What is now a gated community was once the secluded home of Clint Murchison Sr., Texas oil magnate, philanthropist, and father of Dallas Cowboys founder Clint Murchison Jr. The younger Murchison hit some financial bumps in the mid-1980s. He filed for bankruptcy in 1985, a plan that reportedly included the sale of the family land. That land is now Glen Abbey. Folsom Properties began developing the property about eight years ago, bringing in architect Robbie Fusch and Hawkins-Welwood Homes as partners in developing the 100 lots. In its second life as an upscale neighborhood, Glen Abbey has transitioned from a wealthy family’s vast playground to many wealthy families’ slightly less vast urban oasis.
Population: Eighty families live among the zero-lot-line patio homes, which are almost built out, and the estate lots, which are about two-thirds built out.
Location: Glen Abbey neighbors the Bent Tree Country Club, with Keller Springs Road as its south boundary. It includes Kerrington Court and Glen Abbey Drive, with Woods Lane bordering to the west and Braewood Place bordering the north and east.
Average home price: Zero-lot-line patio homes average about $1 million. Single-family estate homes are in the $2 million to $3 million range.
Average lot size: Zero-lot patio homes are 50 feet by 100 feet. Estate home lots measure 120 feet by 180 feet.
Where to go: The community backs up to Bent Tree Country Club’s golf course on one side and White Rock Creek on another. The Bent Tree Dog Park is also close. Many Glen Abbey residents are members at Bent Tree. Another favorite haunt is Snookie’s Bar & Grill, which has one of the best chicken-fried steaks in the city. When craving a more sophisticated meal, residents frequent Cadot Restaurant or The Mercury. The Galleria and Shops at Willow Bend malls are easy go-to places.
Why Glen Abbey: Residents love one thing most about their neighborhood: location, location, location. Whether touting how convenient it is to major roads that lead elsewhere, the array of fun options nearby, or the rolling hills and mature trees that fill their properties, homeowners are happy. Frank Bracken, who moved here five years ago, was drawn by the nature—the bobcats, coyotes, armadillos, and foxes. Residents enjoy the variety of homes sizes and styles, ranging from estates up to 20,000 square feet to zero-lot patio homes. “The homes feature beautiful architecture yet don’t compete for the eye. The styles meld together nicely,” real estate agent Mike Brodie says. Common areas include water features, a greenbelt, and a gym. In the early years, a group of women established a book club, which still meets. Glen Abbey is the right mix of small and urban—everyone knows everyone but stays out of each other’s business.
