Lakewood is a neighborhood located in East Dallas, Texas. It is near to White Rock Lake and just northeast of Downtown Dallas. This area is commonly known for being the home of the historic Lakewood Theater and the Lakewood Country Club. In this article, we are going to know more about the history of Lakewood, Dallas, and the things that you can do while you’re there.
History
Lakewood proper was developed from the early 20th century to the 1950s. It is surrounded by other historically significant neighborhoods such as Lakewood Heights, Parks Estates, Junius Heights Historic District (Bungalow Heaven), Caruth Terrace, North Stonewall Terrace Wilshire Heights, Mockingbird Heights, The Gated Cloisters, Hillside, Mockingbird Meadows, Hollywood Heights, Belmont, and Lakewood Hills among others. People outside these neighborhoods often like to group them and call it Lakewood, Old East Dallas, or M Street.
Lakewood is home to several Prairie-Four Squares, Craftsman, Tudors, Mediterranean, and Eclectic Spanish houses. The homes here range from bedroom bungalows to massive estates on property.
In 1912, the Lakewood Country Club became one of Lakewood’s focal points, and it is considered the best and oldest golf club in the Southwest. The Lakewood Country Club is the original location of the Dallas open. In 1938, the iconic Lakewood Theater opened, and it became the premiere one-theater movie house in Dallas. The theater has an art deco-themed architecture, and it is one of the few remaining theaters of its kind that still has most of its original features.
Life in Lakewood
Lakewood offers some of the best entertainment, recreational, cultural, and shopping experiences in Dallas. From bustling bars, restaurants, entertainment venues to leisure parks, and a shopping center, Lakewood gives locals and tourists something to enjoy every day.
Parks and Recreation
If you love spending time outdoors, then Lakewood is the perfect neighborhood for you. You can have some relaxing family bonding at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which is considered one of Dallas’s best attractions. You can witness year-wide seasonal exhibits, such as a large autumn festival with life-sized fairy tale houses made out of pumpkins. Every summer, the Dallas Arboretum, and Botanical Gardens host several outdoor concerts.
After spending the day at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, you can head on down to the historic Lakewood Theater, which was recently turned into a bowling alley. If you do not feel like bowling, you can go to the Bath House Cultural Center and enjoy some visual and performing arts performances.
Where to Eat
Lakewood is home to several restaurants that are ideal for any craving. If you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex, you can check out Matt’s Rancho Martinez Mexican Restaurant. If you want to enjoy some delicious fried chicken plates, then head on down to Dixie House. If you want to eat something sweet, then worry because Lakewood has many locally-owned bakeries, such as the famous Casa Linda Bakery, which is known for delicious cookies and heavenly Petit Fours.
Where to Shop
The peculiarity of the Lakewood neighborhood is also evident in their local shops. Here in Lakewood, you can visit a ton of cute boutiques like the Ditto Boutique and Debutantes and Cowboys. Suppose you are looking for some adventurous shopping. In that case, we suggest that you check out the store called Curiosities Antiques, because they have a wide variety of unique finds that came from local estate sales, such as old-fashioned toys, house décor, and children’s books.
