Royse City ISD buys land for new school

By Leslie Gibson/Herald-Banner Staff

ROYSE CITY — Price, access and water and sewer connections were the main reasons given by the Royse City Independent School District officials for the unanimous selection earlier this month of “the old racetrack property” east of this city for the future location of the high school.

The property, which formerly was the site for the North Texas Motor Speedway, consists of 116.15 acres and will cost $1.25 million at $10,762 per acre.
In their special meeting, the members voted for the eastern site over a site west of Royse City on State Highway 66, which was selling for $12,000 per acre and consisted of 103 acres.

Located inside the Hunt County line, the site is just off the south side of Interstate 30, and on the east side of Farm Road 2642. Both sides of the interstate exit to FM 2642. County Road 2515, which runs west from FM 2642 and east up to the interstate, borders the property on the north.

Water and sewer will be available by tieing in to lines which will lead to a residential development underway around the under-construction Fort Elementary about a mile away, at FM 35 and FM 2553.

Closing on the race track site is expected Jan. 31, with Fort having already presented a contract to the attorney in Midland who is handling the property for the owners, who live in Austin.