Live Oak Lake
Project Description
Designed, built and operated a 7-unit nature-immersive micro-resort near Waco, Texas.
Year Built
2021
Project Results
94% occupancy, 150k+ Instagram followers, 80%+ direct bookings & 58% NOI margins from operating efficiency. Real estate + brand acquired by PE.
About This Project
Live Oak Lake was my first hospitality project.
In the Spring of 2021, I found 5 overgrown acres for sale just down the road from my home. We got it under contract that same day, and the journey of designing and building a one-of-a-kind landscape resort from scratch began. A little less than a year later, Live Oak Lake welcomed its first guests.
The property features seven unique Nordic-inspired cabins nestled around a small lake. Trails wind their way through the magnificent trees, connecting the cabins with the lakeside commons, where weddings, family reunions and corporate off-sites are regularly held.
I automated the whole property to run with just 2 part-time employees, plus housekeeping contractors. Building a one-of-a-kind, experiential destination property — combined with this innovative operating model and a robust social media strategy — produced overall occupancy of 94% and net margins north of 55%.
The social media audience eclipsed 150k, before the property and brand were acquired by a private equity group in October, 2023.
