Pilot Point, TX

Honoring the Past While Preparing for the Future

Strategic Planning, Downtown Reinvestment, and Natural Assets Position Municipality as one of North Texas’ Most Compelling Growth Communities

Situated in the northeastern corner of Denton County, the City of Pilot Point is experiencing a moment that few communities encounter so clearly and so deliberately: a convergence of rapid growth, intentional planning, and deep respect for place. Long recognized for its historical roots and rural character, Pilot Point is now emerging as one of North Texas’ most closely watched communities—often described as a “boom town,” but one determined to grow with purpose rather than haste.

At the center of that evolution is a coordinated effort between City Council, municipal staff, and economic development leadership to ensure that growth enhances, rather than erodes, the qualities that have defined Pilot Point since its founding in the mid-1800s. With a comprehensive master plan in place, robust infrastructure investments underway, and more than a dozen active development projects moving through the pipeline, Pilot Point is proving that small-city governance can be both visionary and disciplined.

A Historic Downtown Built to Gather People

For Mayor Chad Major, downtown Pilot Point is more than a commercial district—it is the civic heart of the community. Since the 1840s, the town square has served as a natural gathering place, hosting commerce, conversation, and culture. Preserving that legacy while restoring vibrancy has become one of the city’s highest priorities.

Pilot Point’s downtown is designated as a registered historic district, and the city has taken deliberate steps to protect that identity. Rather than pursuing wholesale redevelopment, the city has focused on restoring historic façades, updating design guidelines, and encouraging adaptive reuse that respects architectural heritage. Buildings such as the former Farmers & Merchants Bank are being returned to their original historic appearance, while interior spaces are repositioned to support modern commercial uses.

The city’s history is layered and distinctive. Pilot Point is the oldest incorporated city in Denton County and has ties to early pioneer settlement, ranching culture, and even popular culture, having served as a filming location for Bonnie and Clyde in the 1960s. Today, those stories are being reintroduced through signage, placards, and the local museum, ensuring that history remains visible as new businesses and visitors return to the square.

What differentiates Pilot Point’s downtown strategy is its emphasis on use, not nostalgia alone. The goal is not simply preservation, but activation—bringing restaurants, retailers, and gathering spaces into restored buildings so that history remains lived-in and relevant.

Photo Credit: City of Pilot Point.

Public and Private Investment Working in Tandem

Downtown revitalization in Pilot Point has been fueled by a blend of public investment and private confidence. Over the past several years, millions of dollars have flowed into the downtown area through a mix of municipal improvements, property owner reinvestment, and targeted incentives. That collaborative approach has been essential to building momentum.

According to Economic Development Director Denise Morris, nearly every successful downtown renovation has benefited from the city’s Property Enhancement Improvement Grant or related incentive programs. Through a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, Pilot Point can offer tools such as property tax abatements, sales tax rebates, permit assistance, and reinvestment of ad valorem taxes back into the district.

Equally important has been clarity. Two years ago, the city completed a full overhaul of its historic design guidelines, creating a clear and accessible roadmap for developers and property owners. Separate standards now exist for truly historic structures and for newer construction within the historic district, eliminating ambiguity and streamlining approvals.

Photo Credit: City of Pilot Point.

“Investors want certainty,” Morris explains. “When they understand what’s expected and see that the city is prepared to partner with them, projects move forward.”

Natural Assets Driving Tourism and Livability

Pilot Point’s growth story cannot be told without acknowledging its natural surroundings. Bordering Ray Roberts Lake State Park and positioned near two additional state parks, the city sits adjacent to one of the most heavily visited outdoor recreation areas in Texas. Nearly one million visitors pass through the lake region annually, drawn by fishing, hiking, equestrian trails, and camping.

Major events such as the Bassmaster Classic have brought national attention to the area, reinforcing Pilot Point’s role as a gateway community. Marinas accessed through the city naturally funnel visitors past downtown businesses, creating opportunities for restaurants, shops, and services to capture tourism-driven spending.

Beyond recreation, the surrounding landscape is defined by horse country. Pilot Point’s soil, open space, and trail networks have attracted equestrian facilities, trainers, and ranches, adding another dimension to the local economy and lifestyle appeal. For residents, the ability to access trails, lakes, and open land so close to home has become a defining quality-of-life advantage.

As Mayor Major often notes, residents may not need expansive private acreage when they effectively share a “backyard” of state parks and protected land just minutes from downtown.

A Surge in Residential Development

Perhaps the most striking indicator of Pilot Point’s momentum is the scale of residential development underway. Currently, sixteen residential projects are active or in advanced planning stages, an extraordinary figure for a community of Pilot Point’s size.

These developments range from final phases of established neighborhoods to large-scale master-planned communities now entering engineering and construction stages. Importantly, most residential projects include provisions for mixed-use or commercial components, ensuring that rooftops are paired with services and amenities.

Housing diversity has been a guiding principle. New homes span a wide price range, from entry-level offerings in the upper $200,000s to executive-level properties approaching seven figures. This range has allowed Pilot Point to attract young families, professionals relocating from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, retirees seeking a quieter pace, and out-of-state transplants drawn by Texas’ economic climate.

City Manager Britt Lusk emphasizes that no single demographic is driving growth. Instead, proximity to the metroplex, affordability, lifestyle appeal, and natural assets have combined to create broad-based demand.

Infrastructure Built Ahead of Growth

Rapid growth places intense pressure on infrastructure, and Pilot Point has taken a notably proactive stance. Over the past five years, the city has invested heavily in water, wastewater, drainage, and transportation planning to ensure that development is supported by solid fundamentals.

The city recently completed a one-million-gallon elevated water storage tank and has awarded construction for a new wastewater treatment facility. Comprehensive water and sewer capital improvement plans, a master drainage plan, pavement analysis, and a Safe Streets for All initiative have all been completed or are underway.

Pilot Point’s infrastructure position is further strengthened by regional partnerships. Approximately 85 percent of the city’s growth area is served by Mustang Special Utility District, which holds the relevant Certificates of Convenience and Necessity. Close coordination between the city, utility providers, Denton County, regional councils of government, and state agencies has ensured alignment between development timelines and infrastructure capacity.

From an economic development standpoint, that preparation has become a powerful selling point. Developers and investors are often surprised to find a city of Pilot Point’s size so far ahead in planning and capital investment.

Commercial Growth and Hometown Anchors

As residential rooftops multiply, demand for commercial services has accelerated. Retail, dining, and entertainment are among the most sought-after sectors, and the city is working carefully to match tenants with the right locations.

Several businesses already serve as anchors for both residents and visitors. Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch draws more than 100,000 visitors annually, offering an immersive animal experience that attracts regional tourism. Texas Tulips, open for only a few weeks each year, generates an equally impressive influx of visitors during its seasonal bloom.

Western Son Distillery has become a signature downtown presence, producing one of the fastest-growing spirits brands in the United States while offering tours, tastings, and live music directly on Pilot Point’s square. These businesses exemplify the type of destination-driven commerce the city seeks to cultivate.

Governing Growth with Intention

With so much activity underway, Pilot Point’s leadership has focused on ensuring that growth remains coordinated and transparent. The recently adopted comprehensive master plan provides the framework, but city leadership has gone a step further by articulating what they call the “Pilot Point Promise.”

This internal commitment guides how staff engage with residents, developers, and partners. Built around principles of professionalism, respect, openness, mindfulness, inclusivity, service, and excellence, the promise connects long-range planning with day-to-day governance.

For Mayor Major and City Manager Lusk, the objective is clear. Pilot Point does not want to become a bottleneck, nor does it want to grow reactively. Instead, the city aims to be a reliable partner—clear in expectations, prepared with infrastructure, and grounded in community values.

A Community on the Rise

As Pilot Point looks ahead to the next 18 to 24 months, priorities are firmly set. Downtown revitalization projects are expected to advance, residential developments will move from planning to construction, and commercial activity will follow the rooftops now rising across the city. Infrastructure projects will continue to come online, reinforcing the city’s ability to manage growth responsibly.

What distinguishes Pilot Point in a rapidly changing North Texas landscape is not just the pace of development, but the clarity of its vision. By anchoring growth in history, natural assets, and thoughtful planning, the city is positioning itself not simply as the next boom town, but as a lasting community.

In Pilot Point, growth is not an accident. It is a promise being kept.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Pilot Point, Texas

What: A fast growing and innovative community, investing in housing, commercial and civic infrastructure

Where: Denton County, Texas, USA

Website: www.pilotpointtx.gov