A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, June 21, to mark the commencement of the next phase of Rolke Road and Riverbend Way construction within the Gulf Inland Logistics Park in Dayton.
The event saw attendance from several dignitaries, including Dayton Mayor Martin Mudd, Dayton Councilwomen Tonya Smikal and Valorie Barton, Councilman Harry Barnes, State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-18), state representative-elect Janis Holt (R-18), and Bill Sjolander, founder of CMC Railroad in Dayton. The ceremony was hosted by Marcus Goering, principal of Liberty Development Partners, and Paul Connor, principal of Connor Investment Real Estate.
The Gulf Inland Logistics Park, strategically located along CR 493 in Dayton just off US 90, is one of the few dual rail-served sites available in the region. This world-class site is designed to accommodate logistics, transportation, and manufacturing businesses, offering them a prime location to establish and expand their operations. The park boasts immediate access to the two largest US Class I Railroads, the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. The CMC Railroad has a planned capacity of more than 3,000 railcars, which is in addition to the existing BNSF and Union Pacific capacity.
Additionally, the park’s location at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and US Highway 90 provides nearby access to major highways, including Interstate 10, Interstate 59, Interstate 45, and State Highway 146. Gulf Inland Logistics Park is also within 100 miles of five Texas ports – Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Galveston, and Freeport. The park offers spaces for sale, lease, or build-to-suit from 100,000 square feet to 1,500,000 square feet and boasts more than 10 million square feet of industrial, office, and commercial buildings.
Liberty Development Partners, a joint venture between Connor Investment Real Estate and Logistics and Development Resources, is dedicated to the funding and development of Gulf Inland Logistics Park and future projects in logistics, manufacturing, and rail-served sectors. Paul Connor, Principal of Connor Investment Real Estate, has managed over $1 billion in real estate investment and development since 2001.
The first phase of Rolke Road construction, which began in February 2024, will extend within the boundaries of Gulf Inland Logistics Park, while the newly constructed Riverbend Way will serve future tenants. Among the new tenants acquiring or under contract for property within the park is Project Solid Steel, a steel products manufacturing company. Other recent additions include Phoenix Oil, Omnisource, Clay Development, and Chemvest US Inc., all of which have closed deals earlier this year or in recent months.
Goering hinted at other sites being sold to other developers, which will be announced in the near future.
The first phase of an expansion to CMC Railroad, which will add space for a 600-car rail yard, is spurring on the park’s growth. Goering mentioned that plans call for the rail expansion project to break ground by the end of summer. Ultimately, CMC’s railyard can be expanded up to four times its current size.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Goering expressed gratitude to Dayton native Bill Sjolander, an original owner of the land acquired by Gulf Inland Logistics Park. Goering acknowledged Sjolander’s vision for the project, which he shared back in 2007, and thanked him for his dedication to bringing it to fruition.
“I showed up here in 2007 as part of an acquisition team. We acquired the property and the project from Bill, and I’m still here 17 years later,” said Goering told Bluebonnet News.
The total park size is 1,350 acres, of which about 950 acres are developable. Currently, about 180 acres are either sold or under letter of intent, indicating ample room for future growth.
Other photos from the event:
