Ben Wheeler is The Coolest Place in Texas

Drive east out of Dallas. In just over an hour, you’ll be in the Piney Woods of Van Zandt County and the towns of Edom and Ben Wheeler. You won’t want to leave.

This is where you’ll find a gorgeous 26-acre spread that was once an equestrian property. The land is entirely fenced in, so move-in ready for your horses or cattle. There is currently an ag exemption that lowers the property taxes to as close to zero as possible!

Mennonites built the 3,059-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom single-story ranch house. Imagine men in bow-ties hauling lumber and nailing boards into place. You know this is solid construction, and you know they sited it on the land to ensure stunning views of the land. The seller has always said there was never a reason to vacation because there was nothing prettier than her backyard.

Two miles from the front door are two of East Texas’ most charming towns, Edom and Ben Wheeler.

Edom is home to the Edom Arts Festival, held in October (this year on Oct 14^th – 15^th).  It is known for having artisans, and a famous diner called The Shed.  Eight miles away is the town of Ben Wheeler,  named for the first man to carry mail into Van Zandt County. It was a happening place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Time left its mark, and by the early 2000s, it was far from thriving. But one man decided to turn it around.

The late Brooks Gremmels grew up in Tyler and became a multimillionaire through the good luck of owning some gas leases. The tiny run-down town of Ben Wheeler struck a chord with Gemmels and his wife, Rese. Was it the challenge of bringing back the once-thriving community or just making sure he could get a decent beer? Probably both. KERA’s Anne Bothwell and Jerome Weeks wrote a splendid story on Gemmels that you should read to fully appreciate how one couple can create a community that is luring a lot of city folks to the countryside. 

Today, you will find a vibrant town with great food, entertainment, artisans, and, of course, a dance hall, which is essential to any small Texas town. Big annual events draw crowds from all over the state. The Ben Wheeler Birthday Bash, the International Ford Model A Day, the Far Out Art Fest, a fantastic July 4th Celebration, and the incredible Feral Hog Festival. Don’t ask, just go!

Texas Highways Magazine has even dubbed Ben Wheeler the coolest small town in Texas.

“It’s a very special property, and not just because it’s my mother-in-law’s,” Dave Perry-Miller listing agent Ryan Streiff said. “It is one of the most picturesque settings in all of East Texas.  And with over 2,000 feet of frontage on FM Hwy 2339 and 1,187 feet of frontage on CR 4706, you can even subdivide the neighboring pasture land without disrupting the homesite, pond, and barn.  You can choose to sell off enough land to subsidize the purchase of the main homestead, and yet still be left with enough land to maintain ag exemption status.”

Although we can’t imagine wanting to wander far from this paradise, in case you need a day out, Cedar Creek Reservoir is only 45 minutes away, and Tyler is just 30 minutes down the road.

Ryan Streiff has 2884 FM 2339 in Ben Wheeler, the coolest little town in Texas, listed for $1.295 million.