Named after Prussian immigrant William Sachse, the town was founded by its namesake when he was only 25 years old.
William opened the first cotton mills and cotton gins in the county which were run by horsepower until 1869.
He secured a deal with a railroad company, allowing them land to expand upon in exchange for building a major depot in the town … which was accidentally christened “Saxie.”
The name was eventually fixed to the correct spelling and the town remains a successful suburb of Dallas to this day.
Otherwise, in modern times, Sachse is a sleepy suburb with a population of about 25,000 people. It has a low crime rate compared to the national average, higher average income, and lots to do.
Sachse is considered a suburb of eastern Dallas. It’s a mere 30 minute drive from town to the center of the city.
It takes the same amount of time to get to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as Dallas itself and twice as long to drive to the city of Fort Worth.
Every beloved town has a Historical Society. The one in Sachse built its museum from parts of the deconstructed house of the town’s founding namesake.
Since 1989, the Museum has collected farm, train, and what the historical society refers to as “potpourri” artifacts from across the decades. It’s a wealth of information for local history, ran by locals who work hard to preserve Sachse’s past.
They most recently erected a Memorial Wall for Vietnam veterans which can be viewed in front of the town library. Visits are by appointment, so make sure you get in touch!
2. Heritage Park
Next to Sachse’s elementary and middle schools sits Heritage Park. This family-friendly park covers 36-acres of open field off of Hudson Drive.
It’s the ideal spot for baseball and soccer games, picnics – even grilling on a barbecue! Bring a blanket big enough for the whole family, or sit comfortably at one of the many picnic tables.
There is a three-quarters-of-a-mile paved walk circling the park, but you’re free to roam wherever. For special events it’s possible to reserve the Pavilion, nestled in between three of the four baseball diamonds.
Boasting over 4.5 stars, Frankie’s Mexican Cuisine is listed as the #1 restaurant in town on Yelp. Frankie’s is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week, serving a Mexican-themed brunch on the weekends.
Their menu boasts all of our south-of-the-border favorites, from tacos and burritos to enchiladas, fajitas, and tamales.
While you anguish over what to order, you can take advantage of Frankie’s daily happy hour which runs until 6pm.
The best part about this stellar restaurant is that they provide catering and can be found on Uber Eats.
The word “sandbox” doesn’t scream “fun for all ages,” but hear us out. If you haven’t heard about Extreme Sandbox, then you’re probably unfamiliar with what you can get dug into.
Sachse is home to Texas’ second location where visitors can get dirty in a 10-acre large sandbox. You’re not playing with trowels here.
Starting with their basic, hour-long package, you get to play around driving a mini-excavator (after safety talks, of course)!
From there, packages run up to a whopping $895 for a full six hours’ worth of excavating, bulldozing, and other heavy-duty fun.
5. Firewheel Town Center
The Firewheel Town Center is not as dangerous as it sounds (especially following the chaos of Extreme Sandbox). It’s a Simon Mall.
Conveniently nestled in the corner of President George Bush Turnpike and State Highway 78, this open-air shopping center boasts all your favorite brands and plenty of parking.
There’s a selection of places to eat from fast food to sit-down restaurants and an IMAX AMC movie theatre.
In the middle of the shops is the Town Square Boulevard Park, a relaxing and shady spot to recuperate in after all that shopping.
6. Joe J. and Patricia D. Stone Park
Split in half by Laurel Crest Lane, Joe J. and Patricia D. Stone Park stretches over almost 4-acres of land.
A quieter alternative to the sports-heavy Heritage Park, Stone Park also has barbecue grills and picnic tables as well as a reservable pavilion.
There’s also a children’s playground. Visitors to the park enjoy wandering around the small ponds where one can try and spot the various birds and even turtles that call Stone Park home.
There is limited free parking available on Laurel Crest Lane.
We mentioned the variety of food options at Firewheel Town Center, but this place in particular deserves its own shout-out.
Wildwood Smoke Craft Whiskey is dedicated to delicious barbecue dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients.
The name of the restaurant isn’t pointless, either, as they have a whiskey menu that has over 30 different whiskies to choose from alongside their curated cocktail list.
Barbecue usually means meat, but the restaurant has plenty of vegetarian options. It’s even okay if whiskey isn’t your thing – they’ve got a selection of craft beers on tap, too.
8. Pecan Hollow Golf Course
For those who enjoy the fresh experience of being outdoors, but need a little direction with their freetime, golf is an age-old way to relax.
In Sachse, you don’t worry about having to be a member, either! Pecan Hollow Golf Course is the perfect place to spend the day, whether you want to play a championship course, a 5-hole short course, practice your putting on a 14,000 sq ft green, or work on your swings at the driving range.
You can reserve your slot online to avoid disappointment. There’s a bar and grill and pro shop located on site, too.
9. Nickelrama
Constantly trying to decrease screen time with your kids? Nickelrama offers all exciting, fast-paced fun of arcade games without bringing your kids online or spamming them with ads.
It’s only $4.95 for each member of the family. Then you buy a cup of nickels and have at it, spending between 1 and 6 nickels to play a game.
You can challenge each other to the classics like skeeball or NBA hoops or try out some new games featuring family favorites like Mario or Jurassic Park dinosaurs. You can reserve a table and bring in your own food and drink.
10. Breckinridge Park
By far the biggest outdoor adventure in Sachse, Breckinridge Park promises an adventuresome visit.
Yes, it has a couple pavilions, picnic tables, playgrounds, soccer fields, and baseball diamonds like the other parks.
But it also has three scenic ponds nestled in its 417-acres. Encircling the park is a path that winds 3.7 miles.
It’s a paved concrete path, making it an easy though long trail that is semi-accessible. Dogs are allowed at Breckinridge as long as they are kept on a leash.
It’s even possible to go fishing in the ponds.
11. Fishing at Lavon Dam
Just north of Sachse is the massive Lavon Lake. It’s 9,540 feet long and covers 21,400 acres of land. It is a freshwater reservoir, meaning that it wasn’t always there.
This body of water was created in 1953 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to provide water and control the floodplain. The dam allows for stunning views, but also sportive fun.
Today, it’s a popular destination for freshwater fisherman. There are three types of bass, two types of catfish, crappies, flatheads, and a few sunfish who call Lake Lavon home.
12. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is a bit further afield, but it’s well worth the visit.
Open daily, its 800-acres of land has almost eight miles worth of concrete trails and another five miles worth of unpaved trails.
Aside from hiking, you can ride horses, canoe, kayak, and zip-line! As a Nature Preserve, the park is home to lots of exciting wildlife including bobcats, coyotes, and kestrels.
It’s not all nature all the time, though – you can also catch a bit of culture at the open-air amphitheater that makes a great concert venue.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself outside city limits, Sachse is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Dallas. It’s a quaint Texas suburb full of things to do for adventure seekers, couples, families, and groups.
Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit.
She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since.
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