A Master-Planned Community that Stands Out for its High Quality of Life. The Woodlands is a Great Place to Live, Work, Learn, and Play!

Located just 27 miles north of downtown Houston, The Woodlands has transformed from a residential suburb into a cultural enclave that offers everything you could ask for. Five million square feet of shopping and dining, world-class health care facilities, designer homes, parks, and championship golf courses blend seamlessly with thousands of trees. It's a perfect combination of nature and all of today's modern conveniences.

George Mitchell, The Woodlands' founder, believed development should conform to the natural world around it, not compete with it, and the evolution of The Woodlands has stayed on this course. When Mitchell's vision opened in 1974, the homes, pathways, and parks came first. Purposeful, planned development of commercial and retail properties followed, and the population grew to approximately 90,000.

For nearly two decades, more homes have been sold in The Woodlands than in any other master-planned community in Texas, and it consistently ranks in the top five best-selling master-planned communities in the United States. There is something for everyone: beautiful homes by top designers, residential lofts, apartments, and senior housing are all connected to places to work, learn, shop, and play by 155 miles of hiking and biking paths.

The Woodlands' setting resembles an East Texas Piney Woods forest. When you drive down the curvy roads, you won't see any billboards or neon signs, and it's hard to get a sense of the development's size or how many amenities it offers. "You almost have to live here for a while before you can discover all the homes, restaurants, shops, parks, and schools behind the trees," says Tim Welbes, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company.

Life Among the Trees

Thirty-five years ago, the first residents were personally welcomed by a member of Interfaith of The Woodlands, the social services heart-beat of the community. Interfaith still welcomes new residents today. "The Woodlands is different from other new towns because of how our development scheme has been executed and because of the unique sense of community spirit," says Welbes. "People love to get involved, and there are plenty of ways to do it."

Another perk of life in The Woodlands? You don't have to go far to find something you enjoy. For a night out, walk to a performance by Town Center Theatre. As part of the group's third season, Nunsense will open on July 17. Dinosaurs more your thing? Hang out with Stan, a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex who resides with his prehistoric friends at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at The Woodlands Mall.

The Woodlands has a special appeal for art lovers. Outdoor sculptures throughout the community provide a cultural counterpoint to nature. Beginning with The Family, a sculpture acquired for the grand opening in 1974, The Woodlands has remained committed to building a collection of outdoor public art. The latest addition to the collection, which totals 51 pieces, is The Woodlands Passage, a series of five limestone sculptures.