Just a short road trip from Fort Worth, you’ll find the idyllic resort community of Carlton Landing. A year-round playground of charming homes, restaurants, green space, and family adventures, Carlton Landing is a small incorporated town in Oklahoma that hugs the shores of Lake Eufaula.
A project of developer Grant Humphries, Carlton Landing has the feel of walkable beachside communities, but with its own unique twist. Humphries is a fan of places like Rosemary Beach and Seaside, and he envisioned building something similar in nature to give people who might live a little too far from the coast a chance to experience the same type of carefree vacation. So much in fact, the same company that designed the 30A communities in Florida, DPZ, assisted in the master planning for Carlton Landing.
Amanda Coleman, a Fort Worth mother of three, fell in love with Carlton Landing from the start. She and her husband enjoyed a family vacation with friends three times over the course of a year before they decided to purchase their own place. The Lodge on Twinkle Lane has been a relaxing retreat for themselves and visitors for the last three years, and each time they arrive, they’re reminded why this community has captured their hearts.
“A lot of people talk about it being kind of a ‘90s childhood-type experience where your kids can run free and you know they're safe. It feels like the whole town is their playground. We really love that. We love our kids being able to experience that type of vacation, and it allows us to relax and breathe. It's a vacation for us as well as for them,” says Coleman.
Although all seasons in Carlton Landing have their charm, summer is the peak season, and boating and fishing activities are one of the main draws to the community. There’s a marina, a sandy beach, a dock that Coleman says is perfect for jumping off, kayaking, three pools, and a floating aqua park. There is pickleball, basketball, a sand volleyball court, nature trails, a Montessori-inspired park, and a nearby golf course.
There are even restaurants. Mama Tig’s offers wood-fired pizza (including allergy-friendly fare), gelato, and homemade pies. The Meeting House is a combo coffeeshop/bar/cafe that offers fantastic seasonal coffees, burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
There’s also the Carlton Landing Foundation, a unique organization dedicated to bringing Carlton Landing’s core values of relationships, creation, and simplicity to life through year-round family-friendly activities for residents and guests. Think summer movie nights, live music on weekends, free Yoga classes, the Dad Olympics on Father’s Day weekend, 4th of July festivities, Halloween fun, a home tour during the holiday season, and more. It’s truly a place where families and neighbors can connect.
Days spent in Carlton Landing seem as if they happen at a slower pace, but for all the right reasons. “A lot of times, when you go places, you don't think about connecting with the people around you; it's just you and your family. But when you're here, it feels like The Truman Show. You see people, they smile and wave, and you are drawn into a community. It’s part of the charm,” says Coleman.
The community is laid out in what Coleman describes as “pocket neighborhoods:” clusters of homes surrounding green space all designed similarly, whether that’s in a Coastal or French Farmhouse style or featuring old-world influences. It’s perfect for small gatherings and large reunions, single families and multi-generational groups, or whoever you choose to vacation with.
“It's just a really great drivable destination. It's become a fantastic meeting place for people sprinkled throughout this part of the country: families that are spread out between Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and even Louisiana. In general, it's extremely family-friendly,” she says.
Coleman’s home, The Lodge on Twinkle Lane, is a 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home that comfortably sleeps 10 and is ideal for multi-family and friend vacations. It’s a low-tox/fragrance-free environment, which means no scented air fresheners, plant-based cleaners, filtered water, organic coffee, unscented soaps, air purifiers, stainless steel cookware, and more.
And while The Lodge on Twinkle Lane is all about casual luxury, according to Coleman, it’s also got a laid-back vibe.“It's very forgiving and very kid-friendly. You’re not going to break much, and you can really relax. The kids can wrestle, and you know it’s going to be okay,” she says. The private back courtyard is her favorite space to relax near the fire pit and under the twinkle lights, while the front porch is ideal for making s’mores in the chimnea during the cooler seasons. It’s truly a retreat for anyone looking for a place to slow down, enjoy life, and connect with friends and family on a simple, but rewarding scale.
For more info, visit: thelodgeontwinklelane.com or @TheLodgeOnTwinkleLane on IG.