Forty plus years ago, a close-knit group of friends (affectionately known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’) began the process of making their unincorporated community a ‘real’ town. Soon after their vision, and 200 signatures later, an election was held to decide the fate of the group’s dream. In 1996, with the population being over 5,000, the citizens voted to become a Home Rule City. Gun Barrel City lies on the eastern shore of Cedar Creek Reservoir fifty-five miles southeast of Dallas. The community developed after construction of the reservoir in 1969 and grew rapidly from sixty residents in 1970 to 6,000 plus in 2010. The town name is derived from its motto, “We Shoot Straight with You,’ and its symbol, a rifle. Long before the lake was built, Gun Barrel Lane (now State Highway 198) traversed the area. This mud road was a shortcut across Cedar Creek from Mabank to Trinidad and Seven Points. The City has received several State Honored Awards including achieving a Go Texan Certification and becoming the only Certified Retirement Community on Cedar Creek Lake in 2009. What began as a small rural community has grown into a thriving retail business district (the largest in western Henderson County). Gun Barrel City is the retail hub for a trade area of more than 75,000 people and features NO city property tax. It’s an increasingly upscale water sport playground with prominent retailers such as Super Wal-Mart, Lowes Home Improvement, Radio Shack, Chili’s, CVS Pharmacy, CiCi’s Pizza, Hometown Cinema with eight screens and Denny’s. The La Quinta, the City’s fourth hotel, opened in 2010. Gun Barrel City plans to continue to reach new horizons by pursuing new medical facilities including an ETMC doctor’s facility. With plenty of retail space and land available, the planning of new roads and expansions to the City Park includes a 9,600 square foot pavilion. Efforts at the City level have paved the way for remarkable growth in Gun Barrel City for years to come. The City has worked to establish a comprehensive future land use plan, a thoroughfare plan and a parks plan, all of which will be indispensable in drawing new development. While always looking to the future, the City has kept a keen focus on promoting the high quality of life and sense of community for which Gun Barrel City is known. Residents, visitors, businesses and retirees can be sure that the things that make the City a beloved community will remain strong well into the future. The City is looking forward to an explosive future. Gun Barrel City holds two festivals each year. The July 4th Festival features a Concert in the Park with well known performers followed by an extravagant display of fireworks. The Christmas Festival boasts a lighted parade at night where the lights from the entries shine as bright as the Texas sky. The evening culminates with a fireworks display choreographed to music. In comparison to other cities, Gun Barrel City is young and forward-looking. This is why Gun Barrel City is the ‘Heart of Cedar Creek Lake’ and would like to extend some of their East Texas hospitality to you.
