The Woodlands Village Guide

How were The Villages in The Woodlands named?

During the early years of The Woodlands circa 1973, Plato Pappas, The Woodlands Corporation vice president for engineering, and Vern Robbins, senior vice president for land development, were instrumental in coordinating project infrastructure design and construction. Some 50 years after the opening of Village of Grogan’s Mill in 1974, George Mitchell’s vision has come to life with the continuing growth of the eight residential villages, and Town Center all which comprise the residential aspect of The Woodlands Township.

Village of Grogan’s Mill

The original village of The Woodlands is named after the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Company, former land and mill owner. The opening ceremony of Grogan’s Mill was commemorated with a flag-raising, and a celebrity appearance by William Shatner in 1974. Known as “the gateway to The Woodlands,” the Village of Grogan’s Mill is in the starting point of The Woodlands and is home to The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center.

Village of Panther Creek

Named for the same overflow-creek passing through The Woodlands, and creating an eastern boundary as Lake Woodlands (man-made), the Village of Panther Creek opened in 1977 as the second village in The Woodlands. The Village of Panther Creek is also home to the lake-front Northshore and Southshore parks, two public swimming pools, and The Woodlands’ iconic dragon, “Rise of the Midgard Serpent,” as well as “The Dreamer” sculptures.

Village of Cochran’s Crossing

The Village of Cochran’s Crossing opened in 1983, honoring the Cochran family of Montgomery County who co-owned the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Company and much of the land upon which The Woodlands sits. Commonly referred to by residents as “the happy village,” Cochran’s Crossing is home to The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands Recreation Center at Bear Branch, YMCA-Shadowbend, several public parks, splashpads, and swimming pools.

Village of Indian Springs

The Village of Indian Springs opened in 1984 and was given its namesake for the Native American artifacts that were discovered on the property. The artifacts belonged to the Bidai tribe of Atakapa Indians who likely considered the area  part of their territory, we now call Montgomery County Texas during the 18th century. Additionally, Indian Springs is the only village characterized by gently rolling-hill terrain in The Woodlands.

Village of Alden Bridge

When Roger Galatas was president of The Woodlands Operating Company in 1994, he named The Woodlands’ fifth village after his hometown, Alden Bridge, Louisiana. As one of the largest, the Village of Alden Bridge runs adjacent to Jones State Forest and home to a large number of parks and aquatic facilities.

Village of College Park

The Village of College Park opened in 1995 and was named for the higher education facilities that reside in it—Lone Star College-University Center, Sam Houston State University-The Woodlands Center, and The Woodlands College Park High School & Academy of Science and Technology. The “college town” is one of the smaller villages and is also home to CHI St. Luke Health-The Woodlands Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, two active adult living communities, six parks and one swimming pool.

Village of Sterling Ridge

The Village of Sterling Ridge opened in 1999, the same year The Woodlands celebrated its 25th anniversary, and therefore received its name to honor “the sterling silver anniversary.” Sterling Ridge is home to the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, the Gary Player Signature Championship golf course, The South Montgomery County YMCA, four parks, three CISD schools and one Magnolia ISD school. The village has a park-and-ride Houston location and includes the now gated community of Carlton Woods, which originally was a village in its own right.

Village of Creekside Park

The newest Woodlands village, Creekside Park opened in October 2007 and earned its namesake for its proximity to Spring Creek. The 3,500-acre village is the only one to extend across the Montgomery County line and into Harris County and the only village with a village green. The village is home to the George Mitchell Nature Preserve, the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, Carlton Woods Creekside, Lone Star College-Creekside Center, several parks, and a portion of the Spring Creek Greenway project.