A luxury real estate developer is transforming former ranch land into an expansive, gated residential community in west Fort Worth, complete with three golf courses designed by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio.

Arizona-based Discovery Land Co. is behind the 1,100-acre development, called Maverick Golf and Ranch Club. The project will feature nearly 500 homes and three golf courses: an 18-hole championship course, a 12-hole executive course, and a nine-hole par-three course, all designed by Fazio, who has received the prestigious Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Discovery is partnering with PMB Capital Investments LLC, the firm behind the 5,200-acre Veale Ranch development in the same area, which includes a 492-acre master-planned community called Ventana.

Leaders from Discovery recently shared new details with Dallas Business Journal about the project’s progress and vision for Maverick.

Steven Spieth, Discovery’s director of sales for the property, said construction began in October on the roads and infrastructure for the first phase. This phase will include 136 lots, made up of 100 custom estate lots and 36 “golf cottages” built by a developer.

Discovery specializes in creating exclusive, members-only residential communities and resorts around the world. The company developed the 525-acre Vaquero community in Westlake, which also features a Fazio-designed course. In Central Texas, Discovery developed the 800-acre Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club, another Fazio course, and recently broke ground on the Austin Surf Club, a live-and-play community in partnership with pro surfer Kelly Slater.

Dallas-Fort Worth is home to the third-largest concentration of Discovery members in the country, according to Spieth.

Maverick will offer a wide array of amenities, including a clubhouse, spa, fitness center, kids adventure center, family water park, field house, sports complex, and extensive hiking and biking trails. The club will also feature an organic farm, giving members the opportunity to explore sustainable living and nature. The first amenity—a campground with a two-story treehouse bar, barn clubhouse, and BB gun range—has already been completed.

Spieth emphasized that the goal is to create an experience-driven community that prioritizes family safety and enjoyment. “The ethos of Discovery is… it’s an experience like no other,” he said.

More than 70 families have already signed up to purchase lots in the first phase, according to Alex Flink, a principal at Discovery. He expects the par-three course to be completed by this fall, with the 18-hole course slated for completion by fall 2026. By then, the first homes should be under construction.

Maverick will be located near another high-end community, BlueJack National, a 914-acre development with a golf course designed by Tiger Woods. Flink views this as a sign of strong demand for luxury communities in the area.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Flink noticed an increased interest in open spaces, especially at Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club. He sees Veale Ranch, which is part of the Maverick development, as one of the last remaining opportunities for large-scale development in and around Fort Worth, while still being conveniently close to the city. The property is just a 20-minute drive from downtown Fort Worth.

“You feel like you’re really isolated, which some people seek,” Flink said. “But being near growing metroplexes, with the ability to quickly return to the city, adds a lot of utility for people. It’s a balance of seclusion with convenience.”