The Place to Be: A Green Acres Lifestyle Just 2 Hours East of Dallas on Lake Cypress Springs

Have you heard of Scroggins? Just two hours east of Dallas, this Franklin County town was settled in the 1850s and named after the owner of a nearby sawmill. Today, Scroggins is the home of the Catalpa Worm Festival and this 36-acre farm that has the feel of Green Acres.

“While the farm is remote and private, it is also part of a small lake community called Swannerland that has a private boat launch,” said Elaina Kay of the TT Ranch Group at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty.

But if you want an even more private feel, Sandy Pastures Farm is also a completely energy- and water-independent homestead with the potential to become an off-grid Lake Cypress Springs retreat.

“You can experience community within the neighborhood or have tranquility and privacy at the farm,” Kay added. “The property also has water frontage in a peaceful cove where a boathouse could be built.”

A Private Off-Grid Haven in Scroggins, Texas

Jeff and Lisa Smith enjoyed having a lake house on Lake Cypress Springs while living in Preston Hollow full-time. But once their son graduated in 2019 and went off to college, the Smiths decided to go all-in with Sandy Pastures, the 36 acres of pastures and woods they owned out in Scroggins.

“Instead of retiring, we decided to build a homestead from scratch,” the Smiths said.

The Smiths’ interest in permaculture, sustainability, and off-grid infrastructure lead them to design and develop our dream homestead. That includes 36 fully fenced acres with five pastures for livestock and additional orchards and gardens.

The property has 200 solar panels and two wells and is tied to the grid so that power can be sold back to the utility company. The homestead also has a 500-gallon propane tank, a 24kW in-line Generac generator, and high-speed fiber internet access.

Of course, that’s only part of the story as the gardens have drip irrigation allowing for a crop to be harvested even in a drought. There’s also a 3,200-square-foot barn, an 800-square-foot greenhouse, and a 2,400-square-foot hayshed with 1,200 square feet of additional storage.

With the livestock, gardens, and storage areas, the buyer of this off-grid homestead can grow, harvest, and store their own food.

A Stylish Farmhouse Featuring Turnkey Living

When we talk about off-grid homes, rarely is the word “stylish” used to describe them. However, the main house at Sandy Pastures Farm is nothing short of beautiful. The two-bedroom, three-bath home has 2,000 square feet and a kitchen that, come summer, is the perfect place to can your harvest.

“All walls in the farmhouse and the guest house are pine shiplap,” said Kay. “The second-floor living space has three walls of windows with beautiful views of the farm and lake.”

The home features antique beams throughout, polished concrete floors, designer lighting, luxury fixtures, and tons of storage.

“An unexpected amenity is the large second-floor storage space (600 square feet) that could be easily converted to living space,” Kay said.

While custom builders were brought in to do the “heavy work,” Kay said the owners have been very hands-on with the property.

“Very few properties offer a turnkey homestead opportunity. Our property gives others the chance to take over what we have started and live the sustainability dream while also living on a beautiful spring-fed lake,” the Smiths said. “You get the best of both worlds — farm living and lake living plus energy and water security.”

Elaina Kay with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty‘s TT Ranch Group has listed Sandy Pastures Farm in Scroggins, Texas, for $1.6 million.