Why Prosper Faces the Demolition of Four of Its Historic Silos

PLANO, TX – Before the development of the Sam Rayburn Tollway, cutting through the north part of Collin County meant getting a glimpse of the towering grain silos along a darkened two-lane highway. If it was dark, you see them slightly illuminated from the soft glow of lights from metro Dallas.

Typically, the grain silos have sat empty, mostly a reminder of a community’s agricultural past. In Waco, Fixer Upper couple Chip and Joanna Gaines paid homage to silos and kicked off their Magnolia Market at the Silos by retrofitting old silos as a shopping complex. In Round Top, you can vacation in a silo.

Silos are a big part of Texas history and scores across the state have gained protected historic status.

This week, we’re learning that we’ll have four fewer silos in Collin County. In a news release, the town of Prosper announced that Blue Star Corp., the new owner of the land on which the two largest silos on the westernmost edge of the grouping of silos, will remove them as well as two smaller silos on the northernmost edge of the grouping. The two silos on the north end of the site are owned by BNSF Railroad.

“While the silos have sat empty for many years, their presence gave residents and visitors a sense of the Town’s roots, a set of identifying symbols unmatched by any other,” according to the release.

The town also announced that the three smaller silos on the southernmost edge of the grouping will remain in place, as well as the larger one on the east side of the railroad tracks at Broadway Street.

Demolition is expected to start this week. Blue Star plans to build a mixed-use development.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones owns Blue Star Land and his related companies own almost 500 acres between downtown Prosper and Dallas Parkway.

In the news release, it was clear the town will miss the towering silos that served as the community’s landmark.