Wylie's history starts in the late 1800s and is directly tied to the railroad. The town is named after Col. W.D. Wylie, a railroad agent and engineer in charge of laying the railroad track. The city that sprung up around the railroad earned the nickname "Wide Awake Wylie" for having local stores and restaurants open past midnight to accommodate visitors. As Wylie's agricultural roots began to take shape, the community would become known as the "Onion Capital of the World" until the 1960s because of the onion shed found by the Santa Fe tracks. Workers would come to town during onion topping season, wash them in downtown tanks and ship them off.
Fast forward to today, things look different. The Dallas suburb now has a population of over 60,000, with downtown remaining at the forefront of social life. "It's a growing community with a lot of annual activities happening downtown, like the pedal car race," says Kathy Spillyards, a broker at Integrity Plus Real Estate. Through the change, Wylie is still wide awake with community events and the restaurant and dining options on historic Ballard Avenue.
Downtown Wylie is the main historic hub in Wylie City frequented by many visitors.
Stop in for BBQ at Linke's BBQ in downtown Wylie.
In Wylie City you will find a variety of jerky to choose from at The Blend on Ballard.
The Wylie 12 theatre is a perfect place for Wylie residents to catch a film.
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Hitting downtown Wylie for storefronts and eats
Historic downtown Wylie has been a central market and gathering place since 1887. It is home to vibrant shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. “The historic downtown is a key role, the identity of the community,” says the city of Wylie's Public Information Officer Craig Kelly. “We work really hard to ensure that downtown remains vibrant.” South Ballard Avenue runs through downtown and the heart of Wylie, known as the town's "main street." Westgate Shopping Center is another prominent retail hub, highlighted by nationally recognized stores Home Depot and Albertsons supermarket. Woodbridge Crossing Shopping Mall features big-box options like Target and Kohl's and several local and chain restaurants.
Visit Shoemaker & Hardt General Store and browse the merchandise or get coffee and a scone.
Quaint retail shops line the streets behind downtown Wylie.
Kroger is just around the corner in Wylie to stop in for milk on the way home.
Wylie Flower & Gifts is the place to go for weddings, anniversaries and special events.
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Events span from Bluegrass on Ballard to the Olde City Park tree lighting ceremony
The Wylie community gathers each fall for the Boo on Ballard event. Children arrive in full costumes and go trick-or-treating at downtown businesses for a fun and safe Halloween. The annual Christmas parade draws a crowd, with many there to hear the mayor's traditional read of "The Night Before Christmas" before the tree lighting ceremony in Olde City Park. Bluegrass on Ballard is an annual summertime music festival where top bluegrass bands perform alongside a car show, food vendors and children's activities. “We have really fostered community events to help grow the area and bring people together,” Kelly says. “We’ll get 9,000-10,000 people together just for a simple event.”
The kids lined up for the start of the Wylie 500 Pedal Car Race.
At Taste of Wylie, locals stop by many food vendors for delicious bites.
The community comes together for fun and good cause at the Wylie 500 Pedal Car Race.
Every penny of revenue at the Taste of Wylie goes to provide meals at local food pantries.
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A rich selection of housing styles surrounding historic downtown Wylie
The median home price in Wylie is $460,000, which is slightly higher than the national average median price of $417,000. Newer builds tend to cost closer to $600,000 and $800,000. The city's growing subdivisions include modern homes with stone facades and traditional buildings sitting close to each other with built-in garages and well-maintained lawns. Downtown Wylie has well-established homes, while farms and ranches that harken back to the city's farming origins sit on the outskirts of town. “We are a bit of a bedroom community,” Kelly says. “The place has a unique sense of home and people love living here and laying down roots.”
You can find a modern take on a victorian style home in Wylie.
This beautiful historic home was established in 1917 here in Wylie.
Single story homes nestle in a row in quiet suburban Wylie.
Texas-sized estates in the nearby Wylie are perfect for growing families.
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Highly rated schools are a reason homebuyers flock to Wylie
Wylie is part of the Wylie Independent School District (WISD), which Niche ranks as the 14th-best school district in Texas and gives it an A-plus grade. Spillyards notes that the school district is one of the reasons people consider buying a home in Wylie. WISD comprises 11 elementary schools, seven middle schools and two high schools, all receiving an A grade or higher from Niche. Achieve Academy, an alternative school for grades 4 through 12, earns a B-plus from Niche. Collin College–Wylie Campus opened its doors in 2020 and offers undergraduate courses for over 7,500 students. “The schools here always stand out; some people make the decision to live here based on the schools,” Kelly says.
Meaningful work at Rita Smith Elementary School engages students in learning.
Grady Burnett Junior High School is located in a densely populated area of Wylie.
Wylie High School is one of the best rated high schools in Texas.
Collin College Wylie Campus is located just north of FM 544 at Country Club Road in Wylie.
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Neighboring Lake Lavon and Lake Ray Hubbard
Wylie is home to more than 700 acres of parks and open space, featuring 19 miles of walking trails, 23 playgrounds, 12 pavilions, several sports fields and a nine-hole disc golf course. Athletes appreciate Founders Park for its baseball and soccer fields, basketball court and sand volleyball court. Founders Park also has a fully accessible playground called Pirate Cove. East Fork Park sits along Lake Lavon, offering tow boat ramps, a swimming area and several picnic sites. The city council adopted a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan as a 10–20-year vision for future park developments and recreational opportunities. The city also partners with several local youth sports and recreation leagues. Lake Ray Hubbard is one of the largest lakes in North Texas; at over 22,000 acres, it is a nearby hot spot for fishing, boating and swimming.
Highland Park Trail in Wylie City is the preferred place for residents to store their boats.
Founders Park in Wylie has great baseball parks.
Residents of Wylie City go to East Fork Park to walk the many trails found in the area.
The shores of Lake Lavon provide many locations for Wylie City residents to spend time.
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Ride Awake Wiley ride-sharing partnership
Ride Awake Wylie, playing off the city's nickname, is a partnership between TRIPPP Consulting, Uber and zTrip (for riders with disabilities) launched in 2020 to provide convenience and affordability for everyone. For rides eligible through the program, riders pay only the first $4, and the city will subsidize an additional $10. State Highway 78 is the major roadway and leads to Garland, 10 miles away, and Dallas, 28 miles away. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is a 38-mile drive down President George Bush Turnpike.
ISO-1 ranking for Wylie Fire Rescue
According to FBI statistics, property crime rates are about 82 per 100,000 people, compared to 180 for national and 190 for state rates. Violent crime rates are less than half of both the national and state averages. The Wylie Police Department offers a house watch service, where an officer monitors a resident's home when they are gone for more than 48 hours. Fortune Magazine ranked Wylie as the second-best place to live for families in 2022. “The police department has done an excellent job, especially as our community has grown,” Kelly says. Wylie Fire Rescue holds an ISO-1 ranking, the highest Public Protection rating by the Insurance Services Office. The PPC rating measures quality and effectiveness of fire protection. Wylie is similar to many North Texas communities that are at risk for excessive heat. The average daily high temperature in the summer is 88 degrees, with July being the hottest, with an average high of 96 degrees. The area is prone to wildfires as well as tornadoes.
Tonya Peek's Texas roots started in the East Texas town of Paris where she was born and raised. She became a licensed Realtor in 2001, joined Ebby Halliday Realtors, and earned Rookie of The Year. Her consistent dedication and effort merited her the title of an Ebby Halliday Office Top Producer from 2001-2017. She then expanded her business and became the Founding Partner of The Tonya Peek Group.
Tonya made a calculated business decision to affiliate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in 2018 to better serve her clients. The Tonya Peek Group has earned the # 1 DFW Large Team spot there for 5-years running and #1 Large team in all of Texas in 2022 with almost 1200 Homes Sold and $380 Million in Sales volume throughout 2018-2022.
Tonya Peek maintains a trusted reputation with her peers and community as an expert in the Real Estate Industry. She upholds an extensive record of assisting relocation clients, guiding families to find their dream home, and continued education awarding her a long list of accolades and designations.
The Tonya Peek Group is directed by Tonya's lead and dedicated in providing clients with local insight, a strong work ethic, professional communication, knowledge of the current market, and service to deliver exceptional results and build solid relationships.
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