Emerald Bay on Lake Palestine (Tyler, Jacksonville: homes, unemployment, public schools)

[Susan2599]

We may have interest in Emerald Bay on Lake Palestine. We live out of state, but I grew up in the area and am very familiar with East Texas and know where Emerald Bay is located. What we don't know are the demographics, the activities, etc. that are offered to residents. Is this a place people want to live? If so, why? If not, why not? Is it a community for all ages or is it primarily for familes, empty nesters, or retirees?

Thanks much.

[txsizzler]

Wow! Lake Plaestine is a big lake! I was using Yahoo Maps to try and find Emerald Bay... what part of the lake is it located on?

As far as your other questions go, here are a few forum links for Palestine:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...tml#post529744

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...ml#post1733294

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...tml#post605653

Anyhow, I hope that helps. Good luck!


Ian

[Susan2599]

Originally Posted by txsizzler

Wow! Lake Plaestine is a big lake! I was using Yahoo Maps to try and find Emerald Bay... what part of the lake is it located on?

Anyhow, I hope that helps. Good luck!

Ian

Hi -

Emerald Bay is on the East side of Lake Palestine, off State Hwy. 155, southwest of Tyler. See this map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl If the link doesn't take you to Lake Palestine, put "Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, TX" in the box, and it will take you directly there. Everything in the area is oriented toward Tyler for shopping, dining, medical, etc.

Thanks for the links ... we're famliar with those areas.

[ChristieP]

Palestine is a good place for retirees, but not so much for families. The public schools are not very good, and unless you work for the Department of Corrections or the Railroad, there are very few good-paying jobs in town.

[Susan2599]

Hi, ChristieP -

Thanks for your post.

If we were to move to the Emerald Bay/Lake Palestine area, we would shop, dine, seek medical facilities, etc. in Tyler, not Palestine because there is such a much wider selection of things available in Tyler. Even though I haven't been to Palestine for a while, I'm sure it's a lovely town.

[ChristieP]

Yes, the selection in Tyler is much better than Palestine, but that is about an hour's drive away. (Too far to go out to dinner, IMHO.) So, unless you feel like driving a lot, you'll be stuck with what is in Palestine. El Toro Mexican is good and their prices are cheap, and Shep's BBQ is good, too! And there is always Mazzio's Pizza. You could also drive to Jacksonville...

Palestine is definitely pretty. Their courthouse is gorgeous, and the Dogwood festival in spring celebrates the natural beauty of the place. And the old victorian homes are nice, too. But the low economic development does hurt the town. Few jobs, high unemployment, no industry to speak of, lots of poor/uneducated people, etc. Last I knew, the mall was still closed and the only place to shop (besides the little gift shoppes downtown) was WalMart.

Do I visit? Yes. Would I live there? No way.

[Susan2599]

Hi, ChristieP -

Who'd think I'd be responding to a post on Christmas morning?

When we were in Tyler in October, we drove, at our normal driving speed, from Emerald Bay to the mall at Broadway and the Loop with all it has to offer in 20 minutes ... not an hour, and this was during the day with lots of other people on the roads. Everything is relative; but to us, that's not bad at all. We live now in a very congested area where 20 minutes is the least amout of time it takes to get anywhere!

Have a wonderful Christmas Day!