Man-Made and Natural: My Walk Down Thistledown

My wife, mother-in-law, and I live in Wildwood at Oakcrest. Wildwood at Oakcrest is a fantastic community located near Tomball and just north of Houston in Cypress, TX. Wildwood at Oakcrest is in an inviting place to call home thanks to miles of greenbelt trails, scenic ponds, and pristine common areas throughout the community. The community to the south of us is called Thistledown. I decided to take a walk and explore this neighborhood.

In a discussion on Facebook with neighbors, there was a part of our community that was referred to as a "secret dirt road entrance." I had to check this out.

Adjacent to this "secret entrance" is a Harris County Municipal Utility District lift station.

It is a slightly worn path.

The "secret dirt road" is also adjacent to a house that's referred to as "the spaceship house."

When I got to the end, I found that the entrance from Thistledown is padlocked, so it's not really a "secret dirt road entrance" to Wildwood at Oakcrest.

I then walked around Thistledown. There are abandoned structures in Thistledown. I wonder what these used to be used for?

There is plenty of new construction going on. This pristine lot has a new slab.

On another lot, there are workmen are doing their thing.

In addition to new construction, there are undeveloped lots that are beautiful.

It's too bad about the "Keep Out" sign. I'd love to picnic there. It is private property, so I get it.

There's an abundance of manicured green spaces.

There's even a spot where high schoolers probably held a secret bonfire.

At the very end of Thistledown is a dead end with an interesting sign...

I was not sure if this was real or a deterrent to trespassers.

Later I learned that the sign is real. Cypress is the home of TXR Paintball.

As I proceeded back from the end of Thistledown to the community's main entrance, I could see that there are some established homes in Thistledown.

Some homes even have horses and goats.

There's some nice artwork.

The newly constructed homes that are completed are beautiful.

This is the main entrance from Telge Road (a main road). I entered using the "secret dirt road." I am not sure if the Thistledown gate is ever closed or not.

This is the sign that marks the community on Telge Road.

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Appreciation of man-made structures that mate with natural surroundings is alive in the lab.