Caroline Hunt, “Mother” of The Crescent, Dead at 95

Caroline Hunt, oil heiress and creator of two of Dallas’ major real estate developments, died after suffering a stroke. She was 95 years old.

Hunt was born in El Dorado, AR to oil wildcatter H.L. Hunt and wife Lyda Bunker. After H.L. Hunt discovered the East Texas oilfield, the family moved to Dallas, by way of Tyler, TX. Caroline got her start in the family oil business in the mailroom of Hunt Oil, and founded Rosewood Corp. in the mid-1970s.

In 1979, Rosewood Corp. acquired a huge mansion on Turtle Creek Boulevard north of downtown Dallas, transforming it into the Mansion on Turtle Creek, a renowned restaurant and hotel (now known as the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek). And, in the early 1980s, Rosewood Corp. acquired a tract of land in the current Uptown submarket that would eventually hold the company’s most famous mixed-use office and retail development, The Crescent.

“Crescent is saddened to learn of the passing of Caroline Rose Hunt, and our deepest condolences go to the family,” read a statement from The Crescent. “Mrs. Hunt was a bold and visionary leader who built the most iconic building in Dallas, The Crescent, which launched what has now become Uptown Dallas. Known for her extraordinary graciousness, she led the hospitality and real estate industries in establishing world-class service in every project she touched.”

Photo by David Woo

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