homes in this neighborhood range from the $160's to the $330's.

Forrestridge - This neighborhood is on the other side of Teasley Lane from Southridge. This neighborhood is very similar to Southridge, but the homes in Forrestridge are newer and there is some very interesting architecture and intriguing floor plans in this neighborhood. Homes in this neighborhood range from the $200's to the $470's.

Montecito - Montecito is located on the other side of South Lakes Park from Southridge. This neighborhood was established in the early 1970's with big houses usually set on an acre or more. Of course, there have been newer additions with smaller lots, but this neighborhood remains one of the most beautiful in Denton with its numerous trees and grand houses. Homes in Montecito average in the high $390's plus.

Downtown Historic District - These are homes that line Hickory and Oak from Carroll to Welch. Most of them were built in the early 1900's and have been beautifully restored and proudly bare their historical markers. These are all HUGE houses that offer the charm of the Victorian age with the conveniences and amenities of today. They are priced around $500,000 in restored condition.

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New Neighborhoods: This section will feature newer neighborhoods here in Denton, Texas, all which have homes for sale:

Wind River - This is a newer addition on the south side of Denton. It is located near Teasley Lane and Lillian Miller Parkway. Houses in Wind River average from $130s to $220s. The community features pool, lakes and walking paths.

Sundown Ranch - Sundown Ranch is a very sought after neighborhood in Denton. It is located near Wind River and offers newer homes with a price point of $140s to $ 230s. This very family-friendly community offers pool, large clubhouse, several tennis and basketball courts and a small lake with walking path.

Ellison Park - This is a small gated community located off of Teasley Lane right across from Sam Houston Elementary School. Started in the late 1990's, this community features homes around $200,000.

Lakeview Ranch - Located off of Highway 380 on the east side of town, Lakeview Ranch is a community offering big houses with a country-like atmosphere. All of the homes in this neighborhood sit on at least an acre and range in price from the $200's to the $500's.

Tuscan Hills - These are all homes that overlook Unicorn Lake and are built with top notch energy efficient design on garden lots. Renowned builder Kent Key custom builds all of these homes. I have heard many people refer to it as an "Italian Oasis." Homes in this wonderful neighborhood range from the 490's to the 630's.

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Near the University of North Texas: Denton is well known for its two universities, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. There are a couple "gem" neighborhoods that are close to UNT and perfect for professors and other professionals that work at the University of North Texas, who might be looking for homes for sale in that part of Denton, Texas.

Tremont - Tremont is a very small, custom community located across the highway from the university off of North Texas Boulevard. It features large homes on smaller lots in the $220's plus.

Highland Park Circle - This is a small, quiet, mostly forgotten road near Tremont that offers some absolutely charming houses. You can almost see the university from here, but for some reason, people over look its splendor. Homes here are averaging $160s to $180's.

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Hopefully this guide will help you in your search for homes here in beautiful and charming Denton. Being raised here, I consider myself an expert in the area and take pride in the community and all that it has to offer. From the small town feel of the Old Town Square to the fast paced lifestyle of the universities, Denton has something for everyone! Please remember me and my team if you are searching for homes for sale in Denton, Texas and feel free to visit my website for more information.