Cole Ranch, a 3,100-acre master-planned community in Denton, broke ground in early June, according to a news release.
What’s happening?
A private ceremonial groundbreaking was held June 3, and initial work to lay out utilities already is being planned, according to previous reporting.
Cole Ranch will be located south of the Denton airport and east of I-35W. The master-planned community will have 4,365 single-family homes, 26 miles of trails that will weave throughout the community, two large lakes and 1,200 acres of green space, according to the release.
The community will also have 156 acres of commercial retail space, a 55-acre business park, 206 acres for two Denton ISD elementary schools, two amenity centers and multiple parks. Partnerships with local residents will help preserve the green space and trails.
In October 2025, a partnership between Johnson Development, The Cole Ranch Co. LP and Denton Range LLC was formed to develop the community, according to previous reporting.
“There’s no better time to enter the Denton market, which has grown nearly 29 percent since 2020,” said Tommy Tucker, Johnson Development’s vice president of business development for Central and North Texas. “A development like Cole Ranch is ideal for accommodating this kind of monumental growth, not only by bringing new homes to the area, but by doing so in a way that considers open space, schools, commercial opportunities and long-term livability.”
The backstory
Cole Ranch has been a fixture in Denton County for nearly 100 years and was purchased by Miner Thomas “MT” Cole in the 1930s, per previous reporting. The 3,100-acre property was annexed to the city in 2006 and was rezoned to be a master-planned community in 2008, according to city documents.
“This is an exciting milestone that means very much to my family,” MT Cole’s great-granddaughter Jennifer Alexander said. “We are looking forward to seeing our vision for a timeless community that honors our family and the beauty of this area come to life.”
Looking ahead
The first phase of construction is expected to begin soon, and those homes are scheduled to be for sale in late 2027.
Johnson Development also has two other active Dallas-Fort Worth communities: Viridian in Arlington and Trinity Falls in McKinney.
