Top Stories of 2025 ― Fort Worth Digital Diary’s Best
Maverick will boast a Tom Fazio designed private course as its central amenity.
Maverick will boast a Tom Fazio designed private course as its central amenity.
Source:Top Stories of 2025 ― Fort Worth Digital Diary’s Best
These are the Stories That Got You Talking This Year
View Gallery
5 Photos
So much has happened this year in Fort Worth. It’s been a year filled with anticipated openings, closings, big events, and big reveals. Fort Worth Digital Diary took you on a tour of the best Fort Worth has to offer, from stylish retail offerings to new developments, and all the culinary news month after month. As the calendar flips from 2025 to a brand new year, it’s time to look back at the top stories of 2025. These are the stories you loved most.
Inside Maverick Golf & Ranch Club ― Luxury On The Horizon
Discovery Land Company Has Big Plans To Create One Of Fort Worth’s Most Luxurious Enclaves
Far west Fort Worth, bordering Benbrook and Willow Park, will see the first-ever property by internationally famous Discovery Land Company. Owner Mike Meldman is adding a luxury community to Tarrant County. Two other Texas developments by Discovery ― Westlake’s Vaquero Golf Club and Austin’s Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, have Tom Fazio-designed courses as well.
The Veale Ranch is a massive working cattle ranch that has been owned by the same family since 1935. It was purchased by Dallas-based PMB Capital, with long-term development plans that include Maverick Golf & Ranch Club as a partner.
Maverick will encompass 1,100 acres of the overall 3,700-acre property ― promising to bring a lavish, amenity-laden lifestyle. The property’s focal point will be its 39 holes of premier golf, with 484 residential units wrapping around it. But that doesn’t describe the epic scale of the lifestyle Maverick Golf & Ranch Club intends to bring to town.
The Crazy Water Hotel Names Stefon Rishel As Its New Chef
As Mineral Wells Increasingly Becomes a Destination, He’ll Carry The Culinary Vision Forward
Fort Worth Digital Diary was the first to report the transition from Chef David Bull’s tenure at The Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells. Fort Worth favorite, Chef Stefon Rishel, was tapped to take the reins of the brand new concept ― Oak & Third. With his trademark mohawk, Rishel brings a stylish new menu to the wellness destination.
At Wishbone & Flynt, Rishel crafted a menu including his famous PB&J wings with blackberry coulis and a spicy peanut sauce, buttermilk chicken and waffles, and a Dutch baby for brunch with lemon curd and blueberries.
At TreMogli, he prepared perfect handmade focaccia, wagyu meatballs, and fresh pastas, including traditional cacio e pepe, as well as entrees such as his crispy pork chop Milanese. In other words, Chef Rishel has got plenty of range. We’re looking forward to tasting the new menu he’ll craft in Mineral Wells.
Michelin Guide Reveals Its New Hotel Key Awards In Texas
To Make a Long Story Short, Not Much Has Changed
Before Michelin revealed its snub of Fort Worth restaurants this year, the Key Awards landed the first punch. Unfortunately, Fort Worth Digital Diary called it. The hotel awards didn’t change much at all in the entire state, and especially in Fort Worth. But Michelin has only been in the state for two years now, and very likely hasn’t spent enough time exploring Cowtown, which remains one of the state’s top tourist destinations.
Only three hotels are mentioned in Fort Worth on Michelin’s website: Bowie House, Hotel Drover, and The Kimpton Harper. Only three were even mentioned! Likely the only three hotels that have been visited by Michelin again this year, in “little ole” Fort Worth. You know, the No. 11 largest city in America.
Oh, who are we kidding? Everybody knows Fort Worth is less than 2000 residents from bypassing Jacksonville, Florida, and landing just behind Dallas as the 10th largest city in the country (some are already projecting Fort Worth has made that leap to No. 10).
Perhaps now we can dispense with the myth of D-FW. It’s never been a thing. That moniker was concocted when DFW International Airport was born just over 50 years ago. We’re not the twin cities of Texas. Never have been. Dallas and Fort Worth are an hour drive apart, with massive Arlington and the Mid-Cities sandwiched in the middle.
Catching Up With Eric & Sainty Nelsen
Why These Highly Sought-After Actors Chose Fort Worth To Be Their Home Base, Plus News About Their Upcoming Movies, Podcast, And More
With seven Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards between them, this jet-setting couple has planted their family in Fort Worth. Eric and Sainty Nelsen are just like a lot of busy young families, with the added stress of filming movies on location and promoting their projects. Our intimate conversation shed light on how they juggle it all.
Eric and Sainty say that they can manage their busy careers thanks to two things that living in Fort Worth affords them. First, they can travel anywhere easily thanks to DFW Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world, making it a major hub with plenty of non-stop flights. Plus, they have their entire family support system here in Fort Worth.
“When we can’t be there, it’s so comforting to know that we have grandparents, aunts, and uncles who can fill in for us,” Sainty Nelsen says. “Making our children feel safe and cared for.”
The Rebirth Of Margie’s Italian Gardens
Westland Hospitality Polishes A Historic Fort Worth Gem, Bringing It Back To Its Roots
A sentimental and historic Italian restaurant got a fresh new start thanks to Westland Hospitality. It updated the quaint space and kept many of the original recipes, while putting new spins on old favorites. Margie’s has been a packed house ever since ― clearly one of Fort Worth’s best new restaurants this year. You loved this story, and Fort Worth Digital Diary was pleased to bring it to you.
As luck would have it, I was seated at the table next to Doyle Walters, who is the son of Margie’s founder, Margie Lizzo Walters. He recalls working in the kitchen in his youth, and when I asked if he was still in the restaurant business, he shuddered a bit and answered with an emphatic, “No, I couldn’t take another minute.” After all, it’s a tough business.
Of the completely reimaging space and more historic menu, Walters says, “It’s more like the Margie’s that opened in 1953 (then closed in 1996) than the one that closed in 2023.”
The one that closed in 2023 had no connection or relationship to Margie, except the use of a generic name.
What a fabulous year 2025 has been. Fort Worth has seen a lot of growth from new dining and shopping to visual and performing arts and lavish new developments on the horizon. We can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring. Add Fort Worth Digital Diary to your home screen, or simply join our mailing list, so you won’t miss a thing.