About Mont Del

The neighborhood of Mont Del sits on the site of a former dairy farm owned by Dr. and Mrs. Cross (for whom Crosslands Rd and Crosslands Ct. are named). The farm was located between the City of Fort Worth and the village of Benbrook. The original farmhouse is the property located at 3 Lombardy Terrace.

The development of Mont Del as a neighborhood was started in 1968 by the son-in-law of Dr. & Mrs. Cross, Phil Bradbury. At the time, only prairie land existed to the south and southwest all the way to the original Benbrook development between Winscott and 377. To the east was prairie land to Trail Lake.

To the north, prairie land extended to the railroad track which parallels Vickery Blvd. West across the Trinity River, the construction of Ridglea Country Club Estates was just beginning. Hulen Street running south dead-ended at the Trinity River. Bryant Irvin was a two-lane-turtle-back country road.

At the railroad, to go north on Bryant Irvin, one had to “jig” east and cross tracks to Vickery on a one-lane bridge. The bridge is now owned by the railroad. Bryant Irvin’s southernmost point began almost at the end of East Legend Road.

The water tower located near Windward, which dominates the Mont Del skyline, was erected as development began. Prior to that, Mont Del was served predominantly by wells. The primary well, located in the southeast corner of Mont Del, is now abandoned and covered. In the late 1970s, development interests passed first to Lincoln Insurance Co., with Jerry Roberts as the developer and subsequently to Bill Hall, who went on to develop Meadows West. That’s why the brick sign at the northern entrance to Mont Del also says Meadows West. The duck pond, initially a private pond owned by the Mont Del development, was taken over by the City of Benbrook for upkeep and maintenance.

The Mont Del Home Owners’ Association was formed in about 1971 with 20 members with dues only $30 per year. Over the years, the Mont Del HOA has been instrumental in protecting the interests of the neighborhood and its residents. Some notable examples include:

1.) Preventing the development of what became Hulen Mall on land bordering the neighborhood

2.) Ensuring that no convenience stores were permitted in property development adjacent to Mont Del

3.) Working with the developers of Sam’s Club and Lowe’s to improve aesthetics and limit signage

4.) In 1993, obtaining the closure of Legend Rd at the Benbrook eastern boundary from its exit to Bryant Irvin which substantially reduced both traffic and crime.

5.) Fighting for more adequate drainage from the City View development

6.) Negotiating a lucrative gas deal with the developers of the Barnet Shale.