Local News:

More on the Grapevine lifestyle and many events in the city are covered weekly in our favorite local papers listed at the bottom of this page.

Unwind the Vine - Support Grapevine's Businesses

Unwind the Vine- DFW Connector Business Retention Program In an effort to assist the businesses impacted by the DFW Connector Construction, the City has partnered with the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce in a business retention program. All Grapevine residents (and many in neighboring cities) should have received an "Unwind the VIne" loyalty card in the mail in the past week. The cards can be stamped at any of the participating businesses on  The Unwind the Vine website . Once the card has 10 stamps, it can be turned in at any of the participating businesses. The completed cards will then be turned back in to the Chamber of Commerce for a prize drawing at their monthly luncheon.  The first prize donated is a set of tires donated by Blagg Tire & Service.  Extra cards are available at the participating businesses, City Hall, or the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce.

Grapevine Wine Tours Announces Annual Awards

Homestead named “Most Outstanding Winery of the Year” by tour guests. GRAPEVINE, TX  (August 8, 2011) – Grapevine Wine Tours announced today that Homestead Winery has won its annual award for “Most Outstanding Winery” in Grapevine.  One of Homestead’s most popular wines – Rose of Ivanhoe -- was also recognized as the “Most Outstanding Wine” in a year-long vote conducted exclusively with guests of the wine tour company. The honors were officially unveiled during a first anniversary celebration of Grapevine Wine Tours’ inaugural tour of local wineries.  The 2010-2011 winners are –             Most Outstanding Winery               Homestead Winery                        Most Outstanding Wine                   Rose of Ivanhoe (Homestead) “This is just a tremendous honor, and we are so pleased to know that your guests have enjoyed their time at our little winery,” said John Hatcher of Homestead.  “We’re very grateful for all the business the Grapevine Wine Tours have brought to us over the past year, and we appreciate the fact that you’re exposing so many new people to the wonderful wines we make here in Texas.” “Each of the seven wineries we visit is extraordinary in its own way, and our guests have told us in no uncertain terms that they love North Texas wines,” said Ladd Biro, co-owner of Grapevine Wine Tours.  “But there’s something singularly exceptional about Homestead, with its outstanding customer experience, delicious wines, and even the quirky facility. It doesn’t hurt that John and his associates are very generous with their pours.” “We wrapped up our first year of operations with a record month in July, so we’re obviously onto something special here,” said Biro.  “We have a first-rate team of tour guides, Kelli Sattler has solidified our relationships with the local hotels and other businesses, and we couldn’t be more blessed by the wonderful wineries that are the real foundation of our success.” Tours rotate daily between Cross Timbers Winery, Delaney Vineyards, D’Vine Wine, Farina’s Winery & Café, Homestead Winery, La Buena Vida Vineyards and Su Vino Winery. Every four-hour excursion includes tastings at three wineries, a delicious lunch or dinner, a tour of Historic Grapevine led by a professional guide, and transportation to and from local hotels on a 25-passenger tour bus. Daily lunch and dinner tours are affordably priced at $64.50 and $84.50, respectively.  Group rates and deluxe packages designed for corporate outings, conference and convention groups, fundraisers, birthday and anniversary celebrations and other special occasions are also available. At the conclusion of every tour, guests are asked to complete a survey, which includes their choices for most outstanding winery and wine.  Awards are announced quarterly and annually, exclusively by Grapevine Wine Tours. To book reservations, or for additional details on group rates, packages, itineraries and more, call 817.259.WINE (9463), email info@GrapevineWineTours.com or visit www.GrapevineWineTours.com. For photos or interview requests, please see contact info below. Ladd K. Biro Co-Owner GRAPEVINE WINE TOURS, LLC P.O. Box 2761 Grapevine, TX  76099-2761 Reservations: 817.259.WINE (9463) Cell:   817.675.3499 Follow us at http://www.facebook.com/GWTours

Grapevine Lake Dam - Road to Close July 11, 2011

Officials plan to close a major roadway on the Grapevine Lake dam next month for repairs and maintenance of the dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along with the City of Grapevine will close Fairway Drive tentatively on July 11, and it is rescheduled to open the first week of August. Officials say the closure date could change. The road will be closed for repairs on the dam and to relocate an electric line. During this time, all vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on top of the dam will be prohibited. Travelers will have to use an alternate route such as Texas 26 or Farm Market 2499. Silver Lake Park and Marina, Cowboys Golf Course and the Grapevine Lake office will remain accessible from the south side of Fairway Drive by Texas 26. Rockledge Park and the Grapevine Municipal Golf Course will remain accessible from the north side of Fairway Drive by Lakeside Parkway or Silveron Boulevard off of Farm Market 2499. For questions, please contact the Grapevine Lake office at 817 865-2600.

EatZi's Market is Coming to Grapevine

On Tuesday the Grapevine City Council and 4B Econimic Development Board approved an agreement with EatZi's that would bring two locations to Grapevine. The "flagship" location would be at the intersection of Highway 114 and William D. Tate in the former Luby's building within a year and another, smaller store, would follow. Eatzi's will prepare and sell chef quality meals, specialty groceries, a coffee bar and a bakery. For more information, visit  www.eatzis.com.

Great Wolf Lodge and Varsity Unveil The UCA Pavillion

Varsity, the leading cheerleading and dance team camp and competition organization, and Great Wolf Lodge, the largest family of indoor waterparks in North America, are celebrating the unveiling of the new "UCA Pavilion" at the Great Wolf Lodge resort in Grapevine, Texas. Varsity and Great Wolf first teamed up in 2009 with a five-year partnership consisting of UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) and UDA (Universal Dance Association) camps at six locations. This partnership has grown, and Varsity is anticipating training more than 7,500 cheerleaders and dancers at eight Great Wolf Lodge locations in 2011. Today, the Great Wolf Resorts is the largest resort company hosting Varsity cheerleading and dance team camps.

Baylor's New Oncology Unit

Baylor Regional Medical Center prepares to open a new Oncology Unit. People with cancer will have more options for their care when Baylor opens its new 20-bed Oncology Unit in March, 2011. Located the hospital on the fifth floor of the Carter Building, ihe inpatient unit is dedicated to the quality care of adult cancer patients and their families when hospitalization if required.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth Opens March 30, 2011

Opening at Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas on March 30, 2011, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth will be the second LEGOLAND Discovery Center venue to open in the U.S. and the fifth in the world. Described as stepping into the biggest box of LEGO bricks in the world, the $12 million, 35,000-square-foot LEGOLAND attraction will feature a unique MINILAND – a recreation out of LEGO bricks of landmark buildings in D/FW - as its key attraction, which the successful model builder will be responsible for helping to create and maintain. With over two million bricks under one roof, this exciting indoor attraction also will offer its visitors a fun, highly interactive and educational two-to-three hour experience that is made up of a series of interactive features, including hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, LEGO rides, special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations. For more information or to purchase advance tickets visit www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com. Visitors can also call 972-539-9386.

Texas Star Dinner Theater to Open on Main Street April 1st

A murder mystery dinner theater will be the among this year's additions to Grapevine's growing collection of entertainment and tourist attractions. Texas Star Dinner Theater is planning to open in April in downtown Grapevine, providing a new and permanent home for Lone Star Murder Mysteries. "We're very excited to have our own place," said Phyllis Addison, vice president of operations for Lagniappe Productions, which produces the murder mysteries and other Old West entertainment. "We think that being in historic downtown Grapevine is a good fit for us." Lone Star Murder Mysteries, which puts on Wild West comedy with a whodunit spin, has begun taking reservations for its shows, beginning April 1. The theater will open at 816 S. Main St., and will be open to the public every Friday and Saturday evening. The venue will be available for private groups and parties on other days. "This will be a great addition for Grapevine," said Cathy Hernandez, president of Arts Council Northeast, which provides sponsors for arts programs across Northeast Tarrant County. "Grapevine is already an exciting place for the arts, and this makes it even better." Food will be provided by the adjacent Chill Restaurant & Bar. The price of $55 per person includes a choice of three entrees, along with salad, dessert and the show. Lagniappe also produces the train robberies on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and the Six Flags Over Texas gunfights. For information or tickets, visit www.lonestarmurdermysteries.com or call 817 310-5588.

Keep Grapevine Beautiful Awards

Keep Grapevine Beautiful recently was honored with two awards. The first award, the “People’s Garden Award”, received from the U. S. Department of Agriculture for the GRACE Gardens in Grapevine. The second award, “President’s Circle Recognition Award”, acknowledges the great work of the many volunteers in Grapevine helping keep our city clean. This award was presented by Keep America Beautiful.

New Boat Ramp on Lake Grapevine

The City is in the final phase of design of a new low water boat ramp that will be located at Meadowmere Park in northwest Grapevine. Included in the project is a new restroom, picnic pavilion and landscaping. Construction on the boat ramp and other improvements should begin in June of 2011.

New Walking/Cycling Trail to Grapevine Mills Mall

A 1.3-mile paved path along Hwy. 26 will connect an existing hike-and-bike trail near the Gaylod Texan Resort with the Grapevine Mills Circle around the mall. The path will pass by Hilton DFW Lakes and Bass Pro Shop. Construction is expected to begin in late 2011 and last up to a year. The design of the $1.5M trail is about 40% complete. A state grant will pay $1.1M of the project's cost and the city will cover the remaining amount. This project will be the first construction of a trail included in a recent update to the city's trails master plan.

Trail Steward Program

The City Council and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board have approved a new program and manager in support of the 26 plus miles of hike and bike trails in Grapevine. The new program is called the Trail Steward Program and the first Volunteer Trail Steward Manager is Mr. Travis Smith. The purpose of the program is to assist staff with minor maintenance of the trails, be the eyes and ears for the city on the trails and to assist with educating trail users on trail etiquette and safety. If you are interested in being a Volunteers Trail Steward, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 817 410.3122.

Convention and Visitors Bureau's New Headquarters Building

Construction of the new headquarters for the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau remains on track and on budget, says bureau director. The roughly 40,000 square-foot, $10 million building construction began last March and is expected to end next spring. The bureau expects to move in by mid-summer, with interior finish to continue for several more months. The topping-off ceremony was held last month, as a pyramid-shaped roof structure was placed atop four 120-foot steel beams of a clock tower, which will serve as the building's architectural anchor. The new facility is located at 630 S. Main Street, in Grapevine.

Grapevine Chamber Honored at Statewide Conference

On June 29, 2010, the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce was recognized by the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Assn. The Chamber received 1st place for their map and 2nd place for their monthly newletter publications. Also recognized at the conference was President RaDonna Hessel, with the 2010 Distinguished Service Award.  Hessel stated, "I am honored to be recognized by my profession's state organization and peers. I attempt to practice what I preach to the Chamber members daily, that everyone has to get involved and take a leadership role to make a difference".

i5 web works Selected to Design Website for Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

Southlake, TX (PRWEB) July 26, 2010 — i5 web works (www.i5ww.com), a website development and internet marketing explained company headquarted in Dallas-Fort Worth, has been selected by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce (www.GrapevineChamber.org) to design its new website. “We are honored to have been chosen for this project and are excited about the opportunities this new website will provide to the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and its members,” commented Michael Burns, co-founder and partner of i5 web works. The new website will include a custom design which will reflect the diversity of the Grapevine business community and provide information about the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and the businesses which makeup the chamber. According to RaDonna Hessel, president of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, i5 web works was chosen after an extensive RFP and interview process. “For over a year, the Technology Committee of the Grapevine Chamber considered various proposals for the creation of a new website to serve the business investors of the Chamber as well as the Grapevine Community,” explained Hessel. “While there were several bids from quality companies in the Grapevine area that were received, the ultimate selection of i5 web works was based on a complete package – which included pricing, experience, examples of work and the ability to create a unique final product. As a long-time Chamber member and community partner, i5 web works has been committed to creating websites with up-to-date features with world class components.” The new website is scheduled to launch late September, 2010.

SEA LIFE Aquarium Comes to Grapevine

Merlin Entertainments is partnering with The Grapevine Mills Mall to bring North Texas a new SEA LIFE Aquarium in the summer of 2011. The initial plans for the $15 million aquarium include a two-story, 45,000 square-foot aquarium featuring a wide array of marine life and a tropical ocean tank built with a walk-through underwater tunnel. The attraction also offers interactive opportunities for visitors including feeding demonstrations and participation in environmental and conservation marine campaigning. “The SEA LIFE Aquarium will be the perfect complement to Grapevine Mills Mall already celebrated shopping and entertainment experience. We look forward to our partnership with Merlin Entertainments and are confident that families will revel in the deep sea wonders that the aquarium will bring,” said Gregg Goodman, president of Grapevine Mills, in a press release. The aquarium is Merlin’s fourth SEA LIFE attraction to open in the USA. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, another Merlin Entertainments attraction, announced its plans last year to open at Grapevine Mills in March 2011. SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND will be built across from one another. Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate supports the attractions in North Texas by stating, “The combination of SEA LIFE, along with the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, will further solidify Grapevine’s position as the leading destination city in North Texas for families. SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre will also create new jobs and generate additional income for local companies supplying and supporting these attractions."

City Council Approves $1.4M Rennovations for Vineyards Campgrounds

The Vinyards Campground was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1960s and later leased at no cost to the city. On Tuesday (April 20), the Grapevine City Council approved spending $1.4 million to hook up water, sewer and electricity to the sites and to pay for foundations for additional cabins. It’s the latest step in a renovation effort begun in 2006, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The lack of utilities was a chief complaint among otherwise excellent reviews for the 52-acre campground, said Joe Moore, assistant parks director for Grapevine. Tuesday’s action is a remedy that shows “we listen to the opinions of people as to what they say they need,” he said. The city-owned camping area is “a big draw” to Lake Grapevine’s south shore, Moore said. Last year, it was one of two in Texas to receive a top score in a survey of RV enthusiasts. It also was named best medium-size campground by the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO). Its 68 RV sites average a 70% occupancy rate for the year, and the five furnished cabins are booked until mid-August, he said. That traffic generates enough fees to cover maintenance, as well as to repay $1.7 million in bonds issued last year for improvements. The $1.4 million approved Tuesday is from those bonds and also pays Carrollton-based Cooper General Contractors to build foundations for seven more cabins, which cost up to $50,000 apiece and will be funded separately. Construction is expected to begin in a couple of weeks and end in September, Moore said. Those five months are considered peak camping season but provide the lowest risk of flooding of the work sites. Flooding in 2007 covered campground roads with mud, ruined landscaping and submerged a number of tent and RV sites. Cleanup cost more than $150,000 after Grapevine spent $2 million upgrading the facility and changing the name from Silver Lake Campground the year before.

Grapevine Provides $1M to Grapevine Mills Mall

April, 2010 Grapevine will provide $1 million to Grapevine Mills for unspecified improvements intended to attract "a substantial number of additional shoppers" to the mall, the City Council decided. City officials said money for the incentive package will come from expected surpluses in the tax increment financing district that helped pave the way for the mall, which opened in 1997. Such projects could include improvements to parking lots, sidewalks, lights, signs and interior areas. "Malls are kind of a living, breathing organism, and if you don't keep them alive and new, somebody's going to come in and take your place," Councilman Mike Lease said. "Having funds available to do just that is very important." City officials said the mall has exceeded growth expectations, which will allow the debt to be paid about six years ahead of schedule. Tax revenue collected after that can be used only in the district, Lease said.

XTO Filing for First Gas Well Drilling in Southlake Impacts Grapevine

April, 2010 In a best-case scenario, Southlake's first gas well could be producing a year from now, giving mineral owners their first royalty checks, said Walter Dueease, an XTO official as he addressed crowds at a recent meeting. The first horizontal wells in the city will likely be drilled toward Kimball Avenue, extracting gas from the southwestern section of Southlake. A total of 27 wells could potentially be drilled from the 3-acre pad site on Texas 26 and Mustang Court abutting Southlake's border with Grapevine. The wells could harvest gas from as far away as Kimball Avenue on the east, Southlake Boulevard on the north, White Chapel Boulevard on the west and Big Bear Creek near Parr Park on the south. Property owners who stand to profit from the drilling include the Carroll and Grapevine-Colleyville school districts, the cities of Grapevine and Colleyville, homeowners associations and thousands of homeowners, Dueease said. Schools that could be reached from the pad site include Rockenbaugh, Old Union elementary schools, Dawson Middle School, Eubanks Intermediate School and Dragon Stadium. Another horizontal well would head to points south to extract gas from Grapevine High School, Cross Timbers Middle School, Timberline Elementary School and Mustang-Panther Stadium. Last month, Grapevine received $417,420, or $5,000 an acre, for leasing the 83.5acre Parr Park property from Pool Road east to Heritage Avenue. Grapevine will also receive 25 percent of the value of the gas extracted from the park area. Southlake officials are waiting for the price of natural gas to go up before leasing city properties, including parks. "Even if the council does determine to lease the city's minerals, it would not be financially prudent to do so with the gas market being so low," said Southlake's Mayor John Terrell. "The gas isn't going anywhere." Before drilling begins, however, much has to happen. Southlake Planning and Zoning Commission will review the city's gas drilling ordinance at a work session 5:30 p.m. April 8 at Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main St.

First Baptist Church Plans New Campus

First Baptist Church of Grapevine was founded in 1869 with 18 members and has occupied the property at 301 E. Texas Street since 1905. The church added facilities as its congregation grew, now occupying about 7 acres. With Sunday attendance topping 1,100, the church has outgrown its facilities, per church leaders. The church has received a permit to build a campus on 29 acres at 2301 William D. Tate Ave., with a move expected by early 2011. The new campus will have a 740-seat worship center and facilities totaling more than 81,000 square feet, with room to grow. As a result of this move, a prime property in the heart of Grapevine's historic district may be going onto the market and city officials are considering how they would like the site redeveloped. Appraisers have valued the property between $14.3 and $15 million.

Nash Farm Honored

March 21, 2010 The 150-year-old Nash Farmstead near historic downtown Grapevine is among 14 projects and individuals being honored by Preservation Texas. Thomas Jefferson Nash purchased 110 acres of farmland in Grapevine in 1859, where the family raised cash crops and livestock. Now, the farmstead is 5.2 acres and consists of the original house, barn and family cemetery. The farmstead is owned by the nonprofit Grapevine Heritage Foundation, which has restored the farmhouse to its original appearance. The organization offers educational programs and interpretive exhibits. The awards will be presented April 22, 2010, in Houston during the Texas Historical Commission's Annual Historic Preservation Conference. Preservation Texas advocates for preserving Texas' historical resources.

Grapevine Police Launch 'Nixle'

The Grapevine Police Department is launching a new Community Information Service designed to deliver important and timely information to residents in our area using the latest technology. This service, created by Nixle, LLC, delivers trustworthy and important neighborhood-level public safety and community event notifications by web, e-mail, and cell phone. Grapevine residents can now take advantage of Nixle which is a community information service that issues alerts concerning public safety threats and community events.   Nixle is a new community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. Its authenticated service connects municipal agencies and community organizations to residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted consumers over their cell phones (via text messages), through e-mails and through Web access. Nixle is offered at no cost to all governments, their agencies and organizations, nongovernmental organizations and consumers. In October the Denton Police Dept. used Nixle to help locate a missing Alzheimer patient. With construction of the Hwy. 114/121 corridor soon to begin the service can also be used to notify subscribers of lane and road closures. The Grapevine Police Department urges citizens to go to the Nixle website, www.nixle.com and sign up for the free service. Anyone with questions can contact Crime Prevention Officer Johnny Jones at 817 410-3209. crimeprevention@grapevinetexas.gov

Three Large Developments Announced

There are three massive development projects currently in various stages within Grapevine's city limits: the World Villages of Grapevine, Silver Lake Crossings and Legoland Discovery Centre. These developments are focused on the tourist industry: hospitality, retail, restaurants and entertainment. Announced earlier this year, the World Villages of Grapevine is a planned $1.6 billion, 3-million-square-foot development including a one-of-a-kind indoor ski park and an Asian cultural center to be developed by The Gardens of Grapevine Development LP and set to break ground between state highways 121 and 2499, adjacent to the Grapevine Mills Mall. Nearby is the planned Silver Lake Crossings, a 52-acre master-planned, mixed-use development by Newcrest Development that will feature a 301-room Courtyard by Marriott as well as additional hotels and some multifamily facilities. The most recent project announced in Grapevine, is in entertainment. Merlin Entertainments soon will build Legoland Discovery Centre, a $12 million project, within Grapevine Mills shopping mall. Dan Truex, Grapevine Economic Development Manager stated, “It’s very exciting for us,” Truex said of the three developments. “And then of course you have The Gaylord, which has plans for an expansion, and Great Wolf Lodge, which just wrapped up an expansion.”

Local News Sources:

The Grapevine Courier

The Grapevine Courier, part of the Alliance Regional Newspaper publications group, is owned by The Fort Worth Star Telegram. The Courier specializes in the local news of citizens that reside in the Grapevine/Colleyville Independent School District area. Contact Executive Editor Charles D. Young for publication information.

Tarrant County Newsletter

For business news about the Grapevine marketplace in Northeast Tarrant County, Gary Fickes, Tarrant County Commissioner Pct. 3, also offers an economic development newsletter for your information.

ilovegrapevinetexas.com

Our team will post news online about events that are open to the entire Grapevine community. Please feel free to put us on your media mail list for publication consideration. At least two weeks before your event, please send an e-mail or mail your news release to: P.O. Box 7, Grapevine, Texas 76099.