Definitive Events

1964

• George Mitchell purchased the Grogan’s Cochran Lumber Company land –
  including 2,800 acres that became the genesis of The Woodlands, marking
  the original transaction.

1964-74

• An additional 300+ transactions were completed in order to assemble the original 17,455 acres.
• “Developing in harmony with nature” concept was established which emphasized the preservation of existing vegetation and a natural drainage system.

1971

• First public school, Lamar Elementary, opened.

1972

• Formal announcement of the HUD agreement to provide $50 million in loan guarantees.
• On September 6, $50 million in 7.1% U.S. governmental New Community Debentures were issued.
• The Arab oil embargo, high interest rates, and tight money period.

1974

• October 19, formal opening of The Woodlands.
• Real Estate Division completed its move to 2201 Timberloch Place.
• 10-year contract signed with the Houston Golf Association to host the PGA Houston Open.

1975

• Interfaith/religious community initiated.

1976

• Jack Eckerd Drug purchased land and developed first distribution facility in Trade Center.
• In September, McCullough High School opened.

1978

• Jamail’s, the first supermarket, opened.

1979

• MEDC headquarters building under construction.

1980

• Construction of The Woodlands National Bank Building.

1982

• Houston Advanced Research Center constructed its initial building and announced plans for research campus.
• The Research Forest was established.

1983

• Total investment in The Woodlands reached $1,000,000,000.
• Village of Cochran’s Crossing opened.

1984

• Village of Indian Springs opened.
• Agreement signed to create a TPC golf course, designated as site for the Houston Open Tournament.

1985

• The Woodlands Hospital opened.
• Lake Woodlands filled with water.

1986

• Harmony Bridge opened to provide an alternate route into Harris County.
• South County YMCA opened its new building.

1987

• Hardy Toll Road opened.
• First Venture Technologies Building opened in The Research Forest.

1983-87

• Severe economic downturn as energy prices collapsed and Houston market crashed.  The Woodlands increased its share of the housing market.

1988

• The John Cooper School opened.

1990

• The Woodlands’ population topped 30,000.
• In April, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion opened.
• #1 in new home sales and closings in Houston for first time.
• Total investment exceeded $2,000,000,000.
• The Arnold Palmer Golf Course opened.

1991

• Hughes Tool moved its world headquarters to The Woodlands.
• Telephone boundary issue resolved.

1992

• MISD/CISD school boundary re-aligned.
• The Woodlands Community Association transition to resident control.
• Original $50 million of HUD debentures retired.

1993

• Construction of The Woodlands Mall began.
• Formal announcement of Town Center.
• Community college campus announced.

1994

• Town Center Improvement District formed.
• S.H. Highway 242 opened.
• Cemetery and funeral home announced.
• Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center opened.
• Population of The Woodlands exceeded 40,000.
• Opening of The Woodlands Mall.
• Grand opening of The Village of Alden Bridge.

1995

• Montgomery Community College opened.
• 6^th consecutive year – #1 in new home sales in the region.
• Jobs in The Woodlands topped 15,000.
• Expansion of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion seating to 13,000.

1996

• Ground broken for University Center Building.
• The Woodlands High School opened.
• Population exceeded 45,000.
• Woodlands Parkway overpass across Grogan’s Mill Road opened.
• New Information Center opened on Woodlands Parkway.
• Shell Learning Center opened.
• Tinseltown Cinema opened in Town Center.
• 1,053 new homes sold – new calendar year record and 1^st time to exceed the 1,000 mark.
• 7^th consecutive year – #1 in new home sales in the region.

1997

• Population exceeded 50,000.
• JCPenney announced as The Woodlands Mall’s 5^th anchor store.
• Construction began on Alden Bridge Shopping Center.
• Announced 6-story 150,000 square foot office building in Town Center.
• On July 31, 1997 The Woodlands Corporation and all of its assets were purchased by a partnership formed by Morgan Stanley and Crescent Real Estate Equities for $543 million.

 1999

• The Woodlands’ 25th Anniversary is celebrated.
• First Hometown Heroes inducted.
• Opening of Harper’s Landing, a community of 1,300 homes.
• Construction of The Woodlands Waterway begins.
• Town Center Two office building completed and occupied.

2000

• Opening of Windsor Hills, “active adult”  neighborhood.
• Resident diver Laura Wilkinson wins Gold Medal at Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
• Branch Crossing Junior High School opened.
• Waterway Plaza One office building completed.
• All time record of 1,679 new home sales set.
• Milestone of 100 miles of hike and bike trails reached.

2001

• Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course opened in Carlton Woods.
• Sterling Ridge Village Center opened.
• Opening of College Park Retail Center.
• Maersk Sealand’s 100,000-square-foot Customer Resource Center opened in the Research Forest.
• Opening of the Palmer Clubhouse celebrated.
• Waterway Plaza Two office building completed and occupied.
• The Woodlands’ new signature entryway completed.

2002

• Lake Woodlands Drive extended over Lake Woodlands, to provide third major east-west thoroughfare.
• Gosling Road Bridge opens, providing connector to Harris County.
• The Gary Player Signature Course opens in the Village of Sterling Ridge.
• Opening of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center™.
• 800,000-square-foot Anadarko Tower open and occupied.
• Chevron Phillips Chemical Company occupies its new 200,000-square-foot building in Town Center.
• Coulson Tough Elementary School opens.
• The Woodlands featured in the Urban Land Institute’s book on “Great Planned Communities.”
• The Club at Carlton Woods ranked “best new private course in Texas” by Golf Digest magazine.
• Population of The Woodlands exceeds 70,000.

2003

• First urban residential projects open on The Waterway.
• CBI completes and occupies its new building on Lake Woodlands.
• Market Street “Main Street-styled” project underway in Town Center.
• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital’s $78 million expansion.
• St. Luke’s Woodlands Community Medical Center opens.
• The Samsung World Championships LPGA event played on the  TPC.
• 53,000-square-foot clubhouse opens at The Club at Carlton Woods.
• New YMCA opens in Sterling Ridge.
• Construction of Indian Springs Village Center begins.
• Fazio Course announced in the Village of Creekside Park.
• December 31 the Rouse Company purchases Crescent’s 52.7% interest in The Woodlands.