Steelecreek Development, LP

Cypress Springs borders the piney woods of East Texas. Not many lakes two hours away could draw such a crowd - but Cypress does. And not everyone who comes brings a boat. Many just buy to be near the beauty.

     "We have mostly weekend homes," says Ralph Robertson, a sales associate at Century 21 Butler Real Estate. "I would say 75 percent or more of our folks are from Collin and Dallas counties."

     And how the market has grown. About two-thirds of the shoreline is developed. Most of the lots now available are along coves.

     "We are seeing an increase in the number of baby boomers pulling the plug five or 10 years ahead of their parents. They come out here with cash, often times, looking for a beautiful and relatively secure place to retire. We're selling $100,000 lots now that 10 years ago would've been $15,000 or $20,000. The price of lots has more than doubled in the last three years."

     Most homes around Cypress Springs are western red cedar, some are painted siding or log, and very few are brick. The Franklin County Water District, which owns the lake, has strict rules about home building around the lake. No mobile homes, no modulars, no move-ons. Houses on the shoreline must be at least 1,000 square feet. These rules add to the lake's beauty, Richardson says.