Officials from Cleburne and the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce joined MKP Development owner Adlai Pennington and others on Friday to break ground on the Railhead project, a mixed use center to be built off of U.S. 67 near The Depot.

High winds played slight havoc on an otherwise beautiful day.

“We got here before the tornado, after the ice storm and the two inches of rain a week or so ago,” Pennington joked.

The 92-acre tract will house four residential components, three of which are already under contract, which will soon house 2,000 residents, Pennington said.

Retail, dining and other businesses will fill out the project.

“Timing is everything,” Pennington said of the project. “Several years ago pulling this off probably would have been much more difficult. But there’s wind in the sails for Cleburne now. We’re certainly excited about this. We think we have the right project at the right place at the right time.”

Of placement, Pennington spoke of the development’s proximity to U.S. 67 and the Chisholm Trail Parkway not to mention the future resident’s proximity to downtown and the rest of Cleburne.

The adjoining Depot and the planned Cleburne Station project surrounding it helps as well, Pennington said.

“We’ve been working with the Cleburne Railroaders and The Depot,” Pennington said. “Our concept is village retail. There is more big-box retail so we should be able to work hand in hand. And they’ve already installed a lot of infrastructure, which gives us a head start.”

More impressive, Pennington said, is the projects show me the money factor.

“The total value improved value of the property built out is half a billion dollars,” Pennington said. “The 25 acres of commercial development should generate about $80 million a year in retail dollars, which translates to about $5 million a year in sales tax.”

Pennington said he plans to start construction soon.

Railhead is one of several ongoing MKP projects throughout Cleburne.

“Granted, there was a lot of interest in doing something at this location,” Pennington said. “But the help we’ve gotten from the city staff, all the leadership has been invaluable. There wasn’t pushback of this can’t be done or there’s no way this can happen. I’ve had projects in some cities two and a half years trying to get them out of the city but you’ll see work starting here real soon.”

Cleburne Economic Development Director Grady Easdon called Railhead a Cleburne game changer.

“It really is,” Easdon said. “We’ve never seen anything like this here, a town square concept with dining, retail, shopping and living all in one place.”

Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain dubbed Railhead, The Depot and Cleburne Station Cleburne’s own Triple Crown winner.

“You’re standing right in the middle of the future of North Texas,” Cain said. “This is what the vision was and this is what this community has been working on. Between here, The Depot and New Era it’s all coming together.”

As for his project’s part, Pennington agreed.

“In Cleburne we’ve picked a horse, and I’m confident we picked a thoroughbred here,” Pennington said.

Located just 30 minutes south of Fort Worth, Texas, you’ll find Cleburne, Texas, a charming small town worthy of a day trip or weekend getaway. Established in 1867, Cleburne was once a stop along the historic Chisholm Trail, as it was a watering hole for cattle and thirsty drovers too. In the late 1800s after the railroad came to town, Cleburne boomed as a transportation center, connecting smaller towns and larger cities.

Today, Cleburne’s history is alive and well through its museums, entertainment scene, and nods to its past, including a minor league baseball team known as the Cleburne Railroaders. Here’s how to spend some time in this small Texas town beaming with life.

What to Do

At the Gone With the Wind Remembered Museum, owner Vicky Lynn Rogers has been collecting memorabilia for more than 30 years, making this one of the most comprehensive collections of GWTW items in the world. The museum has one-of-a-kind pieces, plus rare pieces from the movie, including the mourning bonnet worn by Scarlett O’Hara. There’s also a theater seat from the 1939 premiere of GWTW from the Atlanta Loew’s Theatre, tickets from the showing, jewelry pieces that were sold to promote the movie, dolls, props, and more. The Cleburne Railroad Museum tells the story of the town’s railroad past with more than 2,000 artifacts, model trails, and programming, and the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, located on the Chisholm Trail at Lake Pat Cleburne, includes the county’s original courthouse building, a stagecoach station, and a working blacksmith shop where visitors can take blacksmithing lessons.

Cleburne’s newest attraction is The Dillon Depot where an HO model train exhibit depicts midcentury, small-town life in vivid detail. There's also an antique mall, plus a vintage soda fountain serving homemade ice cream. At night, see a Broadway musical at Plaza Theatre Company, or a regional music act at Songbird Live. Summer months bring quality baseball for a fraction of MLB prices at La Moderna Field, home of the Cleburne Railroaders. The ballpark is home to some of the best in concessions, including Cleburne’s Loaf ‘n Dog hot dogs, sangria from Stone Trough Winery, fajita fries, and margaritas from the famous Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth (be careful, these margaritas aren’t joking around). Stick around for post-game fireworks every Friday night.

Where to Shop

Cleburne’s downtown scene is completely walkable and full of mom-and-pop shops worthy of exploration. New to the area is Trovato Street, a blast from the past full of retro candy plus house-made chocolates. There’s even a root beer bar with a rotating selection of 40+ root beers. Grab a root beer flight or ask about ice cream floats with your favorite root beer poured over the top. At Central Station Toys, visitors are invited to build with Legos, play games, and shop for toys of all kinds. Downtown is also full of boutiques, antiques, and art.

Where to Eat

Grab a pre- or post-dinner cocktail at Johnson Country Distillery, where strawberry Moscow mules, craft beer, and hand-tossed pizzas accompany live music and good times. There’s also The Break Room Brewing Company, where comfort foods such as meatloaf and chicken fried steak compete with burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and more for a well-rounded menu. (The catfish is top notch.) Carnivores rejoice with Fly By Night Steakhouse, situated on a 250-acre working Brangus cattle ranch. Menu items include “shot gun shells”—cheese-stuffed jalapenos, wrapped in bacon, and panko fried— plus house-cut steaks, lobster tails, salmon, shrimp and grits, and more. For a uniquely Cleburne experience, head to 1949 Burger Bar, a 10 x 10 foot building (the second oldest in Cleburne) that’s been a local favorite for 74 years. They cook their burgers on a cast-iron grill from the 1800s that was belonged to the original owner of Burger Bar. La Cima specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine (the brisket tacos are delicious), and for a down-home breakfast, you can’t go wrong with R&K Café II.

Where to Stay

Walking distance from downtown shops and restaurants is the Liberty Hotel, a boutique property with a pool, gym, and complimentary breakfast. Built in 1924, the 50-room hotel is a charming place to rest after a long day around town.

One Cleburne resident said she always walked away feeling better after a Chuck visit. Others throughout the community agree.

Lloyd “Chuck” Bailey passed away over the weekend.

Bailey, along with his wife, Becky Montgomery, owned and operated two Cleburne businesses, participated in and heavily promoted the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce and lent his support to the return of professional baseball in Cleburne among other civic involvement endeavors. At the time of his death, Bailey was about to embark on a new chapter as a Johnson County jailer.

“Chuck had just completed his training and got certified,” Johnson County Sheriff Adam King said. “I’ve worked with him in ministry and he and I have known each other for quite a while. He was very passionate about ministering to the inmates in our jail. That’s why he took that job; he wanted to go in there and make their lives better.”

King on a more personal level called Bailey’s passing a huge loss for Johnson County.

“He was a good man, a good friend who worked to make a difference,” King said. “I’m surely going to miss him and I’m going to miss partnering with him in ministry.”

King and others at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office characterized Bailey as an amazing person who led a remarkable life and one who served as a bright light and mentor to fellow officers and members of the community.

Bailey in 1989 moved from his native New England to Cleburne where he met and married Montgomery.

“Chuck made his mark in Cleburne and Johnson County and he made it quick and deep,” Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said. “When you listened to him, if you didn’t hear the slight northern accent, you’d swear he was a third or fourth generation Cleburnite. He knew and understood the best of our community and always promoted it.”

Bailey set his love and promotion of community in action in 2012 when he opened the Cabinetry in Cleburne against the advice of many.

“I knew I wanted to open in Cleburne, not DFW,” Bailey said in 2015. “A lot of people told me that I’d spend a lot of money for not a lot of return in Cleburne. But the people of Cleburne and the area have really come out for us. We feel blessed. Cleburne has done more for us than I could ever possibly ask and I’m so happy we decided to open here.

“And we look forward to being here as Cleburne makes it big.”

Bailey’s words proved prophetic in light of Cleburne and the county’s unprecedented population and building growth that began shortly after 2015.

As a thank you to the community in 2015, Bailey arranged an in store appearance by Chicago Bears and Baylor University great Mike Singletary, who spent much of that day signing autographs and posing for pictures.

“Chuck had great business acumen,” Cain said. “On top of that, he loved his community, loved service and was a man of faith. He was one of a kind, just kind of a perfect storm of all those good things coming together in him.

“He had a great entrepreneurial mind as well and often helped young business owners figure out how to make their mark.”

Bailey was a longtime member and supporter of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce having been brought on board by former Chamber President Cathy Marchel, who passed away in 2020. Bailey served for several years on the chamber board including stints as chairman and vice chairman.

“Chuck was selfless, loving and passionate about helping others,” former Chamber President Tara Janszen said. “His engaging and energetic presence will be greatly missed at chamber and community functions.

“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity I had to work closely with him during his many years of service on the Cleburne Chamber board of directors. Chuck strengthened the Cleburne Chamber and our community with his dedication to helping local businesses succeed. I will miss my friend dearly but forever remember his legacy of servant leadership.”

Bailey was larger than life, Chamber Community Relations Specialist Jackie Saylors said.

“Hearing of his passing was horrible news and a horrible loss,” Saylors said. “Chuck loved and supported the chamber and was involved in everything we did.”

Saylors called Bailey a great friend as well.

“He never met a stranger,” Saylors said. “He was just the sweetest person, Becky and him both. He’s come in the office with his arms held out and yell, “Jackie!,” and I’d yell, “Chucky!.” He’d hug and visit with everyone, just made everyone feel welcome and was such an amazing human being.”

Chamber Vice President Melinda Finnell feels much the same.

“Loved the community, his family and the chamber,” Finnell said. “But his deep faith always outshone everything. Chuck was a huge positive in the community and will be greatly missed.”

Cain summed Bailey up as an encourager both to him personally and so many others in the community.

“You think of community leaders who made their marks through holding public office,” Cain said. “But then there are people like Chuck who always answered the call to jump in, help out and make a difference. Anytime there’s something good going on in the community all you have to do is dig a little deeper and you’ll find their fingerprints on it, and that’s the kind of person Chuck was.”

Cain and others joked that Bailey and Marchel are already no doubt formulating plans for the betterment of heaven.

“When he and Cathy were here working on plans for the chamber and community it was an amazing sight to see,” Cain said. “They were unstoppable.”

Bailey also strongly supported the creation of The Depot and Cleburne Station, which led to the revival of the Cleburne Railroaders baseball team after decades of dormancy.

News of Bailey’s passing came as a gut punch, Cain said, but added that the positive impact he leaves behind will not soon be forgotten.

Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey, no relation, also counted Bailey as a close friend.

“We shared the same name and the same principles,” Rick Bailey said. “I just loved that guy. He was such an inspiration. He loved working for the Lord, loved people and he was a giver.

“This leaves a big void in town now because Chuck did a lot of good things for a lot of people.”

Bailey recalled a chance encounter in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

“My son and I were hauling a trailer of bottled water to Ingleside,” Bailey said. “We stopped at a Buc-ee’s and ran into Chuck and [Cleburne business owner Fernando Rodriguez]. We didn’t know they were going down there and they didn’t know we were going. So, we ended up going down together and working there.”

Rodriguez said he and Bailey were delivery toys and supplies collected by the chamber.

“So five hours from Cleburne we just randomly ran into Rick,” Rodriguez said. “We had no idea he was heading that way. It was a God thing.”

Rodriguez laughed remembering the “big sign” on the back of Bailey’s truck during the push for The Depot and Cleburne Station.

“He was just such a likable guy,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody loved him. He and his wife Becky were both so passionate about and giving to the community. We had a good friendship and I’m was so sad to hear of his passing.”

“This news ignited a level of excitement within me that I compare to the joy I felt on my wedding day, as well as the birth of my two children,” Kirkpatrick said.

CLEBURNE, Texas — Another North Texas school district will be going into the 2023-24 school year with a new leader running the district.

On Wednesday, Cleburne Independent School District's board named Burleson ISD Chief of Schools Coby Kirkpatrick as the lone finalist to be the next superintendent following a unanimous vote during a school board meeting.

In compliance with state law, a 21-day waiting period will now go into effect before the Trustees conduct a final vote to employ Kirkpatrick as superintendent.

This comes after the Cleburne ISD's Board of Trustees approved an agreement in March between the district and Superintendent Kyle Heath on his resignation.

“This 21-day waiting period will give our stakeholders time to learn more about Dr. Kirkpatrick, while giving him the opportunity to learn more about Cleburne schools and our community,” School Board President Elizabeth Childress said in a press release. “We believe he has the qualities, skills and strengths our staff, parents and community want in our school district leader, based on the input we received from them.”

Kirkpatrick said he counts the school board’s decision to name him a lone finalist for superintendent among his most memorable moments.

“This news ignited a level of excitement within me that I compare to the joy I felt on my wedding day, as well as the birth of my two children,” Kirkpatrick said in the district's press release. “I look forward to joining CISD’s team, where we will work together to bring student success to even greater heights.”

Kirkpatrick joined Burleson ISD’s administrative staff just prior to the start of the 2014-2015 school year as director of Human Resources. One year later, he was named executive director of Human Resources and Student Services.

Kirkpatrick began his career in 1990 as an athletic trainer and teacher in Fort Worth ISD, where he served through 1998.

He spent 16 years with White Settlement ISD, as an athletic trainer and teacher for five years before moving into campus administration as an assistant principal. In his last seven years in the district, he served as an elementary school principal.

“In our interviews with him, his enthusiasm and excitement at the possibility of becoming our next superintendent were very evident—and that made a big difference to us," Childress said. "He has a true passion for kids—meeting them where they are and doing all he can in moving them forward. Dr. Kirkpatrick wants to be the superintendent of Cleburne ISD—and he feels Cleburne would be a great place to call home.”

Kirkpatrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University. His Master’s in Education and Doctorate of Educational Leadership degrees are from Tarleton State University.

“This is one of the most important decisions to be made by a school board,” Childress said. “We have devoted a tremendous amount of time, thought, discussion—and prayer—in seeking the right person to be our next superintendent. We are very pleased to announce Dr. Kirkpatrick as our lone finalist.”

Located just 30 minutes south of Fort Worth, Texas, you’ll find Cleburne, Texas, a charming small town worthy of a day trip or weekend getaway. Established in 1867, Cleburne was once a stop along the historic Chisholm Trail, as it was a watering hole for cattle and thirsty drovers too. In the late 1800s after the railroad came to town, Cleburne boomed as a transportation center, connecting smaller towns and larger cities.

Today, Cleburne’s history is alive and well through its museums, entertainment scene, and nods to its past, including a minor league baseball team known as the Cleburne Railroaders. Here’s how to spend some time in this small Texas town beaming with life.

What to Do

At the Gone With the Wind Remembered Museum, owner Vicky Lynn Rogers has been collecting memorabilia for more than 30 years, making this one of the most comprehensive collections of GWTW items in the world. The museum has one-of-a-kind pieces, plus rare pieces from the movie, including the mourning bonnet worn by Scarlett O’Hara. There’s also a theater seat from the 1939 premiere of GWTW from the Atlanta Loew’s Theatre, tickets from the showing, jewelry pieces that were sold to promote the movie, dolls, props, and more. The Cleburne Railroad Museum tells the story of the town’s railroad past with more than 2,000 artifacts, model trails, and programming, and the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, located on the Chisholm Trail at Lake Pat Cleburne, includes the county’s original courthouse building, a stagecoach station, and a working blacksmith shop where visitors can take blacksmithing lessons.

Cleburne’s newest attraction is The Dillon Depot where an HO model train exhibit depicts midcentury, small-town life in vivid detail. There's also an antique mall, plus a vintage soda fountain serving homemade ice cream. At night, see a Broadway musical at Plaza Theatre Company, or a regional music act at Songbird Live. Summer months bring quality baseball for a fraction of MLB prices at La Moderna Field, home of the Cleburne Railroaders. The ballpark is home to some of the best in concessions, including Cleburne’s Loaf ‘n Dog hot dogs, sangria from Stone Trough Winery, fajita fries, and margaritas from the famous Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth (be careful, these margaritas aren’t joking around). Stick around for post-game fireworks every Friday night.

Where to Shop

Cleburne’s downtown scene is completely walkable and full of mom-and-pop shops worthy of exploration. New to the area is Trovato Street, a blast from the past full of retro candy plus house-made chocolates. There’s even a root beer bar with a rotating selection of 40+ root beers. Grab a root beer flight or ask about ice cream floats with your favorite root beer poured over the top. At Central Station Toys, visitors are invited to build with Legos, play games, and shop for toys of all kinds. Downtown is also full of boutiques, antiques, and art.

Where to Eat

Grab a pre- or post-dinner cocktail at Johnson Country Distillery, where strawberry Moscow mules, craft beer, and hand-tossed pizzas accompany live music and good times. There’s also The Break Room Brewing Company, where comfort foods such as meatloaf and chicken fried steak compete with burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and more for a well-rounded menu. (The catfish is top notch.) Carnivores rejoice with Fly By Night Steakhouse, situated on a 250-acre working Brangus cattle ranch. Menu items include “shot gun shells”—cheese-stuffed jalapenos, wrapped in bacon, and panko fried— plus house-cut steaks, lobster tails, salmon, shrimp and grits, and more. For a uniquely Cleburne experience, head to 1949 Burger Bar, a 10 x 10 foot building (the second oldest in Cleburne) that’s been a local favorite for 74 years. They cook their burgers on a cast-iron grill from the 1800s that was belonged to the original owner of Burger Bar. La Cima specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine (the brisket tacos are delicious), and for a down-home breakfast, you can’t go wrong with R&K Café II.

Where to Stay

Walking distance from downtown shops and restaurants is the Liberty Hotel, a boutique property with a pool, gym, and complimentary breakfast. Built in 1924, the 50-room hotel is a charming place to rest after a long day around town.