Vantage Frontier workforce housing near Albany and Abilene
Last updated 2026-10-19 · Facts as published by the sources listed below. We are not affiliated with this project.
Project facts
| Location | Albany area, Shackelford County · Big Country (Abilene area) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Vantage Data Centers [2] |
| Size | 1.4 GW, 10 single-story data centers on about 1,200 acres [2] |
| Workforce | About 9,300 workers checked in during one week (up from about 1,400 in February) [1] |
| Status | Five buildings under roof as of Oct 8, 2026 [1] |
Where crews live today
Abilene-area RV parks
Elmdale RV Park advertises 2,300 monthly sites at $675 with utilities, “6 minutes” from the jobsite. [3]
Cottages
Frontier Cottages east of Abilene listed 399 sq ft units at $1,850 a month. [4]
Albany
Very little rental housing; most crews drive in. [1]
Option 3: own your beds
Hotels, RV parks, and operator camps are all rentals. The third option is to own crew units on land you lease or buy near the work, then move or resell them at the end. Three things decide whether it works:
Land
A level, drained site with truck access for 16 ft wide loads. Leased ranch or industrial land near the gate is common.
Permits: city vs. county
Outside city limits, Shackelford County has more limited zoning power, but on-site sewage facilities (septic) need permits under TCEQ rules administered locally, subdivision or plat rules can apply, and fire and road access still matter. Housing three or more workers for more than three days can also trigger a TDHCA Migrant Labor Housing Facility license in some cases; ask counsel how it applies to your crew.
Utilities
Water (city, well, or hauled), wastewater (sewer, septic, or holding tanks), and power service sized for every room’s PTAC and water heater. See what a camp needs.
Cost comparison
| Option | Published cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel at the GSA Shackelford County (standard rate) rate | $113 / night ≈ $3,435 / month per worker | Federal FY2027 lodging rate; actual rates rise with demand |
| RV site | $675 / month with utilities [3] | Advertised or listed rate |
| Furnished cottage | $1,850 / month [4] | Advertised or listed rate |
| Operator camp | Contract rate per bed | Often bundled services and multi-year minimums |
| Owned crew units | Run the calculator | Units, freight and set, site work, minus resale. See cost per bed |
Planning mix
- 100–200 beds on private land near the gate: 5-bed crew units
- Catered crews: 5- to 7-room sleepers
Units: 16×76 5-Bed, 5-Bath Crew Unit (Shared Kitchen)16×76 5-Room Sleeper (No Kitchen)7-Room High-Density Sleeper16×76 4-Suite Unit (Four Full Kitchens)
Delivery
Albany is about 232 miles from Seguin, TX in a straight line; road miles are longer. Units travel as 16 ft wide oversize loads with permits. Delivery lead time depends on whether units are in stock or need a build slot. Ask us for a current timeline to Shackelford County.
Common questions
How many people work at the Frontier data center?
About 9,300 workers checked in during the week before an Oct. 8, 2026 tour, per the Albany News.
Where do Frontier workers live?
Mostly in the Abilene area, about 35 miles away, in RV parks, cottages, motels, and rentals.
How fast can crew units be set up near Albany / Shackelford Co.?
Units can be delivered once pads, access, and utilities are ready, and site work usually sets the schedule. Lead times depend on stock and build slots; ask us for a current timeline.
Can I own crew housing near Albany / Shackelford Co. instead of renting?
Yes, if you can lease or buy land and permit it. Compare owning with hotels at the GSA rate ($113 a night) in the break-even calculator.
Sources
- Albany News, “A look inside the massive Frontier campus” (Oct 15, 2026)
- DCD, “Vantage breaks ground on Texas gigawatt data center campus” (Dec 15, 2025)
- Elmdale RV Park website: 2,300 sites, $675/month with utilities, “6 minutes” from Frontier (checked Oct 2026)
- West Texas Tribune, Frontier Cottages: 399 sq ft one-bedroom units at $1,850/month (Mar 30, 2026)
Last updated 2026-10-19. Figures are as published by each source on the date shown; re-check before you budget.
Related
Data center workforce housing Texas project tracker Stargate AbileneWheeler County workforce hub (Pampa data center)Haskell County data center (Maverick Workforce Hub)Childress data center workforce campGalaxy Helios (Afton)Fermi America Project MatadorGoodnight campus (Claude)IREN Sweetwater