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T Bar M Camps & Retreats is continuing work on its multimillion-dollar expansion.
The $47.8 million expansion comes after a growing interest in family programming, T Bar M President John MacDonald said.
What’s happening
The camp is expanding from roughly 3.5 acres to a newly acquired 20-acre tract behind its existing campus. The land, which was purchased from longtime neighbors Sam and Mary Howard, will allow the organization to more than double its family camp capacity, MacDonald said.
About 20 families attend each week for six to seven weeks during the summer. Once complete, the children’s camp will host 44-45 families per week for 10 weeks in the summer, MacDonald said.
Demand for family camp has grown as parents seek shared overnight experiences rather than sending children away alone, MacDonald said.
“What we're seeing is families want to have these experiences now rather than sending their kids away. They want to experience it with them in an overnight family camp environment,” MacDonald said.
Project details
The total cost for the first two phases is about $30.5 million. As of early 2026, the camp has raised $24.3 million toward the project, MacDonald said.
The architect on the project is Assemble + Co., and the project manager is Schumann Consulting, a locally owned and operated project management company, as reported previously by Community Impact.
Construction is divided into four phases. Phases 1 and 2 include:
A new entrance is also expected along FM 1863 with a traffic light, designed to improve access and create a sense of retreat from surrounding development, according to plan documents.
“What we're doing with the design is just giving people a place where when they drive in our gates, they feel, ‘Oh, I'm leaving the city. I'm driving into the woods,’” MacDonald said.
Phases 1 and 2—which are still underway—are expected to be completed concurrently, allowing for a camp ready to host families in the summer before the start of Phases 3 and 4, MacDonald said.
Phases 3 and 4 will add two additional lodges, a new worship sanctuary and a child care center, MacDonald said.
A 26,540-square-foot welcome center will also be constructed during Phase 3, Community Impact previously reported.
Why it matters
The faith-based camp, founded in the mid-1970s by Texas Tennis Hall of Fame pros Jack Turpin, George Bratton and Dan Mayberry, began as a tennis ranch before evolving into a Christian summer camp.
Family camp allows parents and children to stay together in lodge-style accommodations while participating in worship, recreation and small-group activities. Each family is paired with college-age “coaches” who help facilitate activities and provide mentorship, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Camp staff sees about 9,000 visitors for its summer programming, and about 10,000 visitors annually, MacDonald said.
What’s next
The completion of Phases 1 and 2—expected to open by summer 2027—will get T Bar M a functional camp, MacDonald said.
