The name comes from the fact that the land it sits upon was formerly a working cattle ranch and is located below a large ridge, and thus resembles a valley.

[1] With Irving being the home of the old Texas Stadium, it is not surprising that nearby Valley Ranch formerly hosted the practice facilities of the Dallas Cowboys football team (beginning in 1985) who moved to Frisco, Texas, in 2016, and the Dallas Stars hockey team, who have also since moved to Frisco.

In order to maintain flood control and to provide recreation facilities for residents, Valley Ranch has many winding canals with walkways throughout.

It is located in close proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and is approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown Dallas.

The Valley Ranch planned community has over five miles of winding, landscaped canal walkways and ponds with parks and an aquatic center.