Stockyards Developer Buys Historic Williamson County Jail

The developer who helped turn the Fort Worth Stockyards into a tourism juggernaut is setting his sights on a historic jail just off Georgetown’s Square.

Fort Worth-based Delightful Development, co-founded last year by Craig Cavileer, won approval from the Williamson County Commissioners Court on Tuesday to acquire roughly 2 acres downtown that includes the former Williamson County Jail and adjacent land at 300 South Main Street in Georgetown. The Austin Business Journal reported that the county did not disclose the sale price.

The hulking limestone structure, built in the late 1800s, has been on the market for at least six months. Cavileer told county officials he spotted the for-sale sign on a Sunday about four months ago and called that day to make an offer.

While plans are still fluid, Cavileer signaled a hospitality heavy vision for the site, potentially blending hotel rooms, restaurant space and other mixed uses.

“Hospitality is in our blood,” he said during the meeting, adding that the historic jail’s character — not just the dirt beneath it — drove the deal.

Cavileer was previously the public face of the redevelopment of the 70-acre Fort Worth Stockyards, a project led by Los Angeles-based Majestic Realty Company that repositioned the district as a retail, dining and entertainment anchor. He departed that venture last year amid a legal dispute and launched Delightful Development, which has since surfaced on other projects, including in Florida.

The Georgetown acquisition would mark a significant adaptive reuse of historic property in one of Central Texas’ fastest-growing cities according to the publication. Georgetown, about 30 miles north of Austin, recently surpassed 100,000 residents and has attracted a wave of corporate investment, including manufacturers and industry groups setting up operations in the region.

County leaders framed the sale as both preservation and opportunity, the outlet reported. Commissioners expressed relief that the building would not be demolished and praised Cavileer’s track record with historic properties.

The site’s proximity to the Square — the cultural and commercial heart of Georgetown — could deepen tourism traffic and extend visitor stays, especially as the city continues to market itself as a Hill Country destination with urban amenities.

— Eric Weilbacher