A Gateway Through Time: The 1926 Birth of Turtle Creek Park Subdivision

The Stonebridge Drive Bridge, circa 1926 — nearly a century later, not much has changed… and we think that’s a beautiful thing.

Greetings!

During recent research into the history of the bridges of Turtle Creek, I came across a fascinating find in the Dallas Morning News from 1926—an original advertisement showcasing the newly opened Turtle Creek Park Subdivision. What stood out immediately was the image of the Stonebridge Drive Bridge, featured prominently as the gateway into a wooded, hillside neighborhood that still exists today.

The 31-acre subdivision officially opened to the public on April 11, 1926, offering Dallas residents the rare chance to live in what was then described as “heavily timbered, with natural hills, and overlooking both the city’s finest boulevard and Turtle Creek.” It was marketed as a place for “unusually fine residential conceptions”—a poetic way of saying it was destined for thoughtfully designed homes, in harmony with the land.

This original photograph and plat of Turtle Creek Park proudly promoted the home sites as “the most beautiful in the City of Dallas.” — a bold claim then, and one that still holds true today.

Divided into just 43 lots spread across three curving streets—Stonebridge Drive, Arrowhead Drive, and Rock Creek Drive—the neighborhood was created with a deep respect for the natural terrain. That same Stonebridge Drive Bridge, now nearly a century old, still welcomes residents and visitors, standing as a testament to the lasting charm and intentional design of the area.

Nearly a century later, the view hasn’t changed — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today, Turtle Creek Park Subdivision remains a quiet gem along the creek, defined by its mature trees, rolling hills, and unique architectural character. It’s remarkable how much of the original vision endures—and how relevant it still feels as we continue working to preserve, protect, and enhance the Turtle Creek corridor.

The past lives here, in concrete bridges and leafy canopies. And thanks to the stewardship of those who call it home, so does the future.

Warm regards,

JD Trueblood

President|CEO

Turtle Creek Association