Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy at Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth.
Anja Schlein/Dallas Morning News
There’s been a shake up at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Executives who oversaw major growth in the historic district plan to develop a $160 million resort, while their former employers announced they were not moving forward with a planned billion-dollar expansion.
Fort Worth-based Delightful Development Co. and Dallas-based Woodbine Development Co. plan to develop a resort at the northeast corner of Main and 23rd streets on the Stockyards’ south side. Two luxury hotels totaling 225 rooms and suites, a shared underground parking garage and a mix of restaurant and retail space would occupy the 3-acre site, which fronts a portion of Marine Creek.
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The project also is expected to feature a resort-style pool overlooking the creek, 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a full-service day spa and more. Each hotel will feature a living room and lobby bar with outdoor seating, fire pits and other entertainment.
The developers plan to break ground on the project in fall 2027, with a targeted opening date in spring 2030. The project is a public-private partnership funded in part by Fort Worth’s Stockyards/Northside Tax Increment Financing District, which approved the funding during its Aug. 5 meeting.
“Having spent the past 15 years leading the curation and renaissance of the Stockyards, I couldn’t be more excited to contribute to its ongoing revival with this project,” Craig Cavileer, co-founder of Delightful Development, said in a statement.
Fort Worth-based Delightful Development Co. and Dallas-based Woodbine Development Co. plan to develop a new resort at the northeast corner of Main and 23rd streets on the Stockyards’ south side.
Courtesy of Delightful Development
The partners are well-known in Dallas-Fort Worth. Woodbine oversaw development of the iconic Reunion Tower.
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Cavileer and Delightful Development co-founder Kayla Wilkie-Kinne were key players in the Stockyard’s redevelopment. The pair were principals in Stockyards Heritage Development Co. from 2012 to 2025, a partnership between Majestic Realty Co. and Fort Worth’s Hickman Cos. Development.
Cavileer’s exit from Majestic Realty was contentious. Majestic alleged in a 2024 lawsuit that Cavileer owed $76 million in unpaid loans, according to the Fort Worth Report.
The Dallas Business Journal reported that Cavileer filed a countersuit last September in California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court. The legal battle is ongoing.
Citing a review of market conditions, Stockyards development activity and other long-term priorities, Stockyards Heritage Development Co. announced it would not move forward with the billion-dollar second phase of development it presented to Fort Worth officials in 2024.
“As the lead developer, we continually evaluate opportunities to ensure our investments reflect current and future market needs,” Rick Kline, Fort Worth Stockyards president of operations, said in a statement. “That process led us to conclude the previously shared concept is no longer the right path forward. We have discussed this decision and our rationale with our partners at the City and look forward to other opportunities for the remaining undeveloped land.”
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Fort Worth City Council approved incentives for the project in 2024, including public investment of roughly $382 million. The project’s first phase included the addition of the Drover Hotel and the redevelopment of Mule Alley. Stockyards Heritage Development Co. is continuing with its $30 million update of the Stockyards Hotel and H3 restaurant.
“To be clear, this decision is unrelated to any legal matter or process and does not affect our ability or intention to pursue future development opportunities,” Kline said. “Our commitment to the Stockyards remains stronger than ever. These investments reflect our long-term confidence in the district and our commitment to preserving its character and heritage while working closely with the City, our tenants, partners and the community to shape its next chapter.”