Pelican Bay, TX Properties | Carpé Residential

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Pelican Bay is a small incorporated city in the far northwest corner of Tarrant County, Texas, set along the shore of Eagle Mountain Lake about seventeen miles northwest of downtown Fort Worth. It sits in the rolling countryside where the western edge of the Dallas–Fort Worth metro gives way to the Cross Timbers and the open land of Parker and Wise counties. The city's story is short and distinctive. In 1970, developer Olen Yandell began subdividing his struggling dairy farm into a lakeside community, naming it Pelican Bay after Pelican Island, which lies southeast of the shore. Yandell envisioned something grander — he spoke of creating a new Sausalito — but the community he founded remained a modest enclave. It incorporated in 1981, and today the large majority of its residences are mobile and manufactured homes on tidy, quiet streets, giving the city an unpretentious, small-lake-town feel. Eagle Mountain Lake is the community's centerpiece. The reservoir was formed in 1932 by the damming of the West Fork of the Trinity River and sits in a chain of lakes that also includes Lake Bridgeport and Lake Worth. The lake draws boaters, anglers, and weekend visitors from across the western metroplex. Life in Pelican Bay is relaxed and affordable. The city functions as a lake community and a far-northwest Fort Worth suburb, with residents relying on nearby Azle for schools, shopping, and services. Its mix of manufactured homes, RV parks, and a few traditional single-family subdivisions makes it one of the more accessible ways to live near Eagle Mountain Lake. Pelican Bay suits retirees, first-time buyers, and anyone seeking low-cost lake access within commuting distance of Fort Worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Pelican Bay in?

Pelican Bay is a city in the far northwest corner of Tarrant County, Texas, on the shore of Eagle Mountain Lake. It lies about seventeen miles northwest of downtown Fort Worth, near the border with Parker and Wise counties.

What lake is Pelican Bay on?

Pelican Bay sits on Eagle Mountain Lake, a reservoir formed in 1932 by the damming of the West Fork of the Trinity River. The lake is part of a chain that also includes Lake Bridgeport and Lake Worth and is popular for boating and fishing.

What school district serves Pelican Bay?

Pelican Bay is served by Azle Independent School District, a PK-12 district headquartered in nearby Azle. The district spans portions of Tarrant, Parker, and Wise counties and also serves Azle, Lakeside, Reno, and Sanctuary.

How far is Pelican Bay from Fort Worth?

Pelican Bay lies about seventeen miles northwest of downtown Fort Worth. Residents reach the city and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex via State Highway 199, U.S. Highway 287, and the area's freeway network, with DFW International Airport within driving distance.

What kind of housing is in Pelican Bay?

Pelican Bay's housing is dominated by manufactured and mobile homes, reflecting the community's founding as an affordable lake retreat in 1970. A few traditional single-family subdivisions, such as Pelican Bay Lakes, and nearby RV parks round out the mix.

City Guide

About Pelican Bay

Real Estate & Housing

Pelican Bay's housing is dominated by manufactured and mobile homes, many set on leased or owned lots along quiet, tidy streets — a legacy of the community's founding as an affordable lake retreat. A handful of traditional single-family subdivisions, such as Pelican Bay Lakes with its pond-front homes, add conventional options, and RV parks serve seasonal residents. Compared with nearby Azle and the broader metroplex, the city offers notably lower-cost housing near Eagle Mountain Lake, drawing budget-conscious buyers and retirees.

Neighborhoods

Pelican Bay is compact, with no formal downtown. Homes cluster along residential lanes that lead toward the Eagle Mountain Lake shore, and several named subdivisions — including Pelican Bay Lakes, whose homes back onto a series of ponds — provide a more conventional suburban feel within the city. The surrounding area blends into the lakeside communities and unincorporated Tarrant County land near Azle, Newark, and the lake's western coves.

Lifestyle in Pelican Bay

Pelican Bay's lifestyle is lake-centered and low-key. Boating, fishing, and time on Eagle Mountain Lake anchor weekends, and the city's small scale fosters a close-knit, informal community. Residents shop and dine in nearby Azle, just a short drive away, while Fort Worth's job centers and attractions are within easy reach via the northwest highways. The pace is unhurried, and many residents are retirees or families seeking an affordable lakeside setting rather than dense suburban living.

Schools & Education

Pelican Bay is served by Azle Independent School District, a PK-12 district headquartered in nearby Azle that spans portions of Tarrant, Parker, and Wise counties. The district also serves the communities of Azle, Lakeside, Reno, and Sanctuary, and its campuses are a short drive from Pelican Bay. For higher education, Tarrant County College and the universities of the Dallas–Fort Worth area are within commuting distance.

Getting Around

Pelican Bay sits off the highways of northwest Tarrant County, with Texas State Highway 199 and U.S. Highway 287 providing routes toward Fort Worth, about seventeen miles to the southeast. The Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport lies across the metroplex, reachable by freeway, and the area's road network connects residents to the broader North Texas economy. Driving is essential, and most commuters head toward Fort Worth, AllianceTexas, or the Mid-Cities.

Parks & Recreation

Eagle Mountain Lake is Pelican Bay's defining recreation asset, offering boating, water skiing, and fishing on a large reservoir formed in 1932. Public boat ramps and lakeside parks serve the surrounding communities, and anglers pursue bass, crappie, and catfish in the lake's coves. Nearby Lake Worth and Lake Bridgeport extend the water options, while the Fort Worth Nature Center and other regional parks offer land-based trails and green space within a short drive.

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