Grand Texas—the future 610-acre sports and entertainment district in New Caney—is scheduled to break ground on the first phases of construction late this summer and open to the public in early to mid-2015.



The development will feature a 150-acre theme park, 40-acre water park, 83-acre sports complex, RV park with 144 lots, more than 240 hotel rooms and 450,000 square feet of retail and dining once completed, said Monty Galland, CEO of the Grand Texas Sports and Entertainment District. Grand Texas, which is estimated to draw 1.2 million annual visitors, will be near the intersection of Hwy. 242 and Hwy. 59.



"We want what we refer to as 'the district' [to be] a destination and as a destination, that means it's going to drive development," Galland said. "We have a lot to offer that you just won't find any place else."



Galland said Grand Texas will differ from other theme parks in the state since it will feature Texas history and culture elements throughout the property. The theme park will include roller coasters and other carnival attractions and is expected to span 71 acres in the first phase slated to open in May 2016, Galland said. The Big Rivers Water Park is scheduled to begin its first phase of construction on 28 acres in September 2014 and open in June 2015.



Grand Texas officials learned lessons about preparing for future growth from the closure of AstroWorld in 2005.



"With AstroWorld, one of the biggest things is not the closing—it was very successful—but AstroWorld's growth potential was stunted by being boxed in," Galland said. "That's why we developed [Grand Texas] with the ability to continue to grow for 30 years."