Wafra Inc., which is a New York-based alternative investment firm, announced on October 01, 2026, that funds advised by Wafra have been invested into Liberty Development Partners, which is a rail-served infrastructure operator and developer, and its principal assets, Gulf Inland Logistics Park and CMC Railroad, and Liberty Development Partners.
The strategic partnership provides additional capital and institutional resources so as to speed up Gulf Inland’s continued development while promoting Liberty’s expansion as a wider platform to explore additional rail-served infrastructure and manufacturing opportunities.
It is well to be noted that Gulf Inland is a 3,900-acre rail-served industrial development located in Dayton, Texas, in the northeast of Houston. It has access to both the Union Pacific and BNSF Railroad freight networks via CMC Railroad with rail switching and storage capacity for over 1,000 railcars and a direct connection to U.S. Highway 90 and State Highway 99/The Grand Parkway.
Since the acquisition by Liberty Development Partners of Gulf Inland and CMC Railroad in 2022, and with a drive towards Logistics Park and Railroad manufacturing, the park has undergone significant expansion and investment in its road, rail, and utility infrastructure and an increasing number of industrial and manufacturing companies. Gulf Inland has grown from roughly 1,150 acres to around 3,900 acres during this time, further solidifying its status as an important location for industrial users who want access to the Gulf Coast market. Wafra’s investment comes as the Houston region is experiencing strong demand coming from manufacturing, distribution, and energy as well as logistic users.
Says Anthony Peek, Managing Director at Wafra, “We are excited to partner with the Liberty Development Partners team and to support the continued growth of Gulf Inland. Gulf Inland combines a strategic location in one of the country’s most important industrial markets with substantial rail infrastructure and a leading management team. Our investment will accelerate the development of Gulf Inland and support Liberty’s growth more broadly.”
According to Marcus Goering, CEO of Liberty Development Partners, “This partnership represents the next stage in the evolution of Gulf Inland and Liberty Development Partners. We believe there is a significant opportunity to expand our rail-served industrial strategy, with Gulf Inland as the foundation. Wafra brings the capital, institutional capabilities, and long-term investment perspective that will allow us to accelerate infrastructure investment, expand the park, and pursue additional opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond.”
Remarks Paul Connor, principal of Liberty Development Partners, said, “Rail-served industrial property is difficult to replicate. Industrial users increasingly require large sites with reliable transportation infrastructure, access to labor, and proximity to major population, manufacturing, and distribution centers. Gulf Inland brings those attributes together in one location, and we believe Houston and the Gulf Coast provide an exceptional foundation from which to grow our platform.”
As part of acceleration in Logistics Park and Railroad manufacturing, Gulf Inland and CMC Railroad continue to invest in rail infrastructure, with a project underway to add roughly 1,000 railcar storage capacity, which is scheduled to come online by year-end. The expansion will support growth in demand for railcar storage and associated rail services in the Houston and Gulf Coast markets.
The current Liberty Development Partners management team will remain in place to oversee the development and operation of Gulf Inland and CMC Railroad and will collaborate with Wafra so as to assess and explore further investment and growth opportunities.