Village profile: Panther Creek is home to Lake Woodlands

The Village of Panther Creek is the second oldest village in The Woodlands, founded in 1977. The Village of Panther Creek is the second oldest village in The Woodlands, founded in 1977. Photo: Courtesy Photo / Courtesy Photo Photo: Courtesy Photo / Courtesy Photo Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Village profile: Panther Creek is home to Lake Woodlands 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

This is part five of The Villager’s ongoing series of village profiles.

Panther Creek, the second village in The Woodlands after Grogan’s Mill, was opened in 1977 and got its name because of Panther Creek, which flows through the middle of the village, which is primarily located along The Woodlands Parkway, said village association Treasurer Kim Lewis.

Panther Creek is also home to a lot of history in The Woodlands, including being the village that housed the original Conroe Independent School District high school in the township — the former McCullough High School, which is now McCullough Junior High School.

The village is also home to two prominent churches - Lord of Life Lutheran Church and Trinity Episcopal Church. Trinity is on the site that formerly was occupied by The Woodlands United Methodist Church before it was relocated to a larger campus near Hughes Landing. McCullough Junior High School was changed to seventh and eighth grade campus after the opening of The Woodlands High School.

“The village is located on the western shore of Lake Woodlands and is within walking or biking distance to Panther Creek Shopping Center, The Cynthia Woods Pavilion, The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Hughes Landing and Town Center via numerous walking trails,” Lewis said. “It is a highly desired location with easy access to Interstate 45. It is home to some of the most coveted neighborhoods, such as West Isle, The Cove, Splitrock, and Windward Cove.”

One of the amenities of Panther Creek Lewis said is unique is Southshore Park, which she said includes an observation platform for expansive views of the 200-acre lake as well as the shoreline homes of the village and East Shore.

“(The lake) Is guarded by the sculpture ‘Rise of the Midgard Serpent’—more commonly referred to as ‘the dragon’—which was a gift from Cynthia Woods Mitchell in celebration of the opening of the Lake Woodlands,” Lewis explained.

Lewis said the Panther Creek Village Association is comprised of 18 board members, all of whom are elected by residents of Panther Creek in an annual general community-wide election. Village association members serve two year terms.

“Our mission is to represent the residents of Panther Creek in dealings with the various local, county, state, and federal governing bodies,” Lewis added. “Our purpose is to be a resident advocate in resolving complaints involving the villages and the various associations involved in providing services and governing the community of The Woodlands.”

One issue that has been of concern for some village residents is allegations of irresponsible residents in the Creekwood neighborhood area of the village. At a recent meeting of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, five residents of the neighborhood complained about residents they allege do not follow township covenants and supposedly create nuisances.

More Information Panther Creek Population: More than 12,000 residents; about 3,600 homes; and four apartment complexes. Area Schools: Sally Ride elementary, Glen Loch Elementary (K-fourth grades), and McCullough Junior High (seventh & eighth grades). Amenities: Panther Creek Shopping Center, anchored by Randalls and CVS; Five restaurants and one fast food restaurant - Los Cucos, Brooklyn Bagel, Crust Pizza, Masa’s Sushi and The Republic Grill and McDonalds. The Woodlands Children’s Museum is also located in the village Parks: Panther Creek is home to five major parks.

Village association Area Representative Bryan Leavitt said being centered in a great area for community fun is a major attraction point for the village.

“Panther Creek is at the front of The Woodlands and that puts us right in the middle of so many fun activities such as the July Fourth fireworks, Ironman (triathlon), marathons, concerts and numerous shopping plazas such as Market Street and Hughes Landing,” Leavitt said. “Because of so many activities that involve Panther Creek, we’ve become a very vibrant, fun community. Hughes Landing in itself is a Panther Creek signature establishment. It feels very much like our own place for fun.”

Dewey Lockwood, another village area representative, said he has lived in Panther Creek since 1989, said the holidays are a special time in the village.

“One of many things special about Panther Creek (is) every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the (residents in the) area of Tangle Brush Drive, Amara Courtt and Cape Chestnut Drive decorates the neighborhood,” Lockwood said. “It is all done by the residents with no professional help. It began years ago when a young man (Cort Martin) from the neighborhood died in a car-train accident.”

Lockwood said the boy’s father began putting up Christmas lights to stay busy.

“Over the years neighbors pitched in and eventually the neighborhood became an extremely popular area for folks from all over Montgomery County to visit and drive through during the holidays to admire the decorations,” Lockwood added.

jeff.forward@chron.com