McDonald's Abilene (42-3732)

A new McDonald's restaurant is under development at 6144 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas. The project, filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) as McDonald's Abilene (42-3732), involves the construction of a 4,146 sq ft facility in the Chimney Rock Area of Taylor County. The build is scheduled to finish in October 2026, following a start date of April 2026.

McDonald's USA is the owner of record for this privately funded project on private land. The scope of work includes a new dual-lane drive-thru layout located behind the main building, along with comprehensive site work. The estimated cost for the project is $750,000, which calculates to $181 per square foot.

Castles Design Group is the design firm of record, while Kathy Ann Riley serves as the registered accessibility specialist. TDLR completed the plan review in December 2025, and the project status is listed as Review Complete. The construction window is scheduled for 182 days, which is shorter than the median build window of 245 days for similar new construction filings in Taylor County.

Regional Context and Market Position

This development fits within a broader pattern of McDonald's USA projects in the state. The company has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $4,500,000, including locations in Rosharon, New Braunfels, Odessa, Houston, and Pearland, all with similar estimated costs of $750,000. Castles Design Group has also been involved in other regional projects, including a $2,000,000 AutoNation CDJR in Katy and a $4,000,000 Cavender Subaru of Midland.

The site is located in ZIP code 79606, an area with a population of about 29,428 and a median household income of $83,201 according to U.S. Census American Community Survey 2023 five-year estimates. The median owner-occupied home value in this area is $248,500. Nearby businesses include Amplified Vision, Glynn Walker - State Farm Insurance Agent, and Wylie Christian Church.

Taylor County unemployment was reported at 4 percent in June 2026, higher than a year earlier. Other registered projects in the same area include the Beltway Park Church renovation, Digestive Health new construction, and the Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union alteration. The McDonald's project cost is close to the county median of $850,000 for new construction, and the $181 per square foot cost is close to the county median of $175.