OhK! Preston Hollow Billionaire Kelcy Warren Buys Rights to Name Woodall Rogers Park for His Son, Klyde

Share News:

Warren's Park Lane estate

Why is everyone so surprised over energy billionaire Kelcy Warren buying the naming rights to Woodall Rogers Park? It’s not like I haven’t been telling you this is a man who REALLY likes dirt. On February 18, Cheryl Hall at the Dallas Morning News had a dandy exclusive story about Warren’s (rumored) $10 million purchase of the naming rights to Woodall Rogers Park, our venerable 5.2 acre greenbelt park over the freeway that will frost the Arts District in green. He is naming it after his nine year old son, Klyde, who will have to intern there until he’s 21. Cool story, but it’s not as if I haven’t been telling you for years that Kelcy Warren is a cool, self-made man who likes him some real estate and also, apparently, music. While Warren did not make many changes to the Cole Smith designed home of Joyce and Larry Lacerte at 5323 Park Lane he bought in June 2009 for about $29 million, he did add a private, secret music studio hidden off a shoe rack in the spacious master closet. It is designed to be soundproof and that closet is the size of most apartments.

The beautiful Preston Hollow estate was built by computer software magnate Larry Lacerte, and is still Dallas’ largest home sale to date. Well, at least until Troy’s home and Mt. Vernon sell. 5323 Park has entertained scores of dignitaries and raised millions for Dallas charities.  The 26,620 square foot home is set on almost 9 acres of land in the honeypot of Old Preston Hollow and was constructed circa 1991-1993 by a dream team including architect Cole Smith, Smith/Ekblad & Associates, Sherry Hayslip-Smith, Hayslip Design Associates and Cole Smith, Jr., Crowbar Contractors. At the time of sale, it contained a racquetball court, exercise room and locker rooms adjacent to a near Olympic-sized natatorium, bowling alley, wine cellar with tasting room, an Orangerie conservatory overlooking interlocking Koi ponds loaded with about a million dollars worth of Koi, tennis court, baseball diamond and a private lake. Dave Perry-Miller (Ebby Halliday) agent Ralph Randall represented the Lacerte family. They are, by the way, building in Highland Park.

5313 Park Lane was originally listed in 2008 for $45 million, then lowered to just under $40 million as the nation’s real estate bubble went bust. According to my sources, it sold for about $29 million-ish, and sharp Kelsey asked for an outside appraisal. His buyer’s agent was Rosie Waters of Allie Beth Allman and Associates, who is married to football legend Charlie Waters, who works for Mr. Warren.

Warren's Bootjack Ranch

The Warren (former Lacerte) home has entertained Prince Edward, former President George W. and Laura Bush, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jaap van Zweden, and Caroline Rose Hunt, among others, plus feted countless Dallas charity galas and pre-galas. While the social patter over there has been a little more subdued with Kelcy and his new wife, Amy, at the helm, it could be because they just travel so darn much to their other properties via a fleet of private jets: a private island in Roatan, Honduras and Bootjack Ranch near Telluride, Colo. I saw one of the Warren’s private jets at the FBO in Crested Butte, CO. last summer. Let me tell you —  nice wheels!

Candy Evans, founder and publisher of CandysDirt.com, is one of the nation’s leading real estate reporters.

11 Comments

  1. John S. Shore on February 21, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Wowsers. I've seen the house from the street, but had no idea the property was so large. I'm glad the bridge is being named after a future leader for Dallas. Now could we get him to name all of the potholes for say, his dog or something. It'd only take about $10 million to fix Lemmon Avenue.

  2. John S. Shore on February 21, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Wowsers. I've seen the house from the street, but had no idea the property was so large. I'm glad the bridge is being named after a future leader for Dallas. Now could we get him to name all of the potholes for say, his dog or something. It'd only take about $10 million to fix Lemmon Avenue.

  3. Karen Eubank on February 21, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    What ? ONLY 10 Mil? The rights should be auctioned off. They can raise a lot more than that. This is DALLAS! : )

  4. Karen Eubank on February 21, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    What ? ONLY 10 Mil? The rights should be auctioned off. They can raise a lot more than that. This is DALLAS! : )

  5. Scott M. on February 21, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    I understand, however, that his son has to do some sort of "community service" at the park in order to teach him the proper work ethic. I heard this on KRLD this morning as I was driving under the monstrosity. Perhaps Dallas City Hall can concentrate on the potholed streets now since the "bridge to nowhere" is almost finished and the "park of zero returns" is too. First things first ya' know…

  6. Scott M. on February 21, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    I understand, however, that his son has to do some sort of "community service" at the park in order to teach him the proper work ethic. I heard this on KRLD this morning as I was driving under the monstrosity. Perhaps Dallas City Hall can concentrate on the potholed streets now since the "bridge to nowhere" is almost finished and the "park of zero returns" is too. First things first ya' know…

  7. Tony Parson on February 22, 2012 at 12:22 am

    Candy, show us the place in Roatan. I love Roatan! Bet Nancy's been there!

  8. Tony Parson on February 22, 2012 at 12:22 am

    Candy, show us the place in Roatan. I love Roatan! Bet Nancy's been there!

  9. […] listed for as high as $45 million, listing agent was darling Ralph Randall. Mr. Warren has been busy naming parks and buying real estate in Roatan, Telluride CO and elsewhere, I’m […]

  10. […] listed for as high as $45 million, listing agent was darling Ralph Randall. Mr. Warren has been busy naming parks and buying real estate in Roatan, Telluride CO and elsewhere, I’m […]

  11. wiki on December 21, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    I wonder how much it would cost to pump oil into his water supply, and his…….oh dear swimming pool I actually dont think it would be that hard to do……get the local maps check out the age of the infrastructure just get some of the shit oil spilt out of the pipelines all across america…………and you to can be like the rest of america drinking shit water

Leave a Comment