Mira Vista

HISTORY

The gated community of Mira Vista lies approximately seven miles west, southwest of the Fort Worth Central Business District with Hawthorne Park Estates to the north of Mira Vista. Both are included in the 1872 Nathan Proctor Survey and the 1874 John F. Heath Survey.

Mira Vista and Hawthorne Estates were part of the Rall Ranch, founded by E.G. Rall in 1917. The 2,500 acre ranch extended from what is now Winscott Rd. in Benbrook on the west to the old Granbury Rd. on the east. The original rock ranch house, which the family called the camp house, stood on land called the Cliffs, which is now under water just below the south side of the dam of Benbrook Lake. They believe the house may still be standing in that deep part of the lake, now a house for catfish. The Benbrook Dam and part of the lake covered about 600 acres of Rall land.

After World War II, before the dam and lake were built, a new ranch house was constructed on the westernmost knuckle knoll of the ranch with a kitchen window view of Pecan Valley, now a golf course. The ranchers called the hills on the ranch knuckle knolls because they resembled knuckles to them. That ranch house was torn down in about 1994 to make room for more new homes in Mira Vista, however the street where it stood is named Old Homestead Road. E.G. Rall died in 1944, but his son, Budge Rall and his wife and family occupied the new ranch house until the property sold to the Mira Vista developers in the 1980's.

The ranch property was very rough. The only way to cross it was by horseback, jeep or pickup truck. Dirks Road was a dirt trail. Most of Mira Vista is in what was called the Big Pasture, with some of the lower areas on the west in what was the north and south Dixon fields, named for a family named Dixon who apparently lived there in the very early days. A bull pasture was near Dirks and Granbury Roads.

The economy in the late 1980's forced the Mira Vista into the RTC, to be bought in 1991 by Richard Rainwater, the present owner. Approximately 300 families live in Mira Vista today, with new areas and lots opening regularly.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION

Mira Vista is a gated community with guards at the gates and a golf course running throughout. Lakes, bluff lots with views, a nature trail and winding roads make for a very scenic area. Trees in the lower areas and newly planted trees everywhere add to the ambience. A country club with a pool and golf memberships is a drawing point. Houses vary from large mansions to garden homes, predominantly two story.

In Hawthorne Park Estates, just north of the Mira Vista gates, development is still underway with hilly streets and mature trees, most of which were saved by the builders.

SCHOOLS

Elementary
Ridglea Hills, 6817 Cumberland Rd., 377-7345

Middle
Wm. Monnig, 3136 Bigham Blvd., 377-7250

High School
Arlington Heights High School, 4501 W. Rosedale, 377-7200

Private
Trinity Valley School and Fort Worth Academy are just across Bryant Irvin Rd.

OTHER INFORMATION

Nearest fire station: 4416 Southwest Blvd., emergencies 911
Nearest medical facilities: All Saints Hospital, 7100 Oakmont Blvd, 346-5700, and Harris Hospital, 6100 Harris Pkwy., 346-5000, both in City View
Nearest Post Office: 3020 Cherry Lane, 244-5239
Nearest grocery shopping: City View
Nearest Mall: Ridgmar Mall and Hulen Mall
Nearest Park: Clear Fork Park
Nearest Library: 3628 Bernie Anderson
City Council District Number
School District Number
Voting Precinct Number

WILLIAMS TREW

FORT WORTH REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Williams Trew is a Fort Worth real estate brokerage specializing in residential real estate and offering some commercial real estate properties throughout Tarrant, Parker and Johnson Counties and serving the following cities: Aledo, Azle, Arlington, Benbrook, Burleson, Crowley, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Haltom City, Keller, Kennedale, Mansfield, Mid-Cities, North Richland Hills and Watauga.