Ben H. Carpenter: A Man and His Dream

Ben H. Carpenter: A Man and His Dream. . Las Colinas stands as the legacy of Ben H. Carpenter, a Texan rooted in the land, whose vision was as sweeping as the sky above the ranch he loved. That ranch, which his mother called "El Ranchito de las Colinas" -- The Little Ranch in the Hills -- was the seed from which Las Colinas grew. In 1928, Ben's father, John W. Carpenter bought Hackberry Creek Ranch, a spread of a few hundred acres on the rolling prairie north of Irving. Hackberry Creek was the Carpenter family's retreat, as well as a working ranch. Young Ben roped, branded, and herded cattle and rode horses across the open fields. In 1948, after graduating from the University of Texas, he and his bride, Betty Dupree, moved to a house on the ranch's highest hill and there raised five children. By the 1950s, the post World War II boom was sending development sprawling toward Irving and the ranch. Ben began buying neighboring land and took charge of shaping the development he knew to be inevitable. In 1968, with Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport slated to be built adjacent to the ranch, Ben began a rigorous master-planning process. His vision drove the plan, setting its ultimate goals: A united community with both residential and commercial development, of absolutely the best quality, embodying a strong sense of identity, and preserving the character of the land. On September 14, 1973, Ben unveiled his plan for Las Colinas. Ben envisioned Lake Carolyn as the water feature that would shape the Urban Center, and he named it for his sister. As the lake was built, Las Colinas residential villages began to grow. The Associates opened the community's first office building in 1976. Other corporations followed and Las Colinas quickly became recognized as one of America's most important business centers. In the early 1980s, as the Urban Center skyline rose, Ben collaborated with wildlife sculptor Robert Glen to create the Mustangs of Las Colinas at Williams Square, giving Las Colinas its symbolic heart. Las Colinas now stands at 12,000 acres. It is home to thousands of companies and tens of thousands of residents. Las Colinas is a monument to innovative planning, impeccable execution, and superlative standards. And it is a testament to the vision and commitment of its founder who looked across the land he loved and saw the future.