Your Expert Guide

Aledo: Where athletics and education keep small-town values alive

There are so many great places to live in Fort Worth that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Sprawling estates in a variety of styles populate Aledo.

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Located just west of Fort Worth, Aledo offers easy big-city proximity within a community that still feels like a small town.

Top-producing real estate agent Amber Sustala has lived in Aledo since 1992, and her husband his whole life, and she says the area prioritizes four things: family, community, sports, and academics.

"Once my growing family firmly set its roots here, I wanted the opportunity to help others find their home in the community that I am passionate about," she says. "What drew us here is the perfect blend of amenities near Fort Worth combined with a commitment to preserving Aledo's small-town roots, even as the area rapidly grows."

Known as "Titletown, Texas," Aledo is home to the Aledo High School Bearcats and is celebrated for its outstanding athletics, particularly football, as well as its excellent schools.

"The people who live here typically came because they wanted a little bit more space and nice newer homes with a country vibe, but to still be so close to the city and work," Sustala explains. "You're definitely surrounded by highly successful and driven people, but people who want to find the best of both worlds: a great mix of wholesome lifestyle and focused achievement for the future."

Sustala, who is ranked the No. 1 agent in transactions and volume in the area by RealTrends Verified, offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in Aledo. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Press Cafe takes Sustala's top spot for the best patio meeting spot, day or night, with excellent food and chic cocktails.

"When I think of Jake's Burgers, I basically hear the theme song from Cheers: 'Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came...'" laughs Sustala. "Jake's also has an incredible outdoor greenspace and large patio. It's like Cheers for the whole family."

Dayne's Craft Barbeque serves up some of the best barbecue in the country, according to Sustala, but it's so good you've got to be quick before it sells out!

Where to play
"The Walsh Community is a great place for people looking for outdoor amenities, with multiple parks and playgrounds, walking and biking trails, a community pool and gym, and tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, plus a lake with a beach and dock and the option to go fishing and paddleboarding," says Sustala.

What to see
This is Bearcat Country, especially on Friday nights at the Aledo High School Stadium, or a game is always being played at Aledo Athletics, Inc. Baseball Fields.

"This community supports shopping local at its many boutiques, such as The Paisley Heart, Byrd Mill, Kirk and Vess, and Two Sisters Teahouse," Sustala says.

There's also plenty of shopping and entertainment to be found at The Shops at Willow Park and the newly opened The District at Willow Park, which hosts musical acts on its open-air Lucchese Stage.

Where to live
Here, you'll find sprawling estates in a variety of styles, from modern farmhouses to Austin stone ranch homes. Newer built homes are generally located in sought-after neighborhoods like Parks of Aledo or Walsh.

"There are many new neighborhoods that you may not know about that offer the opportunity for new builds or custom homes that will fit your lifestyle, whether it is land, amenities, or budget," says Sustala.

Sustala recently assisted the buyer of 4400 E. Bankhead Hwy., the largest residential land sale in Aledo ISD for 2024. Set on a sprawling 30 acres, the gorgeous home was complemented by a barn, pastures, a pond, and abundant trees.

Sustala also notes that Tiger Wood's new Bluejack Ranch is currently in development, bringing with it an 18-hole golf course as part of a 914-acre community and entertainment park. "It's going to change the landscape of Aledo," she predicts.

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Amber Sustala lives, works, and plays in Aledo. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email amberknowsaledo@gmail.com, or call 817-713-0011.

aledo home for sale interview neighborhood guide q&a promoted

farm for sale

Unusual ultra-modern Grapevine ranch is on the market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning 10-acre property in North Texas that looks like it was made for an ultra modern cowboy family has just hit the market for $7.2 million.

Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, this one-of-a-kind equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northeast from downtown Fort Worth.

The ranch is an extraordinary combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the farm includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

Upon entering the front door, guests will notice unparalleled views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor contains a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, which contains one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

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