Johnson Development to Lead New Vision for Cole Ranch Through Partnership

Johnson Development has entered a partnership with The Cole Ranch Company, L.P. and Denton Range LLC  for development of Cole Ranch, a 3,100-acre master-planned community west of Interstate 35W in Denton. Planned for approximately 4,365 single-family homes, the community is expected to open for home sales in 2027.

Cole Ranch has been a fixture in Denton County for nearly 100 years and was purchased by Miner Thomas “MT” Cole in the 1930's. The 3,100-acre ranch was used primarily for cattle, crops and other livestock to support the family and also incorporated buffalo to preserve a small herd.

“The ranch was integral to the local landscape back then,” said his great-granddaughter Jennifer Alexander. “MT Cole was known for assisting in cattle drives through the night to other ranches and gave considerable contributions to churches and civic enterprises in Denton and Dallas,” she said. “He often provided for so many people without even saying a word and remained a very humble man.”

According to Alexander, the Cole family envisions a community that celebrates her great-grandfather’s passion for the outdoors — incorporating green spaces that enhance residents’ quality of life through wellness, connection, and a strong sense of place — while partnering with local residents to preserve and understand the environmental value of the surrounding open spaces.

Cole Ranch will preserve about 1,200 acres as green space with at least 26 miles of trails traversing through the property with portions exploring sections of the heavily treed Hickory Creek areas. The community features two large lakes, a 32-acre waterway and a 13-acre lake that MT Cole originally constructed with mules pulling a Fresno Plow. The master plan also includes 156 acres of commercial development; a 55-acre business park; and 206 acres for two Denton ISD elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Two amenity centers and multiple parks — including a 50-acre city park — are also planned.

“We want to do this the right way,” said Alexander who lived with her great-grandmother on the ranch for several years as a child. “Cole Ranch is very near and dear to the family, and Johnson Development is the perfect partner to carry this vision forward, creating a timeless community that honors our history and the beauty of the area.”

Johnson Development has two other active Dallas-Fort Worth communities — Viridian in Arlington and Trinity Falls in McKinney.

“With the Cole’s family legacy as the foundation, Cole Ranch has all the elements to become one of North Texas’ most defining master-planned communities,” said Michael Smith, President and CEO of Johnson Development. “We look forward to building on that legacy by delivering the signature amenities and lifestyle of a Johnson Development community, raising the bar for master-planned development for the region.”

Denton Range LLC, a private held real estate investment firm managed by Silvestri Investments and with assets concentrated in the greater Houston, Texas and Orlando Florida areas, is an investor in the project.

“Cole Ranch is well positioned in the Dallas-Fort Worth market to serve this dynamic, growing region,” said Dan Silvestri, President of Silvestri Investments. “We are excited to be part of this inspirational community.”

Headquartered in Houston and celebrating 50 years of residential development, Johnson Development has active communities throughout Texas and in the Atlanta area. It has more top-selling master-planned communities over the last decade than any other developer in the nation.