In a quiet January deal that could reshape Kyle's western fringe, Property Reserve Inc., the real estate investment arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, closed on nearly 2,900 acres of the historic Nance Ranch on Jan. 6, 2026. The sprawling tract stretches along roughly two miles of the Blanco River, about four miles west of Interstate 35 and downtown Kyle. Much of the property is still rugged ranchland, reachable only by dirt roads, and no purchase price has been made public.
Hays County deed records list the buyer as Property Reserve Inc., according to the San Antonio Express-News. The outlet reports the parcel comes in at about 2,898 acres and that prior co-owners included Bee Spring Ltd., GSP Conservation Investors LLC and Rafter Holdings LLC. Compass agent Tana Southard confirmed she represented the seller but declined to discuss terms, and a church spokesperson also did not comment.
What The Development Agreement Allows
The land arrives with a development agreement already in place, and both marketing materials and city filings indicate it could support thousands of housing units alongside mixed-use commercial space. Listing materials specifically cite "9000 LUE." The Nance Ranch site also touts more than two miles of Blanco River frontage and quick access to Kyle's town center, features that make the tract a prime candidate for large-scale projects. For now, though, the new owner has not publicly announced any plans for the property.
Bridge Proposal And Local Pushback
A key flashpoint predates the sale. In 2017, plans for a multi-lane bridge across the Blanco River to serve development on the western bank triggered vocal opposition after the city moved to add the idea to a regional transportation plan. Community Impact reported that residents and environmental groups urged officials to slow down, arguing the proposed crossing would fuel sprawl and funnel more traffic onto I-35 and FM 1626. That resistance has helped keep the bridge concept and related access projects from advancing quickly through regional funding channels.
Legal Fight And Infrastructure Costs
On a separate front, Austin-area environmental group Save Our Springs Alliance sued the city of Kyle in 2020, alleging the city sidestepped public review when it approved the Nance Ranch agreement. In January 2024, the Texas Court of Appeals denied the city's motion for summary judgment and sent the dispute back to the trial court, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
The same outlet notes that Kyle's Water Master Plan proposes a 5.4-mile water line to serve the property, with an estimated price tag of $37.6 million. Construction is tentatively set for 2030-2038, depending on when and how the tract is developed. A local critic told the paper the agreement would likely "pave the way for unmanaged sprawl" in sensitive Hill Country terrain.
Who Is Property Reserve?
Property Reserve Inc. functions as the church's commercial real estate arm and has a history of buying and managing large land holdings and developed projects around the country, according to reporting from KSL. The entity typically appears in county deed records without much fanfare and does not always spell out immediate development intentions, which means locals often have to watch the permitting process to see what is coming.
For Kyle, the immediate question is timing. An institutional buyer now controls land that has sat at the center of years of planning debates and legal battles, while regional transportation and water plans will help determine whether roads, pipes or houses ever reach across the Blanco. City and plaintiff attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Property Reserve has yet to outline its next steps in public. Over the coming months, council meetings, court filings and regional planning decisions will decide whether this acreage remains ranchland or turns into Kyle's next big Hill Country neighborhood.
