Target Moves Toward First Dripping Springs Store, Expanding Retail Footprint Along Busy U.S. 290 Corridor

Land purchase sets the stage for a full-size Target in a rapidly growing Hill Country community

Target has taken a concrete step toward opening its first store in Dripping Springs, purchasing roughly 10.5 acres along U.S. Highway 290 for a planned full-size location. The site is at 13550 W. U.S. 290, positioning the retailer on a key westward growth corridor of the Austin metro area.

The deal closed on Jan. 12, 2026, based on county deed records. The acquisition clears a major hurdle for development by giving the company direct control of the land needed for what is expected to be a large-format store.

Project scope: a large store and a broader retail center

The planned Target is expected to be approximately 145,000 square feet. Development materials for the surrounding project describe a larger retail center concept branded as “The Village at Dripping Springs,” planned across roughly 26 acres. In addition to the Target building, plans include more retail space in separate structures and multiple additional development pads that could accommodate future tenants such as shops or restaurants.

• Planned Target store size: about 145,000 square feet
• Site address: 13550 W. U.S. 290, Dripping Springs
• Broader concept: a multi-tenant shopping center with additional buildings and pad sites

Why Dripping Springs is drawing big-box expansion

Dripping Springs has posted rapid population growth in recent years. U.S. Census Bureau estimates put the city at 10,165 residents as of July 1, 2024, up from an estimates base of 4,920 in 2020—an increase of 106.6% over that period.

Retail development has followed. A major H-E-B store opened in July 2023 at the former Nutty Brown Café & Amphitheater site near the intersection of County Road 163 and U.S. 290. Target’s planned location would add a second major general-merchandise anchor to the area’s expanding shopping options.

Timing: opening date not announced, multi-year buildout possible

No opening date has been publicly confirmed. In planning materials tied to the larger development, the timeline has been described as extending into 2028, reflecting the scale of the store and the surrounding center. Construction start timing can also depend on permitting, site work, and coordination with broader infrastructure and adjacent development.

The purchase of land is an early milestone, but the overall schedule will be shaped by permitting and the phased buildout of the surrounding retail project.

Regional context: continued Target investment in the Austin area

The Dripping Springs move fits into a broader pattern of large-format retail investment across the metro’s fast-growing outer communities, where new housing and traffic volumes are reshaping where major retailers place stores. Target has also been developing another large store in Liberty Hill to the north, underscoring the company’s focus on growth areas beyond Austin’s urban core.

For Dripping Springs, the project represents a significant commercial addition along a corridor already defined by rapid residential growth, commuting patterns, and intensifying competition among large retailers for convenient access to new households.