KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
July 18, 2023
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy continues to grow and thrive new businesses coming in and new schools as proof. From seasoned neighborhoods to actively growing developments, Katy has something for any resident.
Cross Creek Ranch
Katy’s growth continues to astound seasoned Katyites, but the city keeps its local home-town charm with routine community events, farmers markets, and so much more. These neighborhoods thrive and offer spectacular homes and amenities for Katy area residents to be proud of.
Location: 10 miles southeast of Katy proper
School Zones: Cinco Ranch High School or Seven Lakes High School
Home Values: $300K - over a million- This community is now complete.
Resort-style living at Cinco Ranch includes 11 pools (many with waterpark style slides,), a beach club, 17 tennis courts, over 60 pocket parks, a club house, and miles of trails to explore. Katy’s largest residential community has also been recognized as one of the top 20 master-planned communities in the country. The community is built out but remains one of the hottest communities on the real estate market.
Cinco is close to popular Katy hangouts like LaCenterra where families can enjoy concerts and events at the Willow Fork Drainage District Central Green Park.
Cane Island
Location: Near IH-10 and Bartlett Road
School Zones: Katy High School
Home Values: $400’s - 1 million+
Cane Island epitomizes luxury. In Cane Quarter, residents enjoy a lagoon-style family pool and cabanas, children’s water playground, fireplace loft and a spacious central lawn for movie nights, summer concerts and community gatherings.
A two-story fitness center houses advanced cardio equipment and strength-building machines while the adjacent Yoga Studio offers kettle balls, step platforms, spin bikes, mats and exercise balls with hundreds of on-demand workouts from the world’s leading instructors. For those who prefer a workout in the water, Cane Island’s year-round lap pool provides inspiring, early morning, mid-afternoon or after-work swims.
The tranquil setting also is home to The Oaks Kitchen & Bar, Cane Island’s onsite full-service restaurant open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. There’s also the onsite Robertson Elementary, a Katy ISD school.
Location: West of Katy in Fulshear
Home Values: $300K- $1 million+
School Zones: Jordan High School
Visit the 3,200-acre community and walk among the meandering streams, Texas wildflowers, thousands of trees and rolling open space and you’ll see why Cross Creek Ranch is routinely one of the Nation’s top selling communities. The community is a perfect place for families to settle with spectacular water parks, tennis courts, a dog park, sports fields and more than 45 miles of hike-and-bike trails.
A growing retail corridor anchored by H-E-B and Westpark Tollway’s expansion puts shopping, dining, employment and entertainment within easy reach. Cross Creek Ranch is zoned to both Katy ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD.
Location: West and Off Grand Parkway
School Zones: Paetow High School but soon to be Katy ISD High School #10
Home Values: $300K- $1 million+
Elyson by Newland
Developed by Newland Communities, the creators of Cinco Ranch, there is no surprise that Elyson is one of Katy’s hottest communities. It’s actively adding new sections and responsible for much of the added Katy residential growth north of I-10. A new retail marketplace anchored by Target at the entrance to the community with promise to bring great business growth.
With parks, trails, lakes and in-community orchards, Elyson is built to suit families with active and adventurous lifestyles. There are endless options for recreation like tennis courts, a fitness center (with another soon to open,) a cafe, event lawn, large swimming pool, multiple parks including one with a splash pad, and miles of trails to explore. There is also a 145-acre park that will includes an outdoor fitness center, 2 dog parks for various sizes of furry friends, parks, trails, sport fields, and more.
A second Katy ISD elementary school, Youngblood Elementary School will open this fall just on the edge of the community. A new Katy ISD junior high and high school is currently under construction to accommodate the continued growth in this area.
Kelliwood
Location: South Fry Rd.
School Zones: Taylor High School or Seven Lakes High School
Home Values: $250 - 2 Million- This community is complete
Photo credit: Next Listing
The Kelliwood neighborhoods feature stately homes with mature trees. Many neighborhoods have gated access, and children throughout the community are zoned to some of the top schools in Katy ISD. The 18-hole golf course at the Willow Fork Country Club provides a beautiful backdrop to many Kelliwood homes.
The community recently held a Fourth of July family parade, where children decorated their bikes. It was enjoyed by all as the community starts to plan more like events as more younger families are moving into the area.
Location: North of I-10, West of Grand Parkway and off Pitts Road
School Zones: Katy High School and Paetow High School
Home Values: $300K - $800Ks
With a plan of 7,000 homes, Sunterra is one of the fastest growing new master-planned communities. Many amenities are already open for residents but the new Retreat is under construction. The Retreat is a complementary amenity to the Sol Club, an additional amenity village within Sunterra that will feature a Crystal Lagoons® amenity. The Sol Club is currently planned to open in 2025.
Other features include tennis courts, a soccer field and a multi-use courtyard with an area for outdoor games. An event lawn, outdoor fitness lawn, shade structures and a playground for all ages.
Grand Lakes
Location: North and South of Grand Parkway
School Zones: Seven Lakes High School
Home Values: $200s - $600s- The community is complete
Grand Lakes is a four-phase master-planned community that extends north and south of grand Parkway near Fry Road. Nestled among mature trees, quiet streets, and fun community events, this area is highly attractive for families that are new to the area. Grand Lakes is zoned to Katy ISD schools.
Grand Lakes has 4 sparkling pools and 27 fully stocked lakes for residents and their guests to enjoy. The splash and play spray park is an ideal way to beat the summer heat.
Location: 5 Miles from Katy in Fulshear
School Zones: Lamar CISD Schools including Fulshear High School
Home Values: $300s-$800s
Another newer master-planned community actively under development is Jordan Ranch. It features popular builders like David Weekley, Plantation, Westin, and Highland Homes.
Amenities cater to a down-home, family-oriented lifestyle with frequent, special community events. Jordan Ranch offers an expansive playground, lazy river, tennis courts, and a resort-style pool. Enjoy the freeform pool and kids will love the state-of-the art splash pad. Residents can grab a tube ride around the lazy river. Breezy cabanas offer shade and relaxation while still offering a view of the pool and allowing you to keep an eye on younger swimmers. A nearby picnic area offers grills and cooking spots.
Location: Corner of Spring Green Blvd. and Pine Mill Ranch Dr.
School Zones: Tompkins High School
Home Values: $200s - Upper $600s- The community is complete.
Residents love the tranquil, family-oriented atmosphere of Pine Mill Ranch. The neighborhood presents an ideal community for young families with its spacious homes, green trails, parks, and multiple splash pads.
Train at a Jr. Olympic swimming party including a fun spray park. Amenities are everywhere at this community great for families.
Location: East on South Fry Rd.
School Zones: Seven Lakes High School
Home Values: $250K - $1 Million- This community is complete
Seven Meadows starts on South Fry east from the Grand Parkway. Further down takes you to the beautiful community of Avalon at Seven Meadows. Most of this area feeds into Seven Lakes High School that also serves as a central landmark to the community.
Some of the more luxurious homes have access to private boat docks.
Firethorne
Location: At I-10 and Grand Parkway, near Westpark Tollway
Schools: Katy High School and Lamar Consolidated ISD
Home Values: High 200’s – Close to a $1 million
Firethorne is a well-established Katy favorite close to Katy Mills and LaCenterra. It’s access to I-10, Grand Parkway, and Westpark Tollway makes for easy access to work and entertainment. It’s zoned to both the highly acclaimed Katy ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD. Perry Homes is currently building in its final development stages.
Many great amenities attract Katy families to this community, but their pool is something unique. Firethorne's pool is spacious with split levels and a cascading waterfall. It is perfect for playing, sunbathing, and picnicking so no matter what your family’s pool wants are this one can meet it. It’s ideal for families looking to balance both play and relaxation.
Willow Creek Farms
Location: West of Katy in Brookshire
School Zones: Katy High School or Fulshear High School
Home Values: $200s and up
Located just South of Interstate 10 and west of Katy, Texas in Brookshire, Willow Creek Farms is close to shopping and easy access to I-10 and Grand Parkway. Willow Creek Farms features over 1,100 homes with walking trails, a full Olympic- style pool, splash pad, and a park. The neighborhood children are zoned to schools in both highly acclaimed Katy ISD and Lamar CISD.
While new development and large master-planned communities are still popular many realtors are seeing home buyers focusing on schools.
"So many areas zoned to Seven Lakes High School are extremely popular largely due to how highly rated that high school is nationally," says realtor Kerri Schultz with Keller Williams Premier Realty Katy.
"Then areas in the 77450/77094- zoned to McMeans and Taylor High School are very hot," says Schultz.
Other popular Katy neighborhoods not mentioned above are Green Trails, Nottingham Country, Ventana Lakes, and Kings Crossing.
Katy is BOOMING with newcomers. Are you new to Katy? Join the Katy Newcomers and Friends Facebook Group to connect and learn about all things Katy.
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