Building More Than Homes

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When motorists travel through Tres Lagos in north McAllen, they encounter residential neighborhoods, walking trails, schools, and commercial developments that continue to expand across what was once largely agricultural land.

The transformation represents years of planning and investment by Rhodes Enterprises, a family-owned development company that has played a significant role in residential and commercial growth throughout the Rio Grande Valley. At the center of many of those efforts is Nick Rhodes, president and CEO of the company.

For Rhodes, community development extends beyond construction projects.

“Our core purpose is to enhance the lives of our customers and teams through building communities,” Rhodes said. “No matter what venture we do, we want to add value to the community we’re investing in.”

That philosophy has guided the company as it evolved from agricultural roots into a diversified development organization.

The Rhodes family’s connection to the Valley began through farmland investments made during the 1970s. According to Rhodes, the family initially focused on agricultural operations before exploring opportunities in real estate development.

In the early 2000s, the company began pursuing master-planned communities. One of its earliest projects was Bentsen Palm in Mission, a development designed around outdoor recreation, trails, and green space.

The housing market downturn during the Great Recession created new challenges for the industry. As some national homebuilders reduced their presence in the region, Rhodes Enterprises launched Esperanza Homes and expanded into homebuilding operations.

Today, the company’s most visible project is Tres Lagos, a master-planned community spanning approximately 2,600 acres in north McAllen. According to Rhodes, the long-term development plan includes roughly 5,000 homes, more than 1 million square feet of commercial space, and more than 2,000 rental units. The project remains under development, with additional phases planned in the coming years.

The growth of communities such as Tres Lagos has occurred alongside broader changes in the Rio Grande Valley’s economy. Rhodes pointed to the expansion of the health care sector as one factor contributing to regional growth, creating additional employment opportunities and supporting demand for housing, retail, and services.

Beyond his responsibilities at Rhodes Enterprises, Rhodes serves on the McAllen Economic Development Corporation Board and participates in regional economic development initiatives. Those efforts frequently involve discussions with business leaders and site selectors considering investment opportunities in South Texas.

One of those efforts is the RioPlex, an industrial development initiative designed to promote the Rio Grande Valley as a unified economic region. According to Rhodes, the initiative was created to simplify and strengthen the area’s value proposition for prospective investors, employers, and site selectors who may be unfamiliar with the region’s scale and infrastructure.

“RioPlex was an opportunity to have a blank canvas for highlighting all the great things about the area,” Rhodes said. “With the binational culture, over 3 million people, 13 ports of entry, seven airports, a spaceport, a seaport, bridges, so I think that the goal is making that easier to learn about.”

The initiative seeks to showcase the region’s transportation network, international trade advantages, and growing workforce while encouraging communities across the Rio Grande Valley to market themselves collectively rather than individually. Supporters of the effort believe a unified regional identity can help attract new investment and strengthen the Valley’s position in national and international economic development conversations.

Like many developers, Rhodes Enterprises has faced challenges tied to changing economic conditions. The development of Tres Lagos required significant planning and investment, while more recent obstacles have included supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising construction costs, and higher mortgage interest rates.

Despite those challenges, Rhodes remains focused on long-term growth opportunities in the region. The company is currently developing Estrella, a master-planned community in Brownsville designed to help address future housing demand in Cameron County.

Looking ahead, Rhodes believes that continued population growth and economic development will create opportunities for businesses, educational institutions, and residents across the Rio Grande Valley. Last year, Rhodes Enterprises expanded into Laredo and plans to open a 300-acre master-planned community in Corpus Christi called Mirabella next year.

For Rhodes Enterprises, success is measured not only by the number of homes built but by the long-term impact those developments have on the communities they serve.

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