A is for Audelia Road.
The Forest-Audelia intersection once housed a tiny general store, post office and gin mill called Ardelia and owned by pioneers. The proprietors were father and husband to Ardelia Ellen Jackson. Audelia, the road, is named for Ardelia — spelled incorrectly.
B is for Breweries.
C is for Curtis Jenkins.This local hero went viral for his kindness as a school bus driver. Not only was he featured on the “Rachael Ray Show,” but he was given a new truck by an anonymous donor. Jenkins was promoted to a new position as relationship specialist working in the Richardson ISD Human Resources department.
D is for Dairy Queen. Lake Highlands was buzzing in 2018 when neighbors learned Dairy Queen was bringing Dilly Bars and Hungr Busters back to the neighborhood. The restaurant was popular decades ago when it occupied the current Chase Bank building at Lakeridge Village.
E is for El Arroyo. Ellis Winstantley, a Lake Highlands High School graduate, keeps Texans laughing with his infamous signs outside of El Arroyo. The Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin has created iconic marquees since the ’90s and become internet famous.
F is for Flag Pole Hill. In the late 1950s, 400 acres of the northern area of White Rock Lake was acquired, including the land which is Flag Pole Hill today. The neighborhood park hosts events and includes a playground for children.
G is for Goforth Family. Before the land was Flag Pole Hill, it was owned by the Goforth family. Church Road was named in honor of Church Goforth. Samuel Church Goforth died in 1961.
H is for Highlandettes. The Highlandettes dance team is a staple for Friday night football. The first Highlandette team began in 1961, making it one of the neighborhood’s most treasured traditions.
I is for Bob Iden. Bob Iden graduated from LHHS in 1970 and returned to teach government, geography and economics while serving as a Wildcat track and football coach. He led the school as principal from 1997-2008. He’s now college advisor for Bishop Lynch High School, but he gathers regularly with other retired coaches to reminisce.
J is for July 4th Parade. The annual July 4th parade has been a source of family-friendly fun. Don’t you miss the times when summer days were slow, children slurped snow cones to keep cool and folks celebrated America with a parade past the high school? In the past, the parade inched along Church Road toward the recreation center. Fire trucks, military moms and Boy Scouts were there, as well as LHHS Wranglers, cheerleaders, drum majors, Bell Boys and Highlandettes. Children rode in decorated bikes, trikes and wagons.
K is for Kids. No community rallies together for kids like Lake Highlands. From after school activities to lunch programs, the kids of the neighborhood are taken care of every day. You can catch them at the Aquatic Center, attending book readings at Audelia Road Branch Library or eating frozen custard at Andy’s.
L is for Lake Highlands High School. The neighborhood high school has created notable grads, including TV show host Chris Harrison, former NASA astronaut James F. Reilly and country singer Granger Smith. Nicole Bilderback starred in movies “Clueless” and “Bring It On.” Erin Aldrich competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Annie Clark (known as St. Vincent) has gone on to become a world-renowned singer. Plus: Morgan Fairchild starred in movies for the past five decades.
M is for Moss Park. The park is sacred land with an engrossing history and hidden surprises, such as a network of primitive footpaths and remnants of a short-lived horseracing track.
N is for Nibbles. The dining scene is growing as it welcomes new restaurants every year. Here are some favorites: Cedar & Vine, Shady’s, RM 12:20 Bistro, Tony’s, Primo Brothers, Fish City Grill, Mi Cocina and Taco Diner.
O is for Oktoberfest. Each year, neighbors join at Flag Pole Hill to celebrate Oktoberfest with beer, music and jump houses.
P is for Pro Football. Lake Highlands has bred many pro football players, including Phil Dawson, Matt Stover, Marcus Coleman, Detron Smith, Merton Hanks, Wade Smith and more.
Q is for BBQ. What’s a Texan without barbecue? Here are a few places that we love:
- One90 Smoked Meats
- Back Country BBQ
- Baker’s Ribs
- Sugarfire Smoke House (coming soon)
R is for Rita Greenfield. Miss Rita, known as the beloved “Voice of Lake Highlands,” answered Lake Highlands High School’s main phone line for more than 40 years as the school’s receptionist. She died in 2013 at the age of 93.
S is for Swimming Pool. The Lake Highlands North Family Aquatic Center is at 9400 Church Road. It opened on June 1, 2019. McCree Swimming Pool was popular throughout the 1960s and early 2000s, but it closed in 2007.
T is for Train Trestle. LHHS seniors once painted the train trestle until the class of 2000, the last ones to take part in the tradition.
U is for United. The neighborhood unites to help underserved communities and students. Whether it’s feeding families through Feed Lake Highlands or organizations like the Lake Highlands Women’s League and Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League, philanthropy and community service are the backbone of Lake Highlands.
V is for Vickery Meadow. A culturally diverse neighborhood, which started as a singles- only neighborhood in the 1960s, is now home to many immigrants, and their families, from across the world.
W is for White Rock Lake. A 1,015-acre lake considered the crown jewel of Dallas, it includes a 9.33-mile hike and bike trail, White Rock Lake Museum, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas Arboretum, a dog park, picnic areas, piers and boat ramps.
X is for Exchange Club. The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands is an affiliate of the National Exchange Club. It works with other organizations in the area to increase community involvement and enhancement in the neighborhood.
Y is for CC Young. CC Young is a senior living center for both independent living and assisted living. It serves about 450 residents and employs about 500. Residents recently made headlines, including the Woodies, a group of volunteer woodworkers, and the Happy Hookers, who crochet mats from plastic bags for the homeless.
Z is for Coach Z. During LHHS former coach Mike Zoffuto’s tenure from 1987-1994, several traditions were born, including The Boneyard nickname for Wildcat-Ram Stadium and Lake Highlands’ many uniform combinations. His teams won with the Wishbone offense, and he became known for the “Jerseygate” game against Richardson in 1992 when a speedy punt returner switched jerseys with a teammate to throw off the defense. Zoffuto claimed the players original jersey was torn.
