In 1928, John W. Carpenter built a 6,000-acre ranch in Irving, Texas that would soon be named El Ranchito de Las Colinas, or “Little Ranch of the Hills.” In the late 1960s, Carpenter’s son, Ben Carpenter, began redesigning his father’s ranch to become a commercial and residential community. In 1975, Las Colinas was fully developed and has since welcomed 1,000 corporations and built a community full of schools, recreation, entertainment areas, and residences. Today, it’s one of the Dallas-Fort Worth’s most thriving areas, making it a favorite among new homeowners.

Proximity to the Airport, Dallas, and Suburbs

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport photo by Shutterstock

Location is everything and Las Colinas occupies an ideal space in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its location in Irving positions it well for working and playing in Dallas and the surrounding suburbs. For instance, Downtown Dallas is just an 18-minute drive away, and Carrollton and Addison take about 15 minutes to reach by car. While Fort Worth may be a 30-minute drive away, that’s a considerably decent commute by Dallas standards. It’s also just a short 15-minute drive from Las Colinas to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and a 20-minute drive to Dallas Love Field, making it the perfect jumping off point for business travelers or travel enthusiasts.

The Real Estate

Featuring diverse styles, homes in Las Colinas are single-family houses or condos. Prices range from the low $100s to over $2.5 million with a median sale price of $429,900, according to Neighborhoods.com. Homes in this neighborhood are spaced out, sitting on roughly 2.75-acre lots and averaging about three bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

Residents are drawn to the Las Colinas neighborhood for many reasons. Las Colinas is home to national and international corporations like Medieval Times, Sprint, and Pioneer Natural Resources Company, making it convenient for professionals to live in the area. Also, five schools in Las Colinas have GreatSchools ratings of 8 or more, the DART runs through the neighborhood, and there are plenty of entertainment and business venues like the Toyota Music Factory and the Irving Convention Center; it’s no wonder Las Colinas is a hot-spot for homebuyers. 

Water Attractions Galore

Glatter Falls at Mandalay Canals

Not many people are aware, but Las Colinas is home to a set of canals inspired by the Venice canals. Known as the Mandalay Canals, they offer an Old-World vibe to Las Colinas’ urban center. They weave through restaurants, shops, and office buildings, have lovely waterfalls and vine-covered bridges, and can be enjoyed on an Italian gondola for a romantic experience. They’re also the site of Irving’s Canal Fest which celebrates the city’s multicultural attributes with entertainment and food from around the world.

Connected to the Mandalay Canals is the 125-acre Lake Carolyn. It’s a favorite active spot for locals with a 3-mile trail as well as paddle boats and paddle boarding. Lake Carolyn is the home of the DFW Dragon Boat Festival and the largest outdoor comedy show in North Texas, Laughs by the Lake.

Home to the Toyota Music Factory

When the Dallas Cowboys moved their games from Texas Stadium in Irving to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, it was a bit of a blow to Irving. However, in 2017, Las Colinas welcomed a new entertainment destination that put Irving back in the DFW scene—the Toyota Music Factory. The Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory welcomes big-name musicians, bands, comedy acts, and speakers to its stage. The 17-acre complex is also home to a variety of dining establishments from fast food like Freshii to sit-down restaurants like Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill. There’s also an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and the Texas Lottery Plaza, an open-air plaza that hosts local and regional acts.

Superb Golf Courses

TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas photo courtesy of Mang9 

Las Colinas offers a great selection of turfed green for golf lovers. The 18-hole golf course at Las Colinas Country Club was designed in 1963 by Joe Finger. It has lovely views of Downtown Dallas, newly renovated tee boxes, and it was awarded second best in the 2018 Best Country Club Mid-Priced Category of Avid Golfer Magazine. This golf course is often overshadowed by its Las Colinas neighbor, the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas. The par-70 golf course received a major redesign with a new layout in 2008. Multiple amenities like a driving range, sand bunker practice area, chipping greens, golf school, and a pro shop attract golfers from all over North Texas. And if those two golf courses are full, there’s always Cottonwood Valley Golf Course and Hackberry Creek Country Club, both of which are in Las Colinas.

Other Attractions

This neighborhood is home to two other attractions beyond the Texas Music Factory, Mandalay Canals, and Lake Carolyn. The Irving Convention Center brings in top-notch events like the North Texas Comic Book Show. On the other hand, The Mustangs at Las Colinas is an Insta-worthy spot in the neighborhood. It consists of nine life-sized bronze sculpture mustangs galloping through a pond in Williams Square. There’s also a small museum called the Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum that showcases the process of creating the sculptures.