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. Officials also announced in July a 43-acre auto racing component at the park, which will be constructed on the property near the RV park and the sports complex.

Grand Texas, which officials estimate will 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 theme park has room to add new attractions on up to 150 acres in the future.

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. Galland said the water park has space to accommodate 40 acres of development, with the first section spanning an area slightly smaller than Wet 'n' Wild SplashTown in Spring.

The sports complex will include indoor facilities and 20 sports fields, Galland said. The fields are designed to accommodate a variety of sports, including junior and senior baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, 7-on-7 football and rugby.

Galland said construction on the sports complex is expected to begin this month and open in March 2015. The RV park and a few hotels will also be among some of the first components of Grand Texas to open early next year.

Grand Texas officials were approached by a private developer looking to build a new attraction on 43 acres of the property near the RV section, which has altered some design plans for the overall park, Galland said. On July 21, Grand Texas announced that Palmetto Racing in The Woodlands is working with Miller Performance USA in Utah to develop a multipurpose attraction called Motorsportz at the park.

"This type of family-oriented racing will be very well received in Houston," Palmetto Racing owner Tim Crawford said. "We could not be more pleased to bring this to the deserving people of this great city."

The Motorsportz complex is slated to open in mid-2015 and will include commercial pad sites for future hotels and restaurants.

Transportation at Grand Texas will be facilitated through a 50-acre parking lot for visitors and separate lots for employees and coaches, Galland said. A trolley shuttle system is planned for the coming years, he said.