Celina just unveiled a New 1,380-Acre Community | What 2026 Buyers Need to Know

Neighborhood SpotlightNew Construction
Written By Emilio Cinelli

4-minute read

Photo credit: Ramble

Key Takeaways

  • Model homes are now open at Ramble, Hillwood's newest Celina community.

  • 1,380 acres. 4,000 planned homes. Five builders in phase one.

  • Homes starting in the low $500s — competitive for a master-planned community in North DFW.

  • A 7-mile trail runs through the center. Celina ISD schools adjacent.

  • This is Hillwood's fourth community in this corridor. They have a track record here.

What Is Ramble, and Why Is Celina Getting Another Big Community?

Hillwood Communities has begun construction on its fourth master-planned development in Celina. The 1,380-acre community spans from Preston Road to Custer Road, two miles north of downtown Celina.

That's a big footprint. To put it in perspective, 1,380 acres is roughly five times the size of Central Park in New York City. And this one is going to have homes in it.

The opening phase will deliver about 700 homes from five builders: American Legend Homes, Coventry Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Highland Homes, and Perry Homes. When fully built out, the plan calls for about 4,000 homes total.

Celina keeps attracting communities like this because the fundamentals keep pointing here. It sits about 40 miles north of downtown Dallas, close enough to the major employment corridors along the Dallas North Tollway and US-380. Celina recently topped the list of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, with an estimated 26.6% population increase in a single year. Developers follow people. And people keep coming.

What Makes Ramble Different From Other Communities?

Here's what jumped out at me when I looked at the plans.

Ramble will feature over 30 miles of interconnected trails, with a 7-mile linear park called the Ramble Trailway serving as its central spine. This network connects every home to nearly 220 acres of parks, 28 acres of recreational lakes, and a National Parks-inspired clubhouse.

Downtown Celina sits about 2 miles down Preston Road. The Saturday farmers market, boutique shops, and local restaurants are a short drive from the community. There are plans for a future regional bikeway that would connect Ramble directly to downtown — but that's a future phase, not something in the ground today.

Two future Celina ISD elementary schools are planned within the community itself. That's not a maybe. It's in the development agreement. Celina High School sits about one mile away from the site already.

Phase one amenities include a beer garden, pool, sports courts, an event lawn, and a nature-themed playground. Those open with the first homes, not five years from now.

The architecture mix is worth noting too. Farmhouse, Craftsman, and Contemporary European styles are available, with homes on a variety of homesites — some in quiet enclaves, some along parkways, and some fronting the Trailway itself. The variety in the streetscape is intentional. It tends to age better than neighborhoods where every house looks the same.

Who Is Building This, and Have They Done It Before?

This is actually where I pay the most attention. A beautiful rendering means nothing if the developer doesn't deliver.

Hillwood Communities is not a newcomer to this part of North Texas. Hillwood Residential's projects in this corridor added up to almost 2,400 homes before Ramble even broke ground. Light Farms, one of Hillwood's earlier master-planned communities in this area, became one of the fastest-selling new home communities in the country within its first two years of opening.

Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities, has said the firm views the elementary schools in its communities as just as important as the amenity center. That's a tell. Developers who think that way tend to build differently than ones who treat amenities as marketing props.

The five builders in phase one all have a presence in North DFW already. You're not walking into an experiment. You're walking into a proven playbook applied to a new canvas.

What Does It Cost, and How Does It Compare?

When Hillwood first announced Ramble in late 2024, the projected range was $400,000 to $1 million. Now that model homes are open and builders have listed actual pricing, the starting point is in the low $500s, ranging up depending on builder, floor plan, and lot position. Always confirm current pricing directly with each builder when you visit.

For a master-planned community with this level of amenities, trails, and school access, that price point is genuinely competitive for North DFW right now.

If you've been watching prices across North DFW and feeling like you keep missing the window, this is worth at least a drive out to the model homes

What About the Drive? Is Celina Too Far Out?

This is the question I hear most often. And it's a fair one.

Ramble sits about two miles north of downtown Celina, at Preston Road and Ramble Way. From there, the Dallas North Tollway runs south and connects you to Frisco in roughly 20 minutes in light traffic, and to Legacy West in Plano in about 30. Major employers, corporate campuses, and retail destinations in downtown Frisco, Plano, Legacy West, and McKinney are all roughly a 20- to 30-minute drive away.

The honest answer: if you're commuting downtown Dallas five days a week, Celina is a stretch. If you're working in the Frisco/Plano/Allen/McKinney corridor, or working remotely a few days a week, the drive is entirely manageable.

Celina itself is building out its retail and restaurant base. The downtown square already has restaurants, boutique shops, and seasonal events. It's not a full build-out yet — but the infrastructure is moving, and the direction is clear.

Photo credit: Ramble

Here's What This Means for You

If you're a first-time buyer who has felt priced out of other North DFW communities, Ramble is worth a serious look. Five established builders. Celina ISD schools adjacent. 30 miles of trails and 28 acres of lakes built into the community plan. Starting in the low $500s.

Model homes are open now, with a grand opening projected for mid-2026. The early phases of a community like this are when buyers have the most selection and flexibility on lot choice. That window doesn't stay open forever.

FAQ

  • Model homes began opening in spring 2026, with the grand opening projected for mid-2026. You can tour the community at 1416 Front Country Lane in Celina. It's worth calling ahead to confirm hours, as some models are still completing construction.

  • Ramble is served by Celina ISD. Celina High School is approximately one mile from the community. Two additional Celina ISD elementary schools are planned to be built within Ramble itself over time.

  • The opening phase includes American Legend Homes, Coventry Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Highland Homes, and Perry Homes. Each builder offers different floor plans, price points, and lot options within the community.

  • Ramble sits at Preston Road and Ramble Way in Celina, roughly 15 miles north of Frisco along the Dallas North Tollway. McKinney is accessible via US-380 heading east, typically 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic.

  • Builder pricing on new construction varies by phase and by builder. Many builders in this market are currently offering incentives including rate buydowns and closing cost assistance. It's worth asking each builder directly about what's available at the time you visit.

Conclusion

Ramble is not a concept anymore. Model homes are open, five builders are on site, and 700 lots are in phase one. Hillwood has built communities like this in this corridor before and delivered on them. Whether Ramble belongs on your list depends on your commute, your timeline, and your budget — but at least now you have enough to know whether it's worth the drive out.

So — does a community built around trails, lakes, and a short drive to downtown change how you think about what's possible in your price range? I'd love to hear your take. Share this post and tag me — I read every one.

Sources

Emilio Cinelli https://www.homeswithcinelli.com
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