Hillwood Company History

Building a lasting legacy.

Scroll through the interactive timeline below to explore Hillwood’s history.

Hillwood’s legacy is rooted in its commitment to communities as well as its signature projects, partnerships and enduring company values. In founding the company, Ross Perot, Jr.—as his father before him—applied remarkable entrepreneurial vision along with a commitment to the bedrock values of Integrity, Respect, Excellence and Teamwork.

1957

IBM

H. Ross Perot joins IBM as a salesman.

Black and white group photo of the IBM Applications Class of 1958 featuring Ross Perot Sr., who joined the company as a salesman.
1962

EDS is founded

H. Ross Perot borrows $1,000 from his wife Margot to start Electronic Data Systems, inventing the Information Technology services industry.

Scanned copy of a check representing the $1,000 Ross Perot borrowed from his wife to start Electronic Data Systems.
1968

EDS goes public

H. Ross Perot takes EDS public with an initial stock price of $16 per share. The stock rose to $160 per share in just a few days, making him one of America’s richest businessmen.

Ross Perot Sr. poses with a group at the New York Stock Exchange as he takes EDS public.
1982

Spirit of Texas

Ross Perot, Jr. and Jay Coburn complete the world’s first ever round-the-world 26,000-mile helicopter flight in 29 days, 3 hours and 8 minutes. Perot later joined the U.S. Air Force where he served eight years as a fighter pilot.

A helicopter lands in Dallas after Ross Perot Jr. and Jay Coburn complete the first round-the-world flight in 29 days, 3 hours and 8 minutes.
1985

First land deal

Ross Perot, Jr. acquires 13,000 acres of farm land north of Fort Worth for development. The project would later become known as AllianceTexas.

The construction of AllianceTexas, the first land deal for Ross Perot Jr.
1987

Fort Worth Alliance Airport

FAA agrees to create the world’s first industrial airport, with designation of Fort Worth Alliance Airport, a name derived from the Alliance between the City of Fort Worth, FAA and Hillwood.

Two men speak at an outdoor lectern that displays a sign reading, 'City of Fort Worth Alliance Airport'.
1988

Founding of Hillwood Residential

Hillwood develops its first master-planned community in Fort Worth, TX, Park Glen, a 3,000 home community located in the city’s first public improvement district.

A young girl pulls a red wagon holding a young boy in front of a brick sign reading, 'Park Glen'.
1989

Fort Worth Alliance Airport Opens

Forth Worth Alliance Airport opens, launching an era of unprecedented and ongoing growth for the region eventually known as AllianceTexas. Today, AllianceTexas spans 27,000 acres, seven municipalities, five independent school districts and two counties and serves as an economic driver for North Texas. Home to more than 550 businesses including Speedway Motor Sports, Amazon, FedEx and TuSimple, AllianceTexas has generated more than 63,000 jobs.

A Hillwood executive on the tarmac at the opening of Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
1990

Hillwood Residential expansion

Hillwood Residential grows its master-planned community footprint by acquiring a number of distressed properties in DFW and through key acquisitions in Collin County.

A master-planned community developed by Hillwood Residential.
1992

Perot runs for President

H. Ross Perot enters the U.S. presidential race as an independent candidate ultimately receiving the highest number of votes for any independent candidate since Teddy Roosevelt.

Ross Perot Sr. is shown with TV host Larry King as he enters the U.S. presidential race.
1992

Air Force Memorial Foundation

Ross Perot, Jr. is named Chairman of Air Force Memorial Foundation. In 2006, Perot was joined by President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at the dedication of the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Washington D.C.

The U.S. Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. Ross Perot Sr. chaired the foundation that funded the memorial.
1996

Perot enters Presidential race

H. Ross Perot runs for a second time for president, as a member of the Reform Party, which he helped form.

Ross Perot Sr. is shown at a lectern as he announces his candidacy for president for a second time.
1996

Dallas Mavericks acquisition

Ross Perot, Jr. leads an investment group to acquire the Dallas Mavericks basketball team from Don Carter. In 2002, he sells his ownership in the team.

Ross Perot Jr. with Dallas Mavericks coaches Don Nelson and Donnie Nelson as his investment group acquires the team.
1996

Victory Park announced

The City of Dallas and Hillwood Development announce plans to re-develop a brownfield site into a vibrant new development for mixed use connecting the Cities’ core districts, leading to Perot’s original investment in the first parcel of land which will be eventually become Victory Park.

A crowd of people is seen from behind as they watch a presentation on two large screens.
2000

First fiber community

Hillwood Residential opens Heritage in Fort Worth, TX, our first all fiber connected community.

A curved brick sign reads, 'Heritage'.
2001

Victory Park opens

As a result of a second successful public/private partnership, Hillwood completes construction on the $421 million state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena, the American Airlines Center, which helped transform downtown Dallas.

Mayor Ron Kirk, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Hillwood leaders gather at the American Airlines Center.
2001

First development office beyond North Texas

Hillwood’s industrial development team established a Southern California office in May.

2002

Hillwood Energy

Hillwood Energy formed to begin exploration and drilling in the Barnett Shale.

Ross Perot Jr., Ross Perot Sr. and a representative of Chief Oil & Gas are seen in front of an oil rig.
2003

First industrial outside of Texas

The first 846,066 SF building at DeSoto Trade Center in Memphis was completed in December.

A brown-colored building, fronted by a fence, reads 'Emerson'.
2004

Creation of luxury portfolio

Hillwood Residential announces its first luxury portfolio which eventually included 17 ranch sites and a 500-acre conservation area at the Bar BC Ranch in Jackson Hole, WY; its first luxury infill community Creeks of Preston Hollow; and the beachfront luxury properties in Costa Rica.

Ranchland and snow-covered mountains in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — the site of a Hillwood Residential development.
2004

Hillwood initiates investment property fund

Hillwood enters into a joint venture, making another advancement into investment property fund management.

A glass-fronted office building, part of a joint investment property venture.
2007

Hillwood International Energy enters Kurdistan, Iraq

Hillwood International Energy signs production sharing agreement with Kurdistan Regional Government, receiving 1,226 SQ Kilometer concession for oil exploration.

An energy facility is seen in the distance in a mountainous area of Kurdistan, Iraq.
2008

Hillwood & Deloitte announce plans for Deloitte University

Hillwood and Deloitte announce Deloitte University to be created at the Circle T Ranch. Deloitte University opens in 2011 as the first corporate campus at Circle T which was followed by Charles Schwab’s Texas relocation in 2017.

A row of multi-story buildings near a creek at a Hillwood-built Deloitte learning campus.
2008

Hillwood Residential acquires large portfolio

Hillwood Residential acquires a portfolio of 21 distressed properties from national public homebuilders and developers and expands MPC footprint to 13 U.S. markets.

A map of the U.S. shows locations of distressed properties purchased by Hillwood Residential.
2009

Perot Systems sold to Dell

Perot Systems is sold to Dell for $3.9 billion.

Executives Peter Altabef, Ross Perot Sr., Michael Dell and Ross Perot Jr. celebrate the sale of Perot Systems to Dell.
2010

Hillwood Residential becomes Hillwood Communities

Hillwood Residential announces the launch of its new brand name, Hillwood Communities, to position itself as a master-planned community developer and announces the five guiding principles for all community development.

Ross Perot Jr. is shown at a lectern, announcing that Hillwood Residential will become Hillwood Communities.
2010

Hillwood Communities enters Austin market

Hillwood Communities adds its first project, Rocky Creek, in the Austin DMA.

A long stone sign reading, 'Rocky Creek' in Austin, Texas.
2012

Perot Museum of Nature and Science opens

Named in honor of Margot and H. Ross Perot, the natural history and science museum in Dallas, Texas, opens to the public. Hillwood oversaw the development of the $180 million project in downtown Dallas.

Ross Perot Sr. and his wife Margot cut a ribbon to open the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.
2013

Harvest community opens

Hillwood Communities opens Harvest, a 3,000-acre nationally recognized master-planned community and the first agrihood community in Texas.

A yellow and white, two-story home is surrounded by green grass and trees in Denton County, Texas.
2013

EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Ernst & Young presents H. Ross Perot and Ross Perot, Jr. with its inaugural Family Business Award of Excellence.

Ross Perot Jr. and Ross Perot Sr. are in tuxedoes as they receive Ernst & Young’s Family Business Award of Excellence.
2014

Hillwood expands to Europe and Canada

Hillwood expands to Europe and Canada, opening new offices in Warsaw, Poland and Frankfurt, Germany.

Aerial view of an office complex as Hillwood expanded to Europe and Canada.
2015

Facebook selects AllianceTexas for data center

Facebook breaks ground at AllianceTexas for its new $1 billion data center, the social media company’s fifth in the world and the largest project of its kind in North Texas. The data center opened in 2018.

Ten people with hard hats and shovels break ground on a Facebook data center at AllianceTexas.
2015

Hillwood Urban launched

Hillwood launched its sixth division, Hillwood Urban, to develop large corporate and mixed-use properties in urban areas.

Aerial view of downtown Dallas, Texas, as Hillwood launches its Hillwood Urban division.
2015

Hillwood Communities enters Houston market

Hillwood Communities adds Pomona in Manvel, Texas, its first project in the Houston DMA.

A sign reading, 'Pomona' on a lighthouse-looking structure at the entry of a Hillwood Communities project near Houston.
2016

New Fort Worth Headquarters

Hillwood moves its Fort Worth offices to occupy 32,000 square feet at Hillwood Commons in Alliance Town Center.

Sunset photo of a glass-fronted building that becomes Hillwood’s Fort Worth offices.
2016

Hillwood Communities named Developer of the Year

Hillwood Communities wins the first of four Developer of the Year awards from the Dallas Builders Association.

A logo and text shows Hillwood’s position as a four-time winner of the Dallas Builders Association’s Developer of the Year Award
2017

Hillwood partners to develop Frisco Station

Hillwood partners with VanTrust Real Estate and The Rudman Partnership to launch Frisco Station, an urban, mixed-use development centered on Smart, Creative, Healthy principles by breaking ground on a seven-story office building.

A glass, seven-story office building is part of the Frisco Station mixed-use development.
2017

Opening of 3000 Turtle Creek

Hillwood and the Perot companies move into its new corporate headquarters, located off Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas.

American and Texas flags fly in front of a glass building that is a new corporate office for Hillwood and The Perot Companies.
2017

Hillwood Airways Established

Hillwood launches Hillwood Airways, a Part 121 Supplemental Air Carrier and private charter airline operating out of Fort Worth Alliance Airport.

Hillwood employees gather in front of a jet as Hillwood Airways is launched.
2017

Alliance Airport runway extension

Fort Worth Alliance Airport completes long-awaited runway extension to 11,000-feet, allowing long-haul international flights without the need for refueling.

A lighted runway is seen at night at Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
2018

Growth for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services breaks ground on their third office campus at AllianceTexas, demonstrating their investment in the Alliance region and the strong relationship with Hillwood.

A four-story brick and glass building is fronted by new landscaping at AllianceTexas.
2019

Stanley Black and Decker expands in AllianceTexas

Stanley Black & Decker expands its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a new CRAFTSMAN manufacturing plant at AllianceTexas in addition to a new distribution facility.

A white manufacturing plant is seen with a sign reading, 'StanleyBlack&Decker'
2019

Amazon Air

Amazon Regional Air Hub opens at Alliance Airport.

An Amazon PrimeAir jet is seen at Forth Worth Alliance Airport.
2020

Victory Commons One construction

Hillwood Urban breaks ground on the first new office building in Victory Park in over a decade. The building, Victory Commons One, is the first class AA urban campus building to be completed in a three-building development, opening downtown in the heart of Dallas in 2021.

A crane hovers over a building under construction at Victory Park in Dallas, Texas.
2020

AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ) launches

Hillwood Properties establishes the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone to facilitate innovation in surface and air mobility by offering real-world testing scenarios that are unmatched in the U.S. Several new partnerships have been launched and use cases tested to further the commercialization of autonomous mobility technology from long haul cargo to urban air transportation and last mile delivery.

A man at a lectern speaks beside a screen reading, 'Mobility Innovation Zone'
2020

Hillwood Investment Properties reaches 100M SF of industrial development

Hillwood Investment Properties reaches 100M SF of industrial development in the U.S., Canada and Europe combined with the completion of Parkway West Commerce Center serving the Atlanta market.

A low, white industrial building is seen from the air.
2021

Hillwood brings the Four Seasons to Dallas

Hillwood Urban agrees to provide the land and partnered with Carpenter and Company to bring the award-winning Four Seasons Hotel to Turtle Creek in Dallas, just seconds from Hillwood’s corporate campus.

An artistic rendering of a white, multiple-building hotel.
2021

Frisco Station’s multifamily property sells for record-setting price

Hillwood Multifamily, founded in 2008, sells Frisco Station’s first multifamily property Station House.

A brick and glass townhome building lights up at twilight.
2021

Hillwood Airways doubles in size

Hillwood Airways doubles the size of its charter fleet by adding two more Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

The rear of a jet — including engine, right wing and tail — that is parked on a tarmac.
2021

Alliance Airport ranked as Top 25 Cargo Airports in the U.S.

Alliance Airport is ranked as one of the Top 25 Cargo Airports in the U.S., moving 1.7 billion pounds of cargo.

A jet takes off from Alliance Airport. An air-traffic control tower is seen in the foreground.
2021

First People’s Choice Award

Hillwood Communities celebrates the first of back-to-back People’s Choice Community of the Year awards from the Dallas Builders Association – Pecan Square in 2021 and Harvest in 2022.

Two rows of glass trophies for the Dallas Builders Association People’s Choice Community of the Year Award.
2021

Hillwood Communities closes on largest future MPC

Hillwood Communities closes on the 3,200-acre Hunter Ranch tract in Denton to create it's largest future MPC to-date with 6,000-plus homes and 1,000-acres of park space.

Green fields and groves of trees are seen from the air in Denton, Texas.
2021

Bell and Hillwood partner for package delivery

In partnership with Bell, Hillwood demonstrates North Texas’ first point-to-point UAS package delivery from the MIZ Flight Test Center, flying in complex airspace and landing in Pecan Square, Hillwood Communities’ tech-forward, master-planned community in Northlake, Texas.

A package-carrying drone flies above Northlake, Texas.
2022

Hillwood Investment Properties sells global industrial portfolio for $2.1B

Hillwood Investment Properties sells a 17-million-square-foot global industrial portfolio to CBRE for $2.1B.

A tall, gray- and silver-colored industrial building.
2022

Hillwood announces The Campuses at Circle T

Hillwood announces plans for The Campuses at Circle T, which will ultimately encompass six unique corporate campuses built within the heart of the historic Circle T Ranch.

Roadways ring buildings, landscaping and waterways as seen from the air at sunset.
2022

AllianceTexas surpasses $100B in economic impact

AllianceTexas surpasses $100 billion in economic impact for the North Texas region with over 500 companies and 53 million square feet developed to-date, while generating over 62,000 direct jobs.

Buildings and landscaping that make up Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development are seen from the air at sunset.
2023

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport advanced to #19 in U.S. cargo operations

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport advanced to #19 in U.S. cargo operations moving 2.5 billion pounds of cargo in 2022; the only non-passenger hub in the Top 25.

An Amazon airplane unloading cargo