Coming back home to live at PK
Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Erika Carter
For Jason and Ashley Stephens, moving to Possum Kingdom Lake has been one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. The couple, their three children and the family’s two dogs have been living the lake life full time since 2021 and taking advantage of all that lifestyle has to offer.
There are lots of young families at PK on the weekends, but most don’t live year-round there. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 taught American workers anything, it’s that business owners and employees can stay plugged into their job pretty much anywhere.
Ashley Stephens is a graduate of Graford High School and her family has a long history and legacy of ranching in Palo Pinto County dating back to 1898—making her children seventh generation “ranchers.†She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2006 and later got a nursing degree, then worked at Palo Pinto General Hospital while living in Fort Worth.
Jason Stephens, meanwhile, grew up on Eagle Mountain Lake and attended Texas Christian University on an Army ROTC scholarship. He later obtained his MBA and law degree from Baylor. He met his future wife in Fort Worth by way of mutual friends – and he had never been to Possum Kingdom until he met Ashley.
The couple married and built what they thought would be their “forever home†in Aledo, Texas, but they also owned a condo at La Villa where they spent their weekends and continued to feel drawn to PK. Just across the water from their condo was a spectacular modern home being built in The Harbor. They admired the home during its construction until one day when Jason Stephens told his wife, “That house across the cove just went on the market.â€
They decided to take a look at the dwelling, not knowing their quick decision would kick off a whole series of fast-moving events. They loved the home and its location, and wanted to buy the property before their children started school, and so they immediately put in an offer.
Within a few days, they secured a contract on the house in The Harbor and 30 minutes later they had a signed contract to sell their Aledo home without formally listing it. Three weeks later, they closed both deals and the couple was celebrating the 4th of July in their new PK digs.
The Stephens great room is a wall of windows with spectacular views of the scenic point cove and Palo Pinto hills that surround Possum Kingdom Lake
The next big issue for the Stephens was sorting out work and school priorities, and the idea of returning to the area was a big part of their decision. With three young kids – 8-year-old Nixon, 7-year-old Saylor and 4-year-old Huxton – the couple knew they wanted their children to have the advantage of attending a small-town school.
The dining room is separated from the living space by a beautiful open stone fireplace and wall of windows on the other two sides.
Jason Stephens is an accomplished attorney with his own personal injury law firm, Stephens Law, having a main office in Fort Worth, satellite offices in Mineral Wells and Weatherford and a home office, too. He usually spends a couple days a week in Fort Worth, and the rest of the time in Mineral Wells or working from his home office. PK is this family’s happy place, and all of them love the balance of work, school, nature and the lake.
Since moving, the couple has become involved in the Graford school district. Ashley Stephens said the school district has not been highly rated in years past, but Brandon Perry, the new Graford superintendent, along with teaching staff, have been working hard to rectify that and are doing an amazing job. A new school bond recently passed, and while state rankings were not yet available at the time of this article, there is much anticipation that the school district’s rating is going to see a significant improvement over previous years.
Ashley Stephens attributed this improvement to the new direction the school is headed—including a 4-day school week and a positive learning environment for both educators and students. The Stephens were so committed to helping improve the schools that Ashley ran for the local school board and won her election this past spring, so it’s safe to say the couple is fully committed to the local schools and community.
The gourmet kitchen has clean lines and is ultra stylish, but it’s the kids artwork that takes center stage.
The couple’s children enjoy school, but they just might enjoy the relaxed PK lifestyle even more. Nixon enjoys golf, basketball and baseball, Saylor enjoys basketball and softball, and Huxton enjoys T-ball and keeping up with his older siblings. All three children love exploring the family ranch and riding in the family’s boat to go tubing, surfing, and visiting Bluff Creek to get ice cream and feed the fish.
While most city youths have a playroom or yard for recreational activities, the Stephens’ children have a unique backyard space, with the lake as the backdrop. Their favorite spot is the outdoor living space, and it’s the first place they go in the morning for cartoons and breakfast, even during winter, because then they can close the screens and turn on the patio heaters.
The family media room is a favorite spot for family movie night or watching a game. Not to mention the views.
The children also love the outdoor hammock and the custom rock trail down to their own little private beach area. The couple has managed to create an amazing outdoor space that allows their children to enjoy the lake and its natural beauty.
The Stephens have made some major additions to their home in their three years of ownership. They’ve added a third garage, office space, outdoor living area, and an expanded master bathroom and master closet. The home is a modern gem, with comfortable and modern features throughout.
Guests entering the house are drawn to the view offered by the wall of windows and glass that run across the entire back of the house. The floor-to-ceiling windows create an incredible backdrop for the entire home, and the main living, dining and kitchen areas are all open to these incredible views.
Spending time outside is one of the things the family loves most about living at the lake.
It’s the outdoor living space off the kitchen that is the family’s favorite spot, however. The home measures 5,800 square feet and contains five bedrooms, two living spaces and a home office, and the great room on the main level anchors the entire dwelling.
The home features a newly expanded master suite, master bathroom and master closet, all of which were must-haves for the Stephens, while an adorable bunk room is the perfect spot for friends and cousins.
The Stephens went to great lengths to create a natural, rocky exterior that still was safe for their children and their two dogs, Evie and Ripley. A family media room is located upstairs, and a third-level rooftop patio features more great views of the lake.
The Stephens’ home is modern in design, but it fits the lifestyle of this modern family as all of them balance school, work and living at PK. The Stephens hope to make their community better for more young families looking to make Possum Kingdom Lake their full-time home, too.
The Stephens decision to live at PK full time required the master bath to be remodeled and the master closet to be expanded.
The bunkroom is a fun and stylish room for the kids friends and family to stay while visiting PK.
Nixon enjoys a king bed and the awesome lake view from his bedroom. Not many kids get that kind of view living in the city.
The third floor deck is a great spot to watch the boats and fireworks, or just have a nice place to relax and enjoy our wide open West Texas skies.
The Stephens have managed to make the ultimate outdoor space for kids, dogs and adults. The family loves to spend time on their own sandy beach.
The Stephens kids favorite room in the house is the outdoor living space. Heaters and screens make it the perfect spot year-round.
The busy Stephens family finds time to vacation with their family as much as possible.
Jason Stephens enjoying down-time with his kids on a family vacation
