A History in a Nutshell
Written by Sandy MacNaughton

One Sunday afternoon in 1969, my husband Mac (J. H. MacNaughton, Developer of Quail Valley) drove me across the tracks on Highway 90 through Stafford, Texas into Missouri City and showed me a vast expanse of land surrounded by white rail fence. He announced to me that he was purchasing the property to build a golf course subdivision. I was scared to death. When I was growing up in Houston and you crossed the tracks in Stafford, you were on "the wrong side of the tracks". To myself, I was saying, "Who in their right mind would ever want to live way out here?". Little did I know then, that 30 years later, there would be a wonderful community of over 4,115 homes and a population exceeding 12,000.

By the end of 1969, the property was completely platted and roads and utilities were well underway. The first family moved into Quail Valley in early 1970. Unfortunately, that original house was destroyed by fire several years ago, and as I write this article a new home is being built on that site. Mac and I moved into our first of four homes in February 1971. Believe me, I felt like a pioneer. The closest grocery store was in Sharpstown or at the corner of Highway 90 and Hillcroft. The closest thing to a drug store was the Fort Bend Pharmacy on Highway 90. The Southwest Freeway ended at Bissonnet. And you could forget a dry cleaners or a beauty shop. A dry cleaner from the Meyerland area did have a pick up and delivery service, which is what we used for years.

Quail Valley Country Club opened Labor Day, 1970 and hosted the Houston Open in 1973 and 1974. Newk's Quail Valley Racquet Club (named for John Newcomb) opened in 1976. By the end of the 80's, there were five swimming pools and a new health club with racquetball facilities and a fully staffed recreation center surrounded by baseball and soccer fields, offering year- round activities for young people.

In 1985, the Quail Valley Club, golf course and all other amenities were purchased by Country Clubs of America. They have made many major capital improvements to the club, golf course and other facilities. Building continues in the 90's. The few remaining lots are being bought andnew custom homes are being built. Quail Park, the last of the original fifteen sections is completely build out and is the setting for the newest of five city parks in and around the Quail Valley area.

A new civic organization; Quail Valley Proud, was established in 1991 by concerned citizens of the area. Members work diligently to see to it that deed restrictions are enforced and that any and all efforts by other community organizations such as the Quail Valley Garden Club are supported. Quail Valley is now a mature and gracious community. Some of the young people buying homes in the Quail Valley area were raised in the subdivision. If speaks very well for a community when the children of that community, once grown, return to raise their families.

With the improvements in the infrastructure in Fort Bend County such as Beltway 8 and Hwy 288, Quail Valley is just twenty-five minutes from downtown and twenty minutes from the Texas Medical Center. The future is bright for Quail Valley. Large lots, mature trees and welt-built custom homes - as well as all the amenities - are a big draw for prospective home buyers. There is a great sense of community pride and you can see it as you drive into the subdivision.

As one Quail Valley homeowner said after touring the greater part of the southern United States, checking out different areas for retirement, "We've been all over the U.S. and we can't find anything to compare to Quail Valley". Lots of us feel that way. It's a little bit of paradise in Fort Bend County.