Emerald Isle Estate: 27.5-Acre Pineywoods Homestead and Timber Ranch Near Arp, Texas

Emerald Isle Estate is a 27.5-acre property in Smith County, Texas, at 22924 County Road 223 near Arp. The tract carries heavy mixed timber across most of its acreage, with a small open pasture near the home for light livestock or horses. A 2,914 sq ft two-story residence built in 2008 anchors the improvements, supported by a greenhouse, established raised-bed gardens, a dedicated workshop, and two storage buildings. The property is fully perimeter-fenced with barbed wire, and a 600-foot wood-fenced entry drive through mature loblolly pine leads back to the home and outbuildings.

An agricultural exemption is in place. The 2025 property taxes came to $4,873.93. GPS coordinates: 32.2763° N, 95.0226° W.

This is improved, working land. The garden infrastructure, the greenhouse, the outbuilding set, and the timber cover represent time already invested. A buyer arriving at closing inherits a property that functions, rather than one that needs years of build-out before it delivers.

The acreage features the characteristic geology of Smith County's eastern Pineywoods corridor: gently rolling to moderate terrain, deep sandy loam soils, and heavy, mature loblolly pine timber with a mixed softwood-hardwood understory beneath the canopy. Barbed wire fencing runs the full perimeter. A small, open pasture near the home provides flexibility for horses or light cattle without disrupting the timber character of the larger acreage.

The Texas A&M Forest Service identifies the Pineywoods region as receiving average annual rainfall ranging from 32 to 50 inches, with sandy loam soils that are well-suited to pine forest production. The TSHA Handbook of Texas documents Smith County's annual rainfall average of 44 inches, a 259-day growing season, a January low of 33°F, and a July high of 95°F. The timber cover on this property is consistent with that regional profile: mature canopy, natural screening, and a wooded character that provides effective privacy on 27.5 acres

The two-story residence spans 2,914 square feet and was built in 2008. Five bedrooms and three full baths provide space for a full household or an extended family, and the two-car attached garage connects directly to the home. The vaulted main living area is anchored by a wood-burning fireplace. The kitchen and living areas share an open-concept floor plan with a breakfast bar. Central gas heat backed by a heat pump and dual-zone central electric cooling handles year-round comfort. Interior details include ceiling fans, blinds, and cable TV infrastructure throughout.

Covered and open decks extend the living space outdoors. Hardie Board siding and guttering are in place. The home’s overall condition reflects consistent maintenance rather than deferred upkeep. Water is served by a community supply, and the sewer system is a conventional septic system. The 600-foot wood-fenced entry drive through the loblolly pine canopy signals the property's character before the home comes into view.

The production infrastructure on this property does not require build-out. Established raised-bed gardens are in place and ready for the current growing season. A dedicated greenhouse extends the calendar for early spring starts and late-season harvests that open-ground gardening cannot support. Combined with the small open pasture, these improvements form a functional homesteading foundation: food production, season extension, and light livestock capability on a single parcel.

Smith County's growing season runs nearly nine months, with the last freeze typically departing in early March and the first arriving in late November. That window supports multiple garden successions, year-round greenhouse use, and consistent food production for a family committed to working the land.

A dedicated workshop, a greenhouse, and two storage buildings are distributed across the property. These structures provide working space, equipment storage, and project capacity for ongoing land maintenance. Buyers who have priced the cost of building even a basic outbuilding set on raw acreage will understand what is already in place here. The outbuilding inventory, taken together, supports the full range of tasks that a 27.5-acre property generates.

White-tailed deer and native songbirds move through the timber year-round. The heavy canopy, perimeter fencing, and limited development pressure in the surrounding area support consistent wildlife activity across the full 27.5 acres. Hunting white-tailed deer from this property is a practical use given the habitat density, natural corridors, and timber-to-pasture transition zones where deer characteristically feed and move. This is not a dedicated hunting operation, but the land rewards a patient hunter with a stand positioned correctly along the pasture edge or timber breaks.

Emerald Isle Estate sits in a practical middle ground between rural land character and access to urban services. The nearest community, shopping, and medical services are within 35 minutes in multiple directions, and the DFW Metroplex is a manageable drive for business travel or periodic city visits.

Arp, TX — 5 miles / 8 minutes

Tyler, TX — 22 miles / 28 minutes

Henderson, TX — 22 miles / 28 minutes

Kilgore, TX — 28 miles / 32 minutes

Longview, TX — 32 miles / 35 minutes

Shreveport, LA — 80 miles / 1 hour 15 minutes

Dallas, TX — 115 miles / 1 hour 40 minutes

The property is served by the Arp Independent School District, a small rural district of approximately 1,000 students with a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio, including Arp Elementary, Arp Middle School, and Arp High School.

For air travel, regional and major commercial airports are accessible within a two-hour drive, covering both short-haul business connections and national routes.

Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR) — 30 miles / 35 minutes — American Eagle service to DFW

East Texas Regional, Longview (GGG) — 32 miles / 35 minutes — American Airlines nonstop to DFW

Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) — 115 miles / 1 hour 40 minutes — full national and international service

Dallas Love Field (DAL) — 120 miles / 1 hour 45 minutes — Southwest Airlines hub

The agricultural exemption currently in place on this property transfers to the next owner, provided qualifying agricultural use continues. The 2025 assessed property taxes on this improved 27.5-acre tract came to $4,873.93, reflecting the full effect of the exemption on a parcel that includes a 2,914 sq ft home, a greenhouse, outbuildings, and established production improvements. Buyers should verify qualifying use requirements directly with the Smith County Appraisal District. The current exemption status and annual tax obligation compare favorably to unexempted residential acreage of comparable size and improvement level elsewhere in the East Texas market.

Smith County maintains a steady rural land market with consistent demand for improved Pineywoods acreage in this size range. The agricultural exemption, established outbuilding inventory, mature timber, and proximity to Tyler supports the property's carrying costs and long-term land value.