A new mega-project south of Dallas will bring data centers, manufacturing, and thousands of new homes to South Creek Ranch near Ferris.
Cawley Partners has acquired 5,200 acres, roughly 20 miles south of downtown Dallas. The land, which sits in both Dallas and Ellis counties, will initially see the construction of data centers, manufacturing space, and logistics facilities on 2,000 acres of the northern section of the plot. Upwards of 5,000 new homes and a massive corporate campus are also in the works.
Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams says the project will substantially grow the community’s footprint, which has seen its population surge in recent years.
“This particular parcel is going to triple the size of the City of Ferris. So, this single development is already two times the size of our current city limits,” said Williams, per WFAA.
“It’s good for us too because we can see residential tax burden decrease when we have these types of projects come in,” Williams said.
The land, purchased from the trust of the late Trinity Industries CEO W. Ray Wallace, was largely used to raise cattle and produce hay. It currently houses a 23,000-square-foot mansion and ranch headquarters buildings, among other structures.
According to Cawley Partners, the transaction is a rare opportunity to pursue a commercial and residential project south of Dallas.
Williams says the residential development will help ease the residential tax burden and support the city’s charter school concept.
“This is an opportunity for them to be able to get more money into education. There’s also the housing component to this, which means more students,” said Williams.
The planned development will sit along the forthcoming Loop 9 corridor, which starts at U.S. 67 near Cedar Hill, stretches through Glenn Heights and Red Oak, and continues eastward to I-20 near Segoville.
“This is a generational turning point—not just for the land, but for the future of Ferris… What’s unfolding here is not luck. It’s the result of deliberate decisions, relentless preparation, and an unwavering belief that Ferris is destined for more,” said Ferris.