Highland Park, Dallas

An Exceptional Canvas of Luxury Living

Introduction

In just 2.2 square miles, Highland Park carves out an indelible portrait of elegance, heritage, and allure.

This storied enclave, bordered by Dallas and adjacent to University Park, remains one of North Texas’s most sought-after residential jewels, where legacy, architectural distinction, and modern luxury converge.

A Tapestry Woven by Planners and Visionaries

“ From Turtle Creek to the Town “

The area that would become Highland Park first entered recorded history in 1837, when Texas Rangers camped along “the creek with all the turtles”, today’s Turtle Creek, later central to the community’s design and natural charm.

In 1889, investors from Philadelphia, organizing under the Philadelphia Place Land Association, acquired the land and began sculpting the future enclave, damming Turtle Creek to create Exall Lake, a picnic destination for early Dallas residents.

When the Panic of 1893 upended those efforts, the project stalled.

In 1906, meatpacking magnate John S. Armstrong bought the land, renaming it Highland Park due to its elevated terrain overlooking the city.

Armstrong hired landscape designer Wilbur David Cook (noted for Beverly Hills) and urban planner George Kessler (responsible for Fair Park and downtown Dallas design) to develop it as a park-centric, master-planned residential community, ensuring that 20% of the land remained dedicated to green space.

By November 29, 1913, residents voted to incorporate, gaining official status in 1915.

Expansion continued through the early 1920s, with the defining Highland Park Village opening in 1931, the first self-contained shopping center in the U.S.

A Heritage of Architectural Distinction

“Architectural Legacy Across Eras”

Highland Park stands unmatched in Texas for its density of architect-designed homes spanning the 20th and 21st centuries.

From European-inspired designs to Texas modernism, its residences reflect a dazzling diversity:

• Styles span Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, Tudor, Georgian, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Prairie, and Modern.

• Mid-century modern influence arrived with visionaries like O'Neil Ford, and early influences include European-trained Hal Thomson.

Highlight: Anton Korn’s Enduring Masterpieces

Architect Anton Korn’s residences are hallmarks of refined design, with notable Tudor Revival and Prairie-influenced buildings across Beverly Drive, Lakeside Drive, and Versailles Avenue.

His own home at 3635 Beverly Drive (1924) features repurposed oak timbers from the Oriental Hotel and a living-room balcony where his opera-singer wife would perform.

Contemporary Luxury

Architectural innovation continues, preservation of historic homes sits side-by-side with bold modern estates.

A recent Spanish Revival residence, listed for $34.5 million, spans 13,700 sq ft and includes a luggage room, gym, wine vault, and guest apartment, illustrating contemporary luxury’s evolution.

Geography, Governance & Community

• Highland Park is bordered by Dallas on three sides, University Park to the north, and lies about three miles north of Downtown Dallas.

• Town Hall, a Spanish Colonial structure by Lang & Witchell, opened in 1924 and remains the hub of municipal governance.

• The town employs a public safety department combining police, fire, and EMS functions, officers are certified across roles, operating under UT Southwestern’s BioTel medical direction.

Market Momentum & Luxury Snapshot

Current Market Metrics

• July 2025 median sale price: ~$3.495 million—a 27.7% increase over the previous year.

  • Homes linger longer, averaging 61 days on market vs. 31 last year.

  • Median sales price: ~$3.393 million, up nearly 70% from January 2024.

  • Average sales price: ~$4.833 million

  • Price per square foot: ~$892.

  • Days on market: 52

  • 17 new listings and a 2.3 months supply.

  • Average listing home price : ~$2.809 million, up 4.1% year-over-year.

• Dallas metro luxury trend: From Nov 2023 to Oct 2024, DFW led Texas in million-dollar home sales—4,992 transactions totaling $8.5B, with neighborhoods like Highland Park driving demand.

• Elite Listings: Highland Park continues to set pricing benchmarks, some homes fetching up to $36.5M; the record $34.5M listing underscores its top-tier appeal.

Parks & Recreation

Highland Park’s commitment to green space is long standing, from Turtle Creek and Exall Lake to neighborhood parks and recreational amenities.

Social Hallmarks

• Dallas Country Club, founded in 1896, borders Exall Lake and Highland Park Village. Its par‑70 course, designed by Tom Bendelow (1912), remains a prestigious bastion of local society, breaking historic patterns with its first African American member in 2014.

• Highland Park Village, a National Historic Landmark since 2000, anchors luxury shopping with over 100 boutique stores, and commands some of the highest retail prices in the state.

Cultural & Civic Life

• The Highland Park Public Library and art gallery—opened in 1930 and renovated in 2008—remain community staples.

• The Highland Park Centennial Festival and oral history initiatives celebrate the town's heritage.

Highland Park ISD

• Established in 1914, HPISD serves most of Highland Park and University Park with seven campuses and outstanding student-to-teacher ratios, around 15:1.

• The district is distinguished academically and athletically, Highland Park High boasts multiple state championships across sports, and significant numbers of National Merit Semifinalists.

Historic Integrity & Stories

• Bradfield Elementary (PK–4) is one of HPISD’s schools and the site of a remarkable 1967 airplane crash incident where a student narrowly escaped harm.

Summary: Highland Park’s Singular Identity

• An Architectural Legacy: From Korn’s Tudor revival to contemporary masterpieces, Highland Park embodies design evolution across eras.

• Market Resilience: As demand outpaces supply in one of Texas’s most elite submarkets, values continue climbing, even in uncertain economic climates.

• Cultural and Civic Pride: Highland Park marries exclusivity with deep gratitude to history, perfectly balancing refinement with community heartbeat.

• Educational Excellence: HPISD sets the bar statewide, reinforcing the area’s appeal for families seeking both legacy and quality.