The Heights of Las Colinas: A 360° View of Irving’s Urban Heart

Standing near the intersection of Highway 114 and the Las Colinas Urban Center, the view is a tapestry of glass, steel, and water. From this elevated vantage point, we can see the skyline of a modern global hub, but if we look closer, we see the intentional "hills" that give this place its name. As we take in this 360-degree view, let’s pause to acknowledge the layers of history beneath these skyscrapers.

Before the glass towers, this land was part of the "Three Forks" region of the Trinity River. It was the ancestral home and traveling grounds for the Caddo, Wichita, and Comanche peoples. For these indigenous nations, the high ground was a place of safety and vision. The Caddo, known as "the people of the place where they wash their faces," revered the Trinity (which they called Arkikosa) as a spiritual and life-sustaining force. They were stewards of this blackland prairie for thousands of years before the first settlers arrived.

In the early 20th century, this land was known as Hackberry Creek Ranch. It was the home of John W. Carpenter and his wife, Flossie, who renamed it El Ranchito de las Colinas—"The Little Ranch of the Hills."

In 1973, their son, Ben Carpenter, unveiled a vision that was revolutionary for its time. He didn't just want to build offices; he wanted to create an "urban paradise." He moved millions of tons of earth to create Lake Carolyn (named after his sister) and the Mandalay Canals, bringing a touch of Venetian soul to the Texas prairie. He insisted on granite curbs and world-class art, like the famous Mustangs of Las Colinas, to ensure the land felt as majestic as the ranch it replaced.

Today, Las Colinas is home to Fortune 500 headquarters and thousands of residents from every corner of the globe. As you watch the traffic pulse along 114 and the light reflect off the office towers, try to find the "stillness in the stream."

Mindfulness is the act of being present where your feet are. Even in the middle of this bustling urban center, the water still flows through the canals, and the wind still sweeps over the same hills the Caddo once stood upon. We are part of a long lineage of people who have looked at these hills and seen a place of opportunity and beauty.

#drone #irvingtx #lascolinas #mindfulness #360