The gist
The first phase of The Dryer, a 3-acre revitalization project, began with the Katy Beer Garden, an indoor and outdoor venue that opened last June off Hwy. 90. Now, developer Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya said he is planning a summer opening for the project’s second phase that he hopes will become a community-centric place for families.
“You can come here and touch the dryer, because you’ve been looking at it, you’ve been driving by on I-10, and you’re like, ‘What is that?’” he said. “You finally can come over here now ... and see it up close and be able to do things around it.”
Nurcahya said Phase 2 of The Dryer will include:
- A miniature train
- A playground
- Black shipping containers with space for 16 food and beverage vendors
- A stage and large TV
- Green space with artificial grass where organizers can host events for free
Painted red with The Katy branded on the side, the development's miniature train is a nod to Katy once being the last stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as The Katy, according to the Katy Railroad Historical Society.
The train, chugging along at an easy 1 mph, will begin by operating solely on weekends, Nurcahya said.
For most likely $3 per ride—$1 supporting the Katy Heritage Society—riders of all ages can book a ride online, wait for pickup at the project’s train depot building and take a few laps on a 900-foot-long track around the historic dryers, Nurcahya said.
Several of the 16 vendor spaces in the shipping containers are secured. The 8-foot-by-10-foot stalls will have essential amenities such as a customer window, counter space, sinks, air conditioning and utilities, Nurcahya said.
“It’s just enough [space] for you to create and serve that unique thing,” he said.
Secured tenants include:
- Mama’s Kitchen and Tea, which has a storefront on Mason Road
- A lemonade stand
- A business serving carnival-style foods, such as elote and other hand-held items
- A crepe shop
- A shop offering fresh-squeezed juices and popsicles
Permitting for Phase 3, a three-story building, should begin in 2026, and construction could begin on it in early 2027, Nurcahya said. Located adjacent to the Katy Beer Garden, the building will feature a food court on the first floor, co-working office space on the second and a banquet hall on the third.
Beyond that, Nurcahya still plans to preserve the dryer’s historical integrity while outfitting the inside with a museum and gift shop run by the Katy Heritage Society a well as a future restaurant in the silos.
"That's why people come here, because they want to see the building inside and out," he said. "So keeping it as original as possible but still keeping safety and comfort in mind is what we're trying to do."
Looking ahead
Most of Phase 2 is expected to debut by the end of May, but Nurcahya is still accepting applications for vendors at [email protected]. Other details of Phase 2—like a quick-service bar in the dryer’s blower room—also likely won’t open right away.
Nurcahya also plans to outfit the shipping containers' second floor with entertainment-oriented vendors, such as arcade games, claw machines and a birthday party area.
