Big Springs. TX (Abilene, Midland, San Angelo: house, safe neighborhood, quality of life)

[danellh]

The posts I've read mainly don't bode well yet there also appears to be folks who enjoy living in Big Springs. Come on, it takes a number of professionals to run a VA hospital so there has to be something of value to draw them there.

I'm thinking of relocating, I prefer a small town and my needs are few. However, I do need to escape into nature once in while so are there a few nice parks, particularly with access to water (be it a lake, river or stream) where I can safely walk the dogs? Perhaps an occasional 3 or 4 day weekend trip to the Gila or Santa Fe.

What about housing? Can one realistically get a nice house in a safe neighborhood for around 100K?

I've read the bad - tell me the good.

[SVTRay]

If you like it, go for it. As for parks and water, most of the area lakes are dried up or severely low and the closest park is probably Big Bend.

[ChristieP]

Looks like Natural Lake Dam is just west of Big Spring, but website says it is usually dry. In west Texas, rivers, creeks and streams are often dry unless there is a heavy rain. Don't expect there to be much water in Big Spring. It's a very arid climate there.

Texas Parks and Wildlife does have a small state park at Big Spring. Big Spring State Park
There is also one in San Angelo and Colorado City (which is by a small lake).

I would guess that many of the VA employees commute in from Abilene or Midland to have a better quality of life for their families. There are also a couple state and federal prisons near Big Spring, too.

If you are looking for a smaller town, I would honestly recommend San Angelo. It has much better quality of life and doesn't have the crime/drug problems that Big Spring does.

[Westerntraveler]

Originally Posted by danellh

The posts I've read mainly don't bode well yet there also appears to be folks who enjoy living in Big Springs. Come on, it takes a number of professionals to run a VA hospital so there has to be something of value to draw them there.

I'm thinking of relocating, I prefer a small town and my needs are few. However, I do need to escape into nature once in while so are there a few nice parks, particularly with access to water (be it a lake, river or stream) where I can safely walk the dogs? Perhaps an occasional 3 or 4 day weekend trip to the Gila or Santa Fe.

What about housing? Can one realistically get a nice house in a safe neighborhood for around 100K?

I've read the bad - tell me the good.

Not much water.......Id say you would need to revise your budget....the area is going through a major housing crisis caused by the boom and the lake at C City is so low.Big Spring has some very appalling crime.I would look elsewhere such as Abilene because housing is getting high in Angelo.There's a lake in Abilene called Fort Phantom.I am familiar with Big Spring/C City.On the plus side, the state park is nice at Big Spring.