Dallas Dirt on Location: Inside Hillwood’s Newest Denton County Community
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Spanning roughly 3,500 acres, Landmark by Hillwood is one of the largest residential developments underway in North Texas. But Hillwood executives say the project’s defining feature isn’t the number of homes planned — it’s the land being preserved around them.
On the latest episode of Dallas Dirt, Candy Evans sat down with Andrew Pieper and Page Austin to discuss the history behind Landmark, why preserving the natural landscape became central to the project’s vision, and how Hillwood works to turn neighbors into a true community.
As North Texas continues to grow northward, developers are increasingly competing on more than amenities and home prices. Landmark represents Hillwood’s effort to create a community built around trails, open space, and connections to the land itself.
Preserving Pilot Knob
A key piece of that vision is Pilot Knob, an approximately 830-foot sandstone rise and one of the highest natural points in Denton County. Long associated with local history and folklore, the landmark will remain a defining feature of the community rather than a site for future development.
“Pilot Knob will be in conservation in perpetuity,” said Andrew Pieper of Hillwood. “And once we develop around it, we’ll open it up to the public and it’ll be available to hike, bike, and explore.”
Rather than building over the site, Hillwood plans to preserve the landmark and connect it to a broader network of trails and open spaces that will be accessible to residents and visitors alike.
A Community Connected by Trails
The community’s design centers on connecting residents to that natural landscape. More than 1,000 acres are planned as open space, with trails woven throughout the development.
Hillwood’s goal is for residents to be able to step outside their front doors and immediately connect to the larger trail system, encouraging outdoor recreation and everyday interaction with nature.
The episode also explores how developers are increasingly competing on lifestyle as much as location. Landmark plans to include community programming, outdoor recreation, events, and gathering spaces designed to encourage interaction among residents.
When complete, Landmark is expected to include more than 6,000 single-family homes, along with retail, office, hospitality, and civic uses. Housing options are expected to range from entry-level homes to larger executive residences, reflecting Hillwood’s effort to appeal to buyers in different stages of life.
Candy talks with Pieper and Austin about the long-term vision for the project, the decision to preserve significant portions of the property, and how Landmark fits into the rapid growth occurring across North Texas.
Landmark By the Numbers
- 3,500 acres
- More than 6,000 planned homes
- More than 1,000 acres of open space
- Homes expected from the high $300,000s to nearly $1 million
Listen to the full episode on CandysDirt.com’s YouTube Channel or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
