Buying Land in Freestone County, Texas

Freestone County's Public Lake Just Became a Private $1B Development

Case-by-case / verify locally

The most consequential land-use event in the county in decades: Fairfield Lake State Park, a Texas Parks and Wildlife-leased park on a lake of more than 5,000 acres since 1971, was sold by Vistra to Dallas developer Todd Interests for roughly $103 million in 2023. The state moved to seize it back through eminent domain, but Freestone County's own Commissioners Court publicly opposed that seizure, and Texas formally abandoned the eminent-domain effort in December 2023. The site is now under construction as "Freestone," a roughly $1 billion private gated community with a golf course and about 400 lakefront homes, marketed around the largest privately owned lake in the US. See our standalone page for the full story -- it's directly relevant to land values and access anywhere near the lake.

A Named Regional Groundwater District Covers the County

Generally favorable

Freestone County sits inside the Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District (METGCD), which also covers Leon and Madison Counties -- a distinct district from the better-known Post Oak Savannah GCD two counties over in Milam and Burleson. METGCD requires an operating permit (under its Rule 8.4) to drill or operate a non-exempt well, but a well drilled and operated under a Railroad Commission permit is exempt from district regulation entirely. Confirm current well-exemption status and permit requirements directly with METGCD before drilling.

The County Runs Its Own Septic Program

Generally favorable

Freestone County maintains a posted On-Site Sewage Facilities Program (most recently revised April 2026) compliant with TCEQ's statewide OSSF rules, with applications filed through the County Treasurer's Office at the courthouse in Fairfield. Confirm current authorized-agent status, fees, and site-evaluation steps directly with the county (903-389-3335) before budgeting a system.