Texas is building a huge new waterfront paradise with big-name resorts

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Let’s be honest: When it comes to the South, the first place that comes to mind when you long for a relaxing waterfront paradise is Florida.

While Texas has its fair share of coastal charmers that don’t rhyme with Shalveston, the Lone Star State is better known for its vast lakes, where boats and good times abound.

You don’t have to visit Nashville or Branson to get your honky-tonk fix; all you have to do is head to one of Texas’ many lakes, where country music is always blaring and cold beer is always ready.

As they say, “everything is bigger in Texas” and now they’re proving the old adage translates to the state’s dreams and ambitions with the lofty goal of developing a new vacation destination – and two premier name brand hotels have already signed on to anchor this lakeside oasis.

While Texas is taking control, this is actually true a multi-state affair. Oklahoma shares Lake Texoma (hence the name)…

To expect Margaritaville on one side of the state line, and Hard rock on the other side. No matter how you look at it, Texas tourism will look very different in the coming years.

It’s not just Fort Worth’s shocking island transformation that’s changing the landscape of North Texas.

The following is Preston Harbour…

Goodbye, summers! Lake Texoma will soon be a year-round getaway

Since most people think of Texas as a sunny destination, the truth is that winter periods can be just as brutal as the Northeast.

Take it from me, who grew up a lifelong Texan and had several snowed-in birthdays in March.

That said, Lake Texoma is best known as a great fishing spot. As such, it loses its appeal even more during the colder months as there isn’t much to do at the moment other than complain about how cold it is now.

Summer anyway? That’s a completely different atmosphere, and fits in with what we said earlier as a playground in abundance.

But as fun as this lake is during the sweltering hot summers, the goal is to have good times all year round!

What better way than to develop a waterfront paradise, led by iconic resorts, entertainment districts, scenic bike paths and attractions designed to keep visitors coming long after the summer ends?

That’s the idea behind Preston Harbor, a $6 billion (yes, with a “B”) project intended to reshape tourism in North Texas.

This behemoth of an undertaking will take up more than 3,000 hectares of land, inclusive almost 16 kilometers of tranquil coastline and winding tributaries to explore.

Margaritaville and Hard Rock are the first to gamble on Preston Harbor

I don’t know why I grew up in the small house I did, if Texas has such deep pockets…

Margaritaville is $100 million development. According to the Dallas Morning News, it will nest on the peninsula adjacent to the existing Grandpappy Point Marina (yes, on the Texas side).

Yep that!

As for Oklahoma, a state where Texans often go to gamble legally at numerous flashy casinos like Winstar, an even more recognizable name will soon join the party.

That’s right, Hard Rock is rumors to plant his flag on the shoreline of Lake Texoma in Oklahoma.

Margaritaville has the green light, while Hard Rock says it has hit the latest bureaucratic bumps in the road reports last summer.

‘Dirty water’: Is this the right lake for such a huge bet?

Any trouble in paradise? Depends who you ask…

It seems to be a basic consensus that there are much more majestic lakes in Texas. We at Travel Off Path have reported on the ‘Maldives of Texas’ in the past…

According to a specific report conducted last year, it was considered one of “the most polluted lakes in the United States.”

To be fair, this report was issued in reference to officials admitting that substantial water improvements are needed for the community.

Although, a special one study claimed it was Lake Texoma third dirtiest lake in America by 2025.

However, reviews on TripAdvisor seem to say the opposite.

With a fairly impressive 4.4 rating across the board, travelers aren’t saying it’s Cancun 2.0, but they’re not saying it’s a dump either.

Preston Harbor’s best comparison might be Punta Gorda, Florida, when popular budget airline Allegiant surprisingly got into the resort game.

Despite embracing brackish water, their long-awaited resort became a great spot for sunset views and chic amenities, but not so much for swimming and the typical Florida beach vibe.

Not to say that Lake Texoma won’t be a huge success, but it’s worth noting that the Punta Gorda resort never lived up to the hype as it struggled with occupancy and ultimately changed hands within a few years of opening.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.