The Woodlands, Texas: City Living in a Fairytale Forest

The Woodlands, Texas: A lush, 27,000 acres of forested land just 27 miles North of the bustling metropolis of Houston. Over 40 years ago, an oil tycoon, philanthropist and visionary named George P. Mitchell purchased a acreage on the edge of Southeast Texas’ Piney Woods with dreams of developing a master community planted amongst the trees, sprouting out of the ground as if planted by Mother Nature. Now it is home to over 77,000 peopleIn 1974, Mitchell’s garden of homes blossomed into reality, opening officially as a residential development known as The Woodlands, a self-sustaining community nestled amongst the trees. The Woodlands was not going to be a desolate, sun-baked cement city. It was established as a harmonious retreat from the unnatural urban wastelands to the South. What may have seemed then like a tree-hugger’s pipe dream has thrived on its down-home philosophy of good neighborliness and respect for its natural surroundings as a resource, not a restriction. Since 1974, The Woodlands has grown to encompass seven “residential villages”, pocketed neighborhoods each complete with all the necessary trappings of modern living: grocery stores, schools, dental and health care facilities, dry cleaners, and so on. Each of these villages, which will soon welcome the new 2,000 acre Creekside Park Village to the fold in 2006, is designed to provide a close-knit and friendly sense of community with one’s neighbors as well as one’s surroundings. Now under the guiding hands of the Woodlands Operating Company, L.P., and a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and The Rouse Company, The Woodlands is embracing its development and taking on new challenges as over 3,000 new neighbors flock to the area each year. The Woodlands has developed yet another fine reputation to its name with the Woodlands’ Research Forest, an industrial and commercial subdivision where many pharmaceutical, biomedical, and administrative companies have corporate office locations. Most notably, the Research Forest is home to The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), also founded by George P. Mitchell, established as an applied research consortium of 11 universities, including Texas A&M University, The University of Texas, The University of Houston, and Rice University.

No matter what sort of new and exciting developments are arising in The Woodlands, the primary focus will always be on the preservation of green space. Upon completion, over 8,000 acres of the settlement will remain undeveloped, with over 90 parks, 12 swimming pools, and 135 miles of hike and bike trails allowing residents to enjoy every bit of shade, every change of season, and every gentle breeze rustling through the leaves. However, a community does not survive on trees and grocery stores alone. Since 1992, the non-for-profit Woodlands Community Service Corporation, currently doing business as The Community Associations of the Woodlands, has been bringing the unincorporated settlement such vital services as police and fire departments, trash and recycling pick-up, and public area maintenance. This unique form of government is made up of a board of directors representing each of the villages’ Community Associations, as well as the developer. Funding is provided by the communities themselves, as property owners have agreed to pay for their municipal services. This form of teamwork is part of what keeps The Woodlands healthy and growing.

In addition to the work of the Community Associations, the Texas Legislature has also lent a helping hand by founding The Woodlands Town Center Improvement District in 1993. Known as the TCID, this local government agency fosters both the economic and social development of The Woodlands while at the same time preserving the qualities that make it a unique place to call home. A one-percent sales tax collected by local businesses helps fund The Woodlands existence, as well as a seven-percent tax collected from hotels in the area. The funds collected by the TCID from these taxes helped to build the Woodlands Waterway Convention Center, and, vitally important to the music fans of nearby Houston as well as to the Woodlands locals, to expand the seating capacity of the popular Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion to 17,000.

The Woodlands is indeed a popular destination for fans of world-famous musical acts such as The Dave Matthews Band and Houston’s own Destiny’s Child, drawing millions of concertgoers to the area each year. A playground for sports and outdoors enthusiasts as well, The Woodlands is home to a number of Signature golf courses. The Woodlands is world-renowned for its 6 golf courses, having hosted the Shell Houston Open for 17 years. Some of the game’s greatest players- Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Fazio, have designed Signature golf courses for the community, the only in the nation to boast courses designed by all four. Over the past 40 years, Mitchell’s original plot of land has grown to include 23,000 homes, 6,700 apartments and town homes, and over 1,100 businesses, including fashionable shops, world-class dining and an exciting nightlife. This oasis of culture and community continues to flourish within a forest of robust, verdant Texas trees. Thanks to the hard work and devotion of the people who call The Woodlands home, this impressive symbiotic relationship of nature and culture will continue to thrive for years to come.