⛰️Week of June 16, 2025

From Pilot Knob to Pool Time — Celebrate Juneteenth and Discover What’s Next!

Author

Amber Hill
June 16, 2025

Good Morning, Justin!

We hope you had a boot-scootin’ good Father’s Day weekend! June’s rolling right along, and this week we’ve got a lot to celebrate—including a big birthday shoutout to Jeremy, the voice behind the history section you know and love! If you see him around town, be sure to wish him a Happy Birthday! Let’s ride into the week, y’all!

THE DIGEST
Juneteenth Fun & Freestone Apartment News

New Apartments Coming Near Justin: Freestone Oliver Creek Project

A major apartment development is underway just north of Justin—outside city limits and ETJ—on 24.84 acres of Denton County land. The site, near Timberbrook and Oliver Creek, is owned by Freestone Oliver Creek LLC, based in Boerne, TX.

Appraised at $1.84 million for 2025, the land's value jumped over 500% from last year—clear signs of big changes.

Freestone Housing specializes in Class A apartment communities, which typically feature modern construction, upscale finishes, resort-style amenities, and higher-end rent pricing. These are the kinds of developments aimed at attracting professionals, families, and higher-income renters.

Construction is already moving. CT Excavating Inc. is confirmed to be doing the dirt work.

🗂️ Property ID: 73853
📍 Location: North of Timberbrook, FM 156 area
🏢 Taxing Units: Denton County & Northwest ISD

You can look up full property details on DentonCAD.com or check out FreestoneHousing.com for more on their development style.

What It Means for Justin

Though not inside city limits, this development may bring more traffic, new neighbors, and increased school enrollment in Northwest ISD. Because it’s on unincorporated land, there’s less local zoning control, so staying informed is important for residents.

Juneteenth Events Happening Nearby June 16–21

Looking to celebrate Juneteenth? We've rounded up a few great nearby events happening June 16–21 in Denton and Lewisville — from parades and poetry slams to gospel concerts and a free outdoor show.

Denton Juneteenth 
Monday, June 16 – Saturday, June 21 • Fred Moore Park, Denton
A full week of events honoring 160 years of freedom. Highlights include:

  • Storytime (Mon, Jun 16 at 11 AM, Emily Fowler Library)

  • Financial workshop (Tue, Jun 17 at 7 PM, MLK Jr. Rec Center)

  • Art exhibit opening (Wed, Jun 18 at 7 PM, Greater Denton Arts Council)

  • Poetry slam (Thu, Jun 19 at 7 PM)

  • Gospel concert (Fri, Jun 20 at 7 PM, Fred Moore Park)

  • Parade, kid zones, live concerts (Sat, Jun 21—all day)

Lewisville Juneteenth Celebration Concert 
Friday, June 20 • 7–9 PM • Wayne Ferguson Plaza

Free outdoor concert featuring the David Whiteman Band and 410 Dancers. Bring chairs or blankets; food trucks and pet-friendly.

Impending Doom

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Join 1 million+ Christians who receive TPO’s politically-neutral, anger-and-anxiety-free, Christ-first news coverage.

LOCAL BUSINESS
The Tale of Justin Discount Boots & Cowboy Outfitters~ “Buy Low, Sell Low” – and Have a Blast Doing It

Photo located inside Justin Boots

Once upon a time, in the dusty days of the late 1950s, a hard-working man named Frank Wallace ran a salvage company. He could take apart just about anything and make something useful out of it. But Frank had a secret: while he was salvaging steel and lumber by day, he was dreaming of boots, cowboy hats, and denim by night.

Then came 1976 – and with it, a big idea and an even bigger partnership. Frank teamed up with none other than John Justin, founder of the famous Justin Boots in Fort Worth, Texas. Together, they wrangled up a plan and opened a little western store in a town fittingly named Justin, Texas. And just like that, Justin Discount Boots & Cowboy Outfitters was born – right next door to Wallace Salvage.

Frank had a simple motto: “Buy low, sell low.” And he meant it. While others were hiking prices, Frank was slashing them – making it possible for cowboys, cowgirls, and little buckaroos to gear up without breaking the bank. Boots, jeans, shorts, hats – you name it, they had it, for the whole family.

Over the years, Justin Discount Boots grew bigger than a rodeo crowd on a Saturday night. One store became two, two became three, and soon they had four locations bustling with western charm. Eventually, the original salvage business was put to rest, but Frank’s love for the old days never left the building – literally.

Today, the stores are a museum-meets-marketplace, spread across 90,000 square feet of western wonder. Wander through and you’ll find treasures like:

  • The original teller window from the first bank of Justin (at the South Store)

  • A ticket booth front from the old Santa Fe Railway (in the Boot Store)

  • Tons of memorabilia, historic artifacts, and photos lining the walls of all three buildings — showcasing a rich timeline of Justin's history

People sometimes think they are the Justin Boot Company, but fun fact – the name comes from the town of Justin, named after railroad engineer Walter Justin Sherman. Talk about a name with a journey!

And there’s more than just good deals and cool history. Now through August 30, every Saturday, if you spend $100 or more, you’ll get a voucher for a free small Snocone from Papa’s Sunshine Snoball Co. It’s a sweet way to top off a hot summer shopping day.

So saddle up and head on over. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 9 to 6, and they can’t wait to meet you.

Justin Discount Boots & Cowboy Outfitters
Boots, hats, and everything in between – at prices that’d make Frank smile.

👉 Find more photos at Justin Journal Facebook Page

No sponsorships here—just sharing local growth and business updates for your awareness!

EVENTS

Tuesday~ June 17
Wednesday~ June 18
Thursday~ June 19
Friday~ June 20
Saturday~ June 21
Sunday~ June 22
📅See our online calendar for ongoing events

LOCAL HISTORY
Wrapping Up the Story of Pilot Knob

Our journey through the history of Pilot Knob ends with outlaws, land deals, and a hopeful future.

The infamous Sam Bass made his dramatic exit from the Knob after a shootout that left one of his gang members, Riley Wetzel, wounded in the calf. After that, the Knob settled into quieter times—at least on the surface.

Eventually, the land became privately owned by the McCutchin family, who kept the Knob off-limits unless you had permission to hike or hunt for treasure (yes, people tried!). That all changed in 1987, when the Savings and Loan crisis forced the McCutchins to sell the land. The buyer? None other than Ross Perot.

Perot promised to preserve the iconic hill as part of a future residential community—and now, decades later, Hillwood (a Perot company) is making that vision real. In late 2024, Hillwood began moving dirt for the 27,000-acre Landmark by Hillwood development.

We at the Justin Journal are keeping our boots crossed that Hillwood honors its word—protecting Pilot Knob as the heart of the new community and, maybe one day soon, welcoming hikers back to the top of that historic hill.

What a ride. Thanks for following along! Additional information can be found at hillwood.com.

KIDS CORNER
Looking for Summer Fun for the Kids?

We’ve rounded up some great activities to keep the little ones entertained all summer long! From local events to hidden gems around town, check out our past newsletters below for ideas the whole family will love:

Be sure to keep an eye out for our next issue—we’ve got more summer fun coming your way!

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