Tag: Kyle Texas

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Texas Tops Economic Expansion List 10th Year In a Row

Texas Economic Expansion

Texas is going to need more room in its trophy case… 

For the 10th year in a row, Texas has won the coveted Site Selection Magazine Governor’s Cup. Site Selection awards the Governor’s Cup each year to the state with the most qualified economic development projects. This year, Texas took home the hardware (again). 

 

The Governor’s Cup is considered by many to be the Super Bowl of economic development trophies. Specifically, it’s a recognition for the state that lands the most deals for corporate headquarters projects, manufacturing plants, R&D operations and logistics facilities. 

 

Here’s why it’s a big deal:

Every time a company decides to locate part or all of their operations in Texas, economic activity and growth follows. More companies leads to more jobs, which means more income, resulting in more growth. Economic growth in Texas is projected above 3% for the next decade, at least. That’s quite a bit higher than most states in the country.

 

Texas is crushing the competition. In 2020, Texas landed 781 corporate facilities projects, more than doubling second-place Ohio. New corporate facility projects have a big impact on individual communities and the state economy at large. 

 

Winning the Governor’s Cup for 10 straight years is a sign that Texas’ economy will be growing at a steady rate for the foreseeable future. When a few high-profile names made the move to Texas, other high-profile companies inevitably followed, typically due to the economic benefits of being in Texas, especially with other large corporations. 

 

Austin in particular is seeing an influx of companies. Digital Realty Trust, Rex Teams, and Oracle are just a few of the juggernauts that have chosen to locate in Austin in the past few years.

Why Do So Many Big Companies Want to Relocate to Texas?

Texas is a great place to do business. And we’re not just talking about the cost of living, incentives, fair tax rates, and favorable regulatory environments. We’re also talking about a state government who prioritizes keeping businesses open and a general philosophy of governance that promotes business growth. 

From Texas Governor Abbot in 2020:

“Businesses have almost total freedom to run their company the way they see best. We can’t run their businesses better than they can. We get out of their way and let them do what they do best.”   

 

Texas lawmakers relentlessly continue to look for ways to change the tax and regulatory policy to be more competitive. It’s a big reason that the Governor’s Cup goes to Texas so often.

 

Basically, businesses in Texas can grow quickly while limiting their risk. They can innovate without being shackled. They can expand and iterate faster than anywhere else, and that’s why they are choosing to move to Texas in droves. 

 

From a balance sheet and financial accounting perspective, it makes a lot of sense to locate your business in Texas. But it also makes a lot of sense from a quality of life perspective. Texas offers employees and new arrivals more living for less money. 

 

CEOs, management teams, and employees can live in beautiful communities and take advantage of the same benefits and incentives that brought their company to Texas in the first place. Texas is a great place to live and work, and it’s getting more attractive each year. 

 

Congrats to Texas for 10 years of unrivaled economic expansion! Here’s to 10 more…

Looking for a new home in the Austin area? Crosswinds offers a wonderful place to call home located just south of downtown Austin in Kyle, Texas. Contact the team at Crosswinds to learn more.

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Homeowner Tips Lifestyle

How to Get to Know your Neighbors

Neighbors in Kyle, TX

Becoming friends with your neighbors is one of the best things about living in a master-planned community. Great neighbors can keep an eye on your home and surroundings, they can lend a helping hand, and they can make community events so much more fun!

Whether you’ve never met the family next door, or you spend time with your neighbors daily, here are some tips to help you get connected to the people around your community!

  1. Connect with Your Neighborhood Online

It sounds like meeting neighbors online defeats the purpose, but it can be a powerful way to meet and cultivate your relationships with people in your community. Some neighborhoods meet on NextDoor or establish a private Facebook group where they can report problems, ask questions, notify items delivered to the wrong house, and lost pets. Many people also use it to ask for local vendor recommendations. 

Many master-planned communities also have a homeowner’s association (HOA). Sometimes they have a website, an email newsletter, or both. Depending on your community, a HOA often plans community resident events which is a great way to meet others in your community. Talk to your HOA to find out what resources they offer!

  1. Create a Social Committee

Some HOAs have a lifestyle director or a committee to oversee neighbor parties and gatherings. Neighborhoods may hold a variety of events that target different groups such as families, women only, kids, or adults only. If your neighborhood doesn’t have an organization that coordinates planning events, consider taking charge and creating one, or move to a community that already has lifestyle programming in place. Having resident events often leads to great friends, which would be a wonderful way to improve the quality of life for you and your family. 

  1. Provide a Neighborhood Directory

Before creating and distributing a neighborhood directory, send a survey to your residents. Give them the opportunity to share information for the direction and to give you permission for publishing their information. If you have a private Facebook page, you can upload the directory to the page for neighbors to access. Be sure to email it as not everyone may be active on Facebook or whatever social network you use.

As you collect information for the directory, add an item about babysitters, or similar services. Parents of young kids will appreciate having access to qualified babysitters right in their neighborhood. Add a question about pets’ names and descriptions as well as the names and ages of kids (if permitted to publish). If a pet without an ID tag ever gets lost, the neighbors can refer to the directory to see if they can identify the owner.

A good directory sorts the entries in two ways: alphabetically and by street address. This comes in handy because you may not know their name, but you know where they live. 

You may not be able to choose your neighbors, but you have many choices when it comes to where to live and what type of community you want to raise your family in. And you never know—your new neighbors could be your child’s best friends for life.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move to a community with year-round lifestyle events for residents? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Events

Austin’s New Live Entertainment Venue: Moody Center

Moody Center Austin

Kyle residents have another exciting venue to add to their list of places to go for events in Austin! This new venue will host amazing concert experiences as well as the University of Texas at Austin’s basketball games. Located on the University of Texas campus at 2001 Robert Dedman Drive Austin, TX 78712, Moody Center is slated to open in April. 

About Moody Center

Austin is called the Live Music Capital of the World for a reason. And Moody Center will help reinforce that with its immersive seating, luxurious amenities, and communal layouts. The venue has been privately financed by Oak View Group, Live National Entertainment / C3 Presents (the company behind the Austin City Limits music festival), the University of Texas at Austin, Dell, and actor Matthew McConaughey. 

The center is 530,000 square feet and seats 15,000 people. It features 44 suites, four club spaces, and 2,000 club seats. As part of his role as Minister of Culture at UT, McConaughey is personally overseeing the project. The center has been designed to easily host basketball games and live music concerts. It will have an indoor and outdoor layout that’s influenced by the flow and communal culture of Austin. 

Two options are available with the premium suites, one of which is the Porch Suites. They’re located on the baselines and corners of the venue for basketball and look directly onto the stage for concerts. Porch Suite seating comes out 10 feet into the arena to help attendees feel more connected to the live event.

The other is the Sideline Suites. These suites are a private, enclosed area located closest to the mid-court for the University of Texas basketball games and closest to the stage for live concerts.

Another luxurious amenity the Moody Center will offer is the Annual Concert Memberships. This gives members priority access to purchase lower-level tickets for all concerts and shows at the center. Members will gain inclusive access to private clubs along with culinary offerings and private bars.

The arena is named after the Moody Foundation, which provided a grant to UT. It promises to provide state-of-the-art amenities and top-notch hospitality for everyone.

Upcoming Events


The venue already has an impressive list of popular entertainers on their lineup. One of the first bands set to play at the Moody Center is Bon Jovi. They plan to stop in Austin on April 23. Other April performers include John Mayer, Justin Bieber, and George Strait.

The iHeartCountry Festival, the Who, Eagles, and Dave Matthews Band will be playing in May, Jimmy Buffet will appear at Moody in June, and Swedish House Mafia will play in August. Talk about a lineup!

To be the first to know about upcoming events and show announcements, sign up for the Moody Center newsletter or follow them on social media.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking for a new home that’s close to all the action? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team. 

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Lifestyle

Kyle Local: Koy Chinese and Sushi

Kyle Local Restaurant

Looking for authentic Chinese cuisine and sushi? You can find that here in Kyle at Koy Chinese and Sushi (5695 Kyle Parkway, Ste. 800, Kyle, TX 78640). Owner Frank Lai opened Koy in Kyle when Hays County and the surrounding area were booming, in 2011.

The family has been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. They founded the business on three things: exceptional service, being community-oriented, and delicious food.

According to Community Impact, at Koy’s beginning in 2011, there was a staff of about 10 people and as the community of Kyle saw massive population and economic growth, that growth was reflected in the success of local businesses like Koy.

All that success came to a screeching halt in 2020 when the pandemic hit. Koy had to drastically adjust its business model to keep the lights on and the sushi rolling. The restaurant suffered major setbacks, as did most businesses. Koy had to close its doors to dine-in, and the staff decreased by about half. The restaurant went from a successful, well-staffed restaurant to a small restaurant dependent on to-go orders and delivery services.

As Covid-19 precautions were gradually lifted and regular business resumed, Koy Chinese and Sushi bounced back as a local favorite for Chinese and sushi, with dine-in, to-go, and delivery options. Last October, Koy celebrated its 10th year of business.

Koy makes everything to order and fresh. Its sushi bar is overseen by a master sushi chef who prepares fresh sushi every day. You’ll find favorites such as the LA, spicy crab, California, and vegetable rolls. They also serve many favorites in Chinese cuisine such as General Tso’s chicken, beef and broccoli, cashew chicken, egg drop soup, and more.

Many customers rave about their dishes and say it’s authentic Chinese cuisine. Visit the Koy Chinese and Sushi Facebook page for some mouthwatering photos of their dishes. They also post menu updates, specials, and more, so give it a Like to stay up-to-date.

Have a hankering for other cuisines? Dripping Springs is full of a variety of cuisines. Here are some other Dripping Springs restaurants you might want to check out:

What’s your favorite restaurant in Kyle? Connect with us on social media and let us know!

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Education Family Fun

Spring Break in Kyle, Texas

Corpus Christi Spring Break


Hays ISD spring break is right around the corner — the week of March 14 to 18! As a resident of Kyle, Texas, your family has several options of fun things to do for spring break without going too far. Here are some ideas for relaxation and renewal for everyone to enjoy during spring break this year.

Kyle Spring Break Camp

If you have a child who is interested in Kyle Spring Break Camp, be sure to register now as registration closes on March 9 or when all spots are filled. The camp is an outdoor camp at the Mary-Kyle Hartson Square Park (101 S. Burleson St., Kyle, TX 78640). 

The camp will be a week full of fun games, recreational activities, and more! Campers will need to bring a water bottle and lunch every day. The youth camp is for kids in 2nd through 5th grades while teen camp is for those in 6th through 9th grades.

Spring Break Camp with San Marcos Parks and Recreation

Need something to keep kids ages 5 to 11 busy? They might like to go to San Marcos Parks and Recreation Spring Break Camp at Dunbar Recreation Center (801 MLK Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666) where they play games, make crafts, and take field trips. View the daily schedule to see what a typical day is like at camp.

All-Star Sports Spring Break Camp

Do you know children who love sports? Then, they might like All-Star Sports Spring Break Camp. Held at SoccerZone in South Austin (9501 Menchaca Road, Austin TX 78748), it’s about a 20-minute trip from Kyle. They offer half- and full-day options for kids ages 5 to 13. Campers who attend the full-day camp will be served lunch. Camp activities include many sports, arts and crafts, bounce house, splash day, and more.

Corpus Christi

For those wanting something more than a staycation, you might want to go to the coastal city of Corpus Christi that’s just three hours south of Kyle. It’s the perfect place for families who enjoy beaches, boating, or birdwatching.

Even if you’re not into these nature activities, Corpus Christi has unique museums like the Texas State Aquarium, U.S.S. Lexington, and South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. For more information, check out the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau website for more ideas.

Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Here’s a great vacation option as it’s a place that everyone who lives in Texas should visit at least once. A little over a three-hour drive from Kyle, Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose makes a memorable spring break vacation or weekend getaway. The park has dinosaur tracks where you can learn about the history of our world, and you are sure to be able to capture unforgettable photos. Visitors can hike, bike, swim, fish, camp, and picnic. Guided tours are also available.

Another option to explore while you’re in Glen Rose is Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. This is 15 minutes from the dinosaur park. This endangered species research and conservation center has more than 1,000 mammals representing 50 species. They offer guided and self-guided tours. The public guided tour is a 2-hour, 7.2-mile scenic tour where you can drive in your own car or ride in their tour vehicles.

Enjoy your spring break!

More Things to Do in Kyle

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions

Kyle Local: Buff City Soaps

New Buff City Soaps in Kyle

A popular soap makery has arrived in Kyle! Buff City Soaps (5401 Farm to Market 1626, Suite 310 Kyle, TX 78640) has officially opened, offering their famous line of handmade soaps and products crafted with the highest quality ingredients.

What Can You Find at Buff City Soaps in Kyle?

We’re excited to welcome Buff City Soap to Kyle. They call their store a “Makery” because all their products are created in their shops by hand.

Kyle residents and visitors will be happy to have a place in the community where you can buy soaps free of harsh chemicals and detergents. Every day, local artisans craft the brand’s delightfully-scented, plant-based soaps. Guests can also customize the scent and ingredients used in the process to create their own soap.

You’ll find many other things besides soap. They have everything from bath bombs and shower fizzies to face products and body butter, all of which make great gifts for a friend or for yourself. You can explore their products by category—they also have products for men, kids, and laundry.

Scents Worth Checking out

Go to the scents page of Buff City’s website to check out their scents with creative names and descriptions! 99 Pomlems, described as “99 problems and soap ain’t one,” features notes of lemon, pomegranate, and cream. For those days when you want to conquer your day, you might like Ferocious Beast with its cedarwood and campfire beer scents, with notes of citrus, lavender, white musk, cedarwood, and amber.

You’ll even find “Love Potion,” which blends roses and young love with notes of damask rose, peach, apple blossom, and Italian bergamot. And how could you not want to try the Unicorn with scents of fruit and magic containing notes of apple mango, passionfruit, and exotic florals?

We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to relax and smell great, too! For their latest news and specials, visit the Buff City Soap — Kyle Facebook page.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions

Kyle Local: Plum Creek Golf Course

Kyle Local: Golf

Golfers love the Kyle and the Austin, Texas, area because the weather is great for golfing almost year-round. Kyle is fortunate to have a golf course with spectacular views at Plum Creek Golf Course (4301 Benner, Kyle, TX 78640). Here’s what you’ll want to know about the Kyle golf course.

About Plum Creek Golf Course

The designers created a championship golf course in which no two fairways touch. It gives you the experience of playing your own private golf course. All 18 holes take you through a setting that reflects what makes the Hill Country memorable with its rolling hills, live oaks, and sparkling lakes. Check out the images showing the golf course to see what each hole looks like.

The course underwent a major renovation in 2012 to add a practice facility that includes 3 acres of short-game scoring areas, an acre of practice tee surface, multiple chipping greens, bunkers, uneven lie practice areas, and target greens. You have a wealth of opportunities for improving your golf game. And plenty of golf instruction is available if you’d like a helping hand from a pro. 

If you need any golf supplies, accessories, or attire, the pro shop is stocked to the gills with everything you want to enjoy golfing. This facility is also the home of the Texas State Bobcat men’s and women’s golf teams.

Other Things to Do at Plum Creek Golf Course

There’s nothing like a delicious meal after playing 18 holes or practicing your swings. Just head right over to Glenn’s Bar and Grill restaurant on the course for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks. It’s named for Glenn Evans who helped open Plum Creek Golf Course.

The restaurant underwent renovations in 2018 to add multiple beers on tap, more high-definition TVs, and brand-new furniture. Do you love to watch the big game on a big screen? Glenn’s has a 100″ projector that delivers an unbeatable game-viewing experience.

Have a celebration coming up? You can host an event, banquet, or wedding, at the facilities. The Plum Creek staff will take care of all the details including dining options. The facility is also accessible and they have rooms that can support 100 or 220 people, depending on the room you choose.

Visit the Plum Creek Golf Course Facebook page for upcoming events and updates.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Homeowner Tips Lifestyle

Should Seniors Buy a Newly Constructed Home or an Older Home?

Should seniors buy a new home?

The average retirement age is 62 according to an article from Experian quoting a Gallup 2021 survey. It’s a great age as seniors are vibrant and can still enjoy many activities. It’s also an exciting time because many decide to downsize their home as they may not need as much space.

But the question they’re asking themselves is whether to buy a newly constructed home or an older home? The benefits of a new home outweigh an older home. This is the time to enjoy life. While the benefits are many, here are the top four benefits of buying a new home.

  1. Customize Your Home Your Way

If the home hasn’t been built, you can work with the home builder to make changes to fit your preferences. If the home is being built, you can have a say in the materials, colors, and flooring. The more involved you are in making decisions to personalize your home, the fewer changes you’ll want to make. 

A used home may have a great floor plan, but some of the rooms have kitchen counters, colors, and flooring that may not be to your liking. This will add to the cost of the home.

  1. Ensure the Home Is Accessible

Many homes come with stairs including single-story homes. They may have steps on the porch or in the back of the house. It’s possible there may be steps from the garage to the house. You use your home every day and one or two steps can become a problem. 

If you have family members who use a wheelchair, you can make sure the home is built with wide doorways and low countertops. Very few older homes considered this in the design. Some may have a low ceiling and shower entry, which is a problem for taller people. 

  1. Enjoy Minimal Maintenance

An older home will have wear and tear that leads to problems. Appliances only last for so long. The water heater may be nearing the end of its life. If something happens, it will cost time and money to replace it. The same goes for the air conditioning and heating system. When you buy new, you won’t have to worry about problems for years.

  1. Benefit from Energy Efficient Features

Older homes have outdated features that may cause the heating and air conditioning system to be inefficient. This drives up energy costs. Newer thermostats allow you to program the heater or air conditioner to kick on or off at set times. 

The house can contain energy-efficient appliances to use less electricity. LED lighting lasts longer and uses less energy than older lights. All these steps will help keep your energy bill down. 

Seniors have worked hard and should relish every minute of their retirement. Buying a new home will make that possible.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team. 

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Life in Kyle: EVO Entertainment

EVO Entertainment

EVO Entertainment Kyle is much more than a movie theater and it’s right here in Kyle. You’ll find everything you want in a movie theater and then some. The Kyle location of EVO Entertainment offers the movie theater experience with enhanced viewing, restaurant and bar, bowling, video and redemption games, and more than 50 HDTVs.

Not Your Typical Movie Experience

The enhanced viewing experience, or EVX, contains a massive wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling screen. It’s complemented by an immersive Dolby ATMOS moving audio and state-of-the-art projection technology.

EVX takes surround sound to the next level, as it produces sound you can feel. Attendees will find themselves feeling as they are in the action as the film comes to life. Not all EVO venues offer this feature and Kyle is fortunate to be one of them. 

The location also has Flashback Cinema where you can catch old favorites on the big screen. You can even host your own private screening party and choose from any film currently showing at the Kyle EVO Entertainment or bring your own movie on Blu-Ray.

More Fun Things to Do at EVO Entertainment

The bowling center is also not your typical bowling alley as it offers an extraordinary bowling experience. The bowling lanes use the latest bowling technology with sleek audio and visuals, lane-side food and drink service from the kitchen, and a modern aesthetic. 

If you go bowling there, be sure to watch for hidden orange pins! If the orange pin shows up in the kingpin position (the front), contact a team member to watch you bowl. If you bowl a strike with the orange pin in front, you’ll score a $100 game card!

You can experience virtual reality in a new way in the OMNI VR Arena. It’s a four-person virtual reality gaming and e-sports experience. Players can safely walk and run in the virtual landscape. The arena has a vast library of multiplayer games including non-violent ones. EVO has weekly and monthly e-sports tournaments where players can try to win prizes.

There’s a room full of all kinds of video games. And all day every Wednesday, they have half-price games. If that’s not enough, there’s free WiFi and more than 50 HDTVs!

They plenty of delicious grub to keep you satisfied. Once again, this isn’t your ordinary entertainment food with plain burgers and pizza. No, they have things like honey sriracha tacos, chicken pesto flatbread, pulled pork nachos, and more. They even have bottomless popcorn. You can go with traditional butter or add a flavor like garlic parmesan or spicy ranch. Beer, wine, cocktails, and margaritas are available for those of appropriate age.

It’s definitely a place for all ages. For the latest, check out the EVO Entertainment Kyle Facebook page.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Lifestyle

Kyle, Texas Restaurant Inventive Program

Texas Restaurant Inventive Program

Did you know the Kyle Economic Development Department has a restaurant incentive program? It’s a new program from the city to entice new restaurants to open in Kyle. The program has been in effect for a little over 18 months.

City Council wanted to make the city more attractive to restaurants because the population has exploded to the point that they need more food options to match the growth.

What Is the Kyle Restaurant Incentive Program?

Taking advantage of Kyle’s restaurant incentive program means the restaurant will receive a 100% sales and property tax rebate. The program is capped at three years. They’ll also receive funding provided by a Chapter 380 development agreement with the city.

What the Chapter 380 agreement does is allow cities or counties to provide incentives to commercial or retail projects to spur economic development. The restaurant business is challenging during this time, especially for new ones. With a three-year cap, it should be enough to help the business get up and running long enough to solidify before the cap ends.

Restaurants Coming to Kyle Thanks to the Restaurant Incentive Program

Z’Tejas Southwest Grill is the first restaurant to take advantage of the new program. Z’Tejas serves southwestern food such as tacos, southwestern classics like fajitas and enchiladas, soups, salads, and desserts. They have a kid’s menu available. 

Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 pm daily. Their drinks menu includes agave drinks, cocktails, tequila flights, wine, beer, and zero-proof drinks. They’re open for brunch on the weekends from 9 am to 2 pm.

The incentive also brings P. Terry’s and Torchy’s to Kyle. P. Terry’s has been working to expand throughout central Texas. The burger chain plans to open a stand on I-35 between Kohlers Crossing and Kyle Crossing. Their buildings use a theme that’s called Googie Architecture, which is a futurist architecture influenced by the Space age, atomic age, and car culture.

And Torchy’s Tacos needs no introduction as the taco chain has been a fixture in Austin for a while now. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy Torchy’s without leaving Kyle.

Word on the street is that there are six more businesses that have expansion plans that will involve opting into the incentive! Meanwhile, check out these restaurants and give them a big Kyle welcome.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the new home builders in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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