Cinco Ranch, the mothership of Katy

By Timothy Gene Sojka, Special to the Katy Times
Posted 5/11/22

When Katy residents think of Cinco Ranch, they think of amazing amenities, prestigious homes, great schools and shopping. Still, many people do not consider the importance of Cinco Ranch in the transition of Katy from sleepy Houston suburb to the most sought-after community in the metroplex.

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Cinco Ranch, the mothership of Katy

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When Katy residents think of Cinco Ranch, they think of amazing amenities, prestigious homes, great schools and shopping. Still, many people do not consider the importance of Cinco Ranch in the transition of Katy from sleepy Houston suburb to the most sought-after community in the metroplex. Most realtors and long-time Katy residents know Cinco Ranch is the mothership, the community that allowed the rest of Katy to be successfully colonized (I am all in on the Sci-fi analogy)

The history of Cinco Ranch

In 1937 Thomas Blakeley persuaded four friends to become partners in a ranch. The five of them formed Cinco Ranch. The ranch prospered, excelling in cattle, peanuts and rice production. In 1984, in the largest land transaction in Houston history a master planned developer purchased 5,000 acres from the partnership.

There were master-planned communities in Katy before Cinco Ranch. However, Cinco Ranch’s success did not just garner local attention. This Katy community consistently landed in the top ten in sales nationally for almost 20 years. Noting Cinco Ranch’s success, other magnificent and unique communities followed.

Educational excellence, amenities and branding

The community’s success contributed to the construction of Cinco Ranch High School and multiple sought-after elementary and junior high schools. Cinco Ranch’s success west of Grand Parkway paved the way for Seven Lakes and Tompkins high schools.

The community boasts incredible walking trails, lakes, spectacular resort style pools, club houses, one of Katy’s leading golf courses and even a beach. LaCenterra, the Villagio and much of Katy’s premier shopping and dining are within Cinco’s boundaries.

Few communities have done a better job branding, from the ubiquitous car stickers, to sidewalks to community markers. The community developers understood the importance of creating a sought-after brand. This branding excellence has unsurprisingly benefitted the entire Katy area.

Cinco Ranch home values

The community started construction in the late 1980s and continued to expand until 2019. Lucky families can find starter homes from the mid-200’s and estate homes have sold for close to $2 million. The community features everything from 3/2/2’s to 7,000 square foot estates on lakefront lots.

Is Cinco Ranch for you?

Cinco Ranch brands well and offers an upscale look and feel. However, home prices welcome everyone. The best and most challenging part of Cinco Ranch is the competitiveness. Schools, sports organizations and even the arts encourage inclusiveness. Still, there are few communities where students will find themselves against stiffer completion for spots on sports teams, the valedictorian spot in a class or the lead in the play.

So, when you drive past the Vegas-esque community entries, the stunning water features, or eat at an exclusive restaurant, thank the people who captained Katy’s mothership—Cinco Ranch.

Remember, you’re not just selecting a home, you’re selecting your children’s school, where you eat, and accessibility to parks. Select carefully, and reach out to a real estate professional if you have questions.

Timothy Sojka is the broker of the See TIM Sell Team, at Keller Williams. his team has sold over 2,000 homes. Tim is also the author of the Amazon #1 political thrillers Payback Jack and Politikill.

real estate, neighborhoods, Cinco Ranch