Elena R.

Been thinking about this all week. Good timing on the post.

My girlfriend and I did the Gloria's dinner + Paddle Point sunset combo last month and she said it was the best date we have done in DFW. Total cost was maybe $60 for two people.

The December 2015 event was terrifying. The lake was already high from months of rain, and then the tornado hit on December 26. We dealt with tornado damage AND flooding simultaneously. It was Rowlett's worst natural disaster in modern history.

This is why I check this community. Real conversations about what's happening in Austin.

The sunset bench at Paddle Point is real. My wife and I found it by accident on a walk and now we go every couple of weeks. Best view of Lake Ray Hubbard without being on a boat.

My advice for anyone buying near the lake: spend $200 on an elevation certificate. It tells you exactly how high your property is relative to the base flood elevation. That one document determines your flood risk better than any map.

The identity question is ongoing. Are we a quiet suburb or a destination? I think the answer is both. Sapphire Bay brings visitors to the waterfront. But my neighborhood in Liberty Grove is just as quiet as it was 15 years ago. You can have both in a city this size.

The Dallas-Fort Worth market is wild right now. Good topic.

Sharing this with my neighbors. They need to see this.

Location within Dallas-Fort Worth changes everything. North vs south is two different markets.

Mediterranean food in Rowlett is LONG overdue. My family is from Lebanon and we have been driving to Richardson for decent shawarma. If this is good we will be regulars.

Home charging is the real answer for Rowlett. I had a 14-50 outlet installed in my garage for $350 and I charge my Model Y overnight for about $7. I haven't been to a gas station in 2 years.

This is exactly the kind of conversation I come here for. Real local takes.

This will come up at the next city council meeting for sure.

TSAHC grant is real and it's a GRANT — you don't pay it back. Combined with a 3.5% FHA loan, we got into our Rowlett home with less than $8K out of pocket on a $320K house.

Cotton Patch chicken fried steak is the size of a small child. Bring your appetite or plan to take half home.

Napoli's is a Rowlett institution. My family has been going there for 15 years. The owner still walks around and checks on tables. That does not happen at chains.

Rockwall resident here. The restaurant scene is better but your property tax bill will make you cry. My 2,400 sq ft house in Rockwall is taxed higher than my buddy's 3,000 sq ft in Rowlett.

The "what hasn't changed" section hits home. My kids still ride bikes to their friends' houses. I still wave at my neighbors. We still go to the Rowlett-Lakeview football game. The growth is real but the community is real too.

The rec center weight room in July is a sauna. I'm not exaggerating. Bring a towel and two water bottles. But at $25/mo with pool access, you can't beat it.

Interesting perspective. I see it differently from the Fort Worth side.

CareNow on Lakeview is fine for basic stuff but if you need anything beyond a strep test, go to Lake Pointe ER in Rockwall. CareNow sent me there twice anyway.

Lost a small dog to a coyote in 2023 in The Shores neighborhood. She was in the backyard for 10 minutes. I'm not sharing this for sympathy — I'm sharing it so nobody else makes the same mistake. Don't leave small pets outside alone. Period.

I take my dog to Paddle Point for the sunset walk every evening. It's become my daily decompression. The combination of water, sky, and space is therapeutic. Rowlett residents don't appreciate how special lake access is until they leave.

I proposed to my wife on the Bayside promenade at sunset. She said yes. This spot has real magic.

Not something I expected to read today but glad I did.