Living in Pelican Bay, Texas
Pelican Bay
A lakeside city on Eagle Mountain Lake with its own swim beach, pier and boat launch.
What it's like
The short version
Pelican Bay sits on the shore of Eagle Mountain Lake in far northwest Tarrant County, on about 0.67 square miles. Olen Yandell started it on his dairy farm in 1970, and it incorporated in 1981. Highway 199 is about 4 miles away, and Fort Worth is roughly 21 miles east along it.
What's for sale
Homes sold at a median near $218,000 in the three months ending September 2026. The mix runs from manufactured homes on tree-covered lots to brick ranch houses, gated Laguna Bay Estates and waterfront homes at $1 million to $3 million.
What it does well
Strong here
- Quiet, small-town pace●●●
About 2,500 people in a lakeside city started on a dairy farm. - Lake days●●●
A city swim beach, public boat ramp and fishing pier on Eagle Mountain Lake. - Parks and trails●●○
A park and swim beach, a second park, a fishing pier and a basketball court.
The honest part
What to know first
- The 2026 combined rate runs about 2.25 per $100 before any water district charge.
- The city prohibits keeping livestock.
- Homes took a median 189 days to sell in Redfin's latest figures.
- Public transportation is not within reach, and groceries are in Azle.
Not its strength: walkable, transit options, vibrant, big-city energy, shopping, golf, land and acreage, horses welcome, new construction, established neighborhoods, luxury homes.
Not rated yet: a real downtown, restaurants, nightlife. That means I haven't confirmed it either way, not that it isn't here.
Get outside
- Pelican Bay Park & Swim Beach
The city park and swim beach, free for Pelican Bay residents and their guests. Others pay a fee at the boat launch. - Fishing Pier
A city fishing pier, kept up by Public Works and volunteers. - Pelican Bay Ramp
The city-run boat ramp on Eagle Mountain Lake. - Squiggly Park
A second city park, run by Public Works. - Basketball Court
A city court next to the Police Station.
Taxes
2026 combined rate per $100 with Azle ISD: city 0.703847, Azle ISD 1.085000, Tarrant County 0.186000, JPS Health Network 0.159000, Tarrant County College 0.120000. Homestead not applied. Tarrant Regional Water District at 0.027300 is not included; if it applies, the total is 2.281147.
Tarrant Regional Water District at 0.027300 brings the total to 2.281147 where it applies, so confirm on the parcel record. Many Pelican Bay addresses use an Azle mailing address, so check the city on the parcel record too.
School facts
- Azle ISD: TEA rating C, 2024-25
Take it with you
Want this on paper?
Get the printable Pelican Bay report sent to your email.
Sources
- 2026 NCTCOG Population Estimates
- Redfin: Pelican Bay Housing Market
- Tarrant Appraisal District: 2026 Tax Rates per $100 Valuation
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Azle ISD
- Wikipedia: Pelican Bay, Texas
- City of Pelican Bay: Parks & Recreation
- City of Pelican Bay: Animal Control
- Homes.com: Pelican Bay City Guide
- Trinity Metro: On-Demand zones
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Eagle Mountain Lake access