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Meta's Hyperion AI campus rises in rural Louisiana

Meta's Hyperion AI campus rises in rural Louisiana

Built World
By Newzino Staff | |

The Largest Data Center in History Expands to Twice Airport Size in Rural Louisiana

February 2026: Fortune Reveals Meta's 1,400-Acre Hyperion Expansion

Overview

Meta broke ground in December 2024 on Hyperion, a data center so large it would cover most of Manhattan. The initial 2,250-acre, 4-million-square-foot facility in Richland Parish, Louisiana will deliver 2 to 5 gigawatts of computing power—enough to train the next generations of Meta's Llama AI models. At $27 billion, it represents the largest private-credit financing deal ever executed and the single biggest private investment in Louisiana history. On February 4, 2026, Fortune revealed Meta's quiet purchase of 1,400 adjacent acres—paving the way for Phase 2 expansion that would more than double the campus to over 3,650 acres, roughly twice the size of New Orleans' airport.

The project exemplifies a broader transformation: Big Tech is racing to build unprecedented AI infrastructure in rural America, promising jobs and tax revenue to communities that desperately need both. But Holly Ridge, the town of 2,000 where Hyperion is rising, is already experiencing the friction. Traffic crashes spiked 600% in late 2025, the elementary school shut down its playground over safety concerns, and residents described construction truck drivers as 'dangerous and reckless.' Whether the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term chaos—and how communities adapt to even larger expansions—will help determine how dozens of similar projects unfold across the country.

Key Indicators

$27B
Total investment
Largest private-credit transaction ever executed, financed through a joint venture with Blue Owl Capital
3,650+ acres
Total campus size
Original 2,250 acres plus 1,400-acre Phase 2 expansion—more than twice the size of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
4M sq ft
Phase 1 facility size
Equivalent to roughly 70 football fields, making it Meta's largest data center and among the biggest in the world
2-5 GW
Computing capacity
Enough power to run over 1 million homes; will train future Llama AI models
600%
Traffic crash increase
Holly Ridge saw crashes surge in late 2025 since construction began, with multiple fatalities and injuries near the site

Interactive

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Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

(1743-1826) · Founding Era · statecraft

Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.

"I confess a certain satisfaction in witnessing the erection of such a temple to Reason in the American hinterland, yet I cannot suppress my alarm that this new Colossus—dedicated though it be to the expansion of human knowledge—visits upon modest yeomen the very tyrannies of disruption and disregard we once associated with standing armies quartered among a peaceful population. The philosophes spoke much of Progress, but rarely did they reckon with its baggage trains thundering through schoolyards."

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Debate Arena

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People Involved

Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg
Chief Executive Officer, Meta (Leading Meta's AI infrastructure expansion)
Jeff Landry
Jeff Landry
Governor of Louisiana (Advocating for the project while addressing community concerns)
Santosh Janardhan
Santosh Janardhan
Head of Infrastructure, Meta (Overseeing Hyperion construction and Meta's global data center network)

Organizations Involved

Meta Platforms, Inc.
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Technology Company
Status: Expanding Hyperion campus with 1,400-acre Phase 2 acquisition; owns 20% of the joint venture

Parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp; developing open-source Llama AI models.

Blue Owl Capital
Blue Owl Capital
Private Credit Investment Firm
Status: 80% owner of Hyperion joint venture

Alternative asset manager that financed the largest private-credit deal in history.

Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana
Electric Utility
Status: Building power infrastructure to supply Hyperion

Regional utility approved to build three natural gas plants and transmission infrastructure to power Hyperion.

Timeline

  1. Fortune Reveals Meta's 1,400-Acre Hyperion Expansion

    Expansion

    Meta quietly purchased 1,400 acres adjacent to the original Hyperion site from George B. Franklin & Sons, enabling Phase 2 expansion that would more than double the campus size. Fortune observed early site preparation including utility markings and heavy equipment.

  2. Meta Reports $875 Million in Louisiana Contracts

    Economic

    One year after groundbreaking, Meta announces it has contracted $875 million with Louisiana businesses, supporting 3,700 construction workers with a peak of 5,000 expected by mid-2026.

  3. Traffic Investigation Reveals 600% Crash Increase

    Investigation

    Louisiana Illuminator reports that crashes in Holly Ridge have surged 600% since construction began, with multiple serious incidents near the elementary school.

  4. Meta and Blue Owl Close $27 Billion Joint Venture

    Financial

    Meta and Blue Owl Capital finalize the largest private-credit transaction ever executed. Blue Owl takes 80% ownership; Meta retains 20% and will lease the facilities.

  5. Regulators Approve New Gas Power Plants

    Regulatory

    Louisiana Public Service Commission votes 4-1 to approve Entergy's construction of three gas-fired plants totaling 2,262 megawatts to power Hyperion, with Meta covering all costs.

  6. Dump Truck Driver Killed Near Site

    Incident

    A dump truck hauling dirt crashes into a tree near the Hyperion site, killing the driver. It is one of several serious crashes since construction began.

  7. Governor Visits Holly Ridge Over Traffic Complaints

    Government

    Governor Landry meets with the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office after residents report dangerous driving by construction trucks. New stop signs are installed at key intersections.

  8. Governor Landry Announces $10 Billion Investment

    Announcement

    Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announces Meta's selection of Richland Parish, calling it the largest private investment in state history and projecting 500+ permanent jobs.

  9. Meta Begins Hyperion Site Work

    Construction

    Meta breaks ground on the Hyperion AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, on a 2,250-acre former farm site between Rayville and Delhi.

Scenarios

1

Hyperion Completes on Schedule, Anchors Louisiana Tech Hub

Discussed by: Louisiana Economic Development, Business Facilities Magazine, state officials

Construction proceeds through 2030 with Hyperion delivering its planned 2+ gigawatts of capacity. The facility employs 500+ workers at 150% of state average wages, generates over $160 million in sales tax revenue, and attracts additional data center investment to northeast Louisiana. Traffic and safety issues subside as permanent roads and infrastructure are completed. The project becomes a model for rural AI infrastructure development.

2

Power Constraints Delay Full Capacity

Discussed by: Energy analysts, grid operators, environmental groups

Entergy's new gas plants face construction delays or regulatory challenges, while the 1,500 megawatts of promised solar cannot be connected due to transmission backlogs. Hyperion opens with reduced capacity, forcing Meta to scale back AI training plans or seek supplementary power from other regions. The gap between data center demand and grid supply becomes a national policy issue.

3

Community Backlash Forces Project Modifications

Discussed by: Louisiana Illuminator, Gulf States Newsroom, Sierra Club

Continued accidents and infrastructure strain lead to lawsuits or stricter state oversight. Meta agrees to relocate Holly Ridge Elementary, fund additional road improvements, or slow construction to reduce traffic. The controversy influences how other rural communities negotiate data center deals, with more demanding terms for infrastructure mitigation upfront.

4

AI Investment Bubble Bursts, Project Scaled Back

Discussed by: NPR, skeptical financial analysts

If AI revenue growth fails to match infrastructure spending, Meta or its creditors may reduce Hyperion's scope. Blue Owl's bondholders face losses if Meta cannot maintain lease payments. The project becomes a cautionary tale about over-investment in AI infrastructure, though the facility's partial completion still transforms the local economy.

Historical Context

Microsoft Data Center in Quincy, Washington (2006-Present)

2006-Present

What Happened

Microsoft built its first major rural data center in Quincy, Washington, population 6,220, attracted by cheap Columbia River hydropower. The agricultural community was initially skeptical but agreed to host the facility. Multiple tech companies followed.

Outcome

Short Term

Data centers now pay 75% of Quincy's property taxes, funding a new hospital and high school.

Long Term

Quincy became a model for rural data center development, demonstrating how tech infrastructure can revitalize small towns when managed well.

Why It's Relevant Today

Quincy shows Hyperion's potential upside: sustained tax revenue, improved public services, and a transformed local economy. The key difference is scale—Hyperion is orders of magnitude larger than anything Quincy has hosted.

Amazon Web Services Expansion in Umatilla, Oregon (2010s-Present)

2010s-Present

What Happened

Amazon built a regional data center hub in northeast Oregon, near a town once known primarily for a chemical weapons depot and a state prison. Thousands of construction workers descended on the area, straining RV parks and hotels.

Outcome

Short Term

Local budgets ballooned with Amazon-linked revenues. Businesses supplying concrete, fencing, and services saw record demand.

Long Term

Some construction workers put down permanent roots. However, Morrow County voters attempted to recall commissioners over tax breaks that let Amazon avoid $84 million in taxes while paying $14.5 million in fees.

Why It's Relevant Today

Umatilla illustrates both the economic benefits and the governance tensions Richland Parish may face: rapid growth, dependence on a single employer, and community debates over whether tax incentives are worth the cost.

Northern Virginia Data Center Corridor (1990s-Present)

1990s-Present

What Happened

America Online built the region's first data center in the early 1990s, beginning a transformation that made Northern Virginia the world's largest data center market. What were once rural horse farms became industrial computing facilities.

Outcome

Short Term

The region captured 70% of global internet traffic at its peak, becoming essential infrastructure for the digital economy.

Long Term

Residents now live next to diesel generators and gray walls where farmland once stood. Historic sites like Tippet's Hill Cemetery are surrounded on three sides by data centers. Residential electricity bills have risen as utilities build transmission capacity.

Why It's Relevant Today

Northern Virginia shows what happens when data center growth outpaces planning. Louisiana officials are trying to avoid similar outcomes by requiring Meta to fund infrastructure improvements upfront.

13 Sources:
+7
Meta Data Centers Office of Governor Jeff Landry Meta Newsroom Louisiana Illuminator CNBC S&P Global TechCrunch Fortune Data Center Dynamics NPR Sherwood News Meta Newsroom Fortune