Wood: Massive projects to transform Weld County

A  wave of major new developments will transform Weld County in the coming years, with a number of projects either underway or under consideration.

The county encompasses more than 4,000 square miles — about the size of the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined — and provides ample land for new development. 

In addition to acreage for new homes, apartments, retail and industrial projects, Weld County is bracing for impact from some monumental developments:

• BNSF Railway Co. continues to plan for its 2,700-acre intermodal facility and logistics park in Weld County. The project, on the east side of Interstate 76, is being annexed into Lochbuie and could eventually accommodate 20 million square feet of industrial/distribution space. Annexation battles between Lochbuie and Hudson have largely been resolved, with BNSF annexing into Lochbuie.

• Construction has begun on the first golf course at Rodeo Dunes, a 4,000-acre resort development near the small Weld County town of Roggen. Developers Michael and Chris Keiser, who first announced the project in April 2023, own Sand Valley Golf Resort in Wisconsin and are the sons of Mike Keiser, who owns and developed the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.

• Bandimere Speedway, which sold its property in Morrison in October, is eyeing a much larger, 1,100-acre tract of land in Weld County near Hudson for an expanded track. The property would be located near I-76 and Weld County Parkway.

• The Denver Zoo is expanding its operations onto the Lembke Family Preserve, a donated 570-acre tract east of Greeley in Weld County. The preserve will not be open to the public and is intended to protect endangered species that will be kept there.

• The City of Greeley is considering a $1.1 billion arena, hotel and waterpark development along U.S. Highway 34. The project would provide a new home for the Colorado Eagles minor-league hockey team. Greeley is considering whether it wants to guarantee bonds that would be issued to finance the development, which would be surrounded by additional residential, entertainment and mixed-use developments.

• Greeley and Weld County officials are pushing forward with a 20-year vision plan for the Greeley-Weld County Airport, seeking to position the facility as an alternative to Denver International Airport.

Weld County — and Larimer County next door — have accounted for a huge percentage of Colorado’s population growth in recent years. New residents will continue to stream into the county, including to Greeley and communities along the I-25 corridor.

But while the county has largely been known for its agricultural and energy production, future years promise to make it a center for manufacturing and distribution — boosted by the BNSF project — and for recreational activities.

As these projects come to fruition, Weld County stands poised for an even-more-diversified economic base, luring not just residents but also visitors and the economic boon that they can bring.

Christopher Wood can be reached at 303-630-1942 or cwood@bizwest.com.

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