McCutchin Family is a Tangible Reminder of North Texas Land Development

Ben McCutchin reminisces about Pilot Knob and his family’s land legacy

Sitting at Interstate 35W and Robson Ranch Road lies Pilot Knob, a North Texas landmark southwest of Denton. The 900-foot-high natural rock protrusion provides a breathtaking 360-degree view of North Texas. Once the highest point in Denton County, the closer someone gets to the top, the slower they must walk because of the uneven terrain. Before the McCutchin family took over, infamous outlaw Sam Bass used this site as a hideout because of its cave-like structure. Today, Hillwood Communities plans to incorporate the knob and transform its surrounding areas for a combination of residential and mixed-use development projects.

How did Pilot Knob go from a hideout to an iconic landmark in North Texas? The McCutchin family might have something to do with that. Long before Younger Partners Executive Vice President Ben McCutchin was immersed in the world of real estate, his dad, Alex, started off drilling wells in the oil business, which piqued the family’s interest in land development. After Alex passed away, Ben’s mom, Alma, continued to invest in North Texas real estate. She possessed the foresight and vision to know that North Texas held the growth opportunities to become a major metroplex one day. Eventually, Ben caught on to the family’s passion for real estate and got involved in shaping North Texas to be what it is today.

Pilot Knob was owned by the McCutchin family until they sold it to Ross Perot in 1987. Ben recalls that this land was a hot commodity with numerous entities interested in the land in addition to Perot. In the middle of finalizing the deal, Texas was going through the Savings and Loan (S&L) crisis that caused the financial collapse in the late 1980s affecting the banking industry throughout the United States. Caused by several factors ranging from speculative lending, fixed-rate loans and interest rate hikes. The chaotic experience of selling this land amid turmoil taught Ben about the highs and lows of owning land. There is a certain tenacity and resilience that he developed while owning this land during that difficult time.

Recently, North Texas developer Hillwood (founded by Perot in 1988) finalized plans to develop the property. Because of Pilot Knob’s rich history, they plan to preserve the knob within the planned residential communities. Pilot Knob and the post oak trees will be incorporated into a trail system with recreation areas and parks. The 360-degree view that Ben mentioned is here to stay. In addition to Hillwood, a portion of the land was sold several years ago to single-family land developer, Zena Development, which is in its last phase of successful build-out. What was once an endless sprawl of cattle grazing land is now going to be a major hub for Denton County homeowners.

When thinking about the legacy of his family in the North Texas area, the main sentiment that Ben expresses is immense gratitude. His family’s legacy is a tangible reminder of the evolution of North Texas land development. He is thankful to have grown up in Dallas and acknowledges how good the city has been to him and his family. As far as working in real estate, Ben says he never wants to retire because this industry has given him a purpose and something that he loves all in one.

The cliché saying that “love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life,” rings true for Ben McCutchin. As for the future of North Texas land development: it won’t slow down, he says. “I can see development going all the way up to the state line bordering Oklahoma,” he predicts. In the future, keep your eyes on the lookout for the next development in North Texas. The McCutchins just might have something to do with it.