Thunderbird Apartments for Rent

In Native American legends, the thunderbird was a large, dark-colored bird that appeared just before a storm. Whether mythical or not, the bird lends its name to Thunderbird Mountain, on the western end of Franklin Mountain State Park. The Thunderbird neighborhood, on a hilly section of northwestern El Paso, is a community west of this mountain.

Framed by Silver Springs Drive on the south and Westwind Drive on the west, the streets are curved with many quiet cul-de-sacs. In the center of Thunderbird is the Coronado Country Club and its golf course. Lavish homes and condo-style apartment complexes rim the country club’s grounds. The club offers members a seasonal swimming pool, workout facility, and seven lighted tennis courts. The golf course has been open since 1957, but most of the housing development occurred after 1970. Thunderbird is not densely populated, but it has an urban flavor.

Two schools are in Thunderbird, the El Paso Jewish Academy on Cherry Hill Lane and the El Paso Independent School on Thunderbird Drive. Just south of the neighborhood is the Western Hills Methodist Day School, off Silver Springs Drive. The Coronado Baptist Church on Thunderbird Drive also offers a day care center.

Outside of the restaurant at the Coronado Country Club, all other eateries are west of the Thunderbird neighborhood. On Shadow Mountain Drive, the Bonsai Restaurant offers Japanese fare, and Pelican’s offers seafood. Along North Mesa Street, also known as Route 20, are assorted Mexican food outlets and fast-food options. The Coronado Shopping Center is at the intersection of these two streets and has a Walgreens, Big 8 Foods, Starbucks, Auto Zone, and even more pizza and fast-food outlets.