The Heavens ATX ← All concepts

A nature-first hospitality asset east of Austin, delivered in phases.

The Heavens ATX is a 30-acre eco-luxury resort and events destination under development in Cedar Creek, Bastrop County. It is designed to earn early, diversify income beyond rooms, and reduce execution risk by building in two phases.

Site
30 acrescedar forest, Flood Zone X
Keys at stabilization
5920 in Phase 1
Phase 1 budget
$3.63MPhase 2: $15.9M
Lender structure
Senior securedterm loan, milestone draws

Thesis

An experiential hospitality asset in a fast-growing corridor east of Austin, where population growth, infrastructure investment and tourism are pushing demand outward — and where destination lodging that combines architecture, wellness, nature, food and entertainment is scarce.

  • Deliver a revenue-producing core early through phased execution.
  • Validate ADR, occupancy and ancillary revenue before scaling.
  • Capture multiple revenue streams to reduce reliance on rooms alone.
  • Align development and operations with conservative, third-party underwriting.

Mission

“Healthy ecosystems create healthy humans.” The founders began by hosting friends for dinner; guests began staying the weekend — hikes, s’mores, and, in co-founder Dan Mages’ words, coming “back a better person.” The habitat itself (coyotes, bobcats and skunks cross the creek bridge by day) is the product, not the backdrop.

Progress on site

The project is underway, backed by over $1M raised from friends and family. Multiple dome structures are built, pool excavation and major limestone work are complete, and the first dome’s stained glass is substantially complete.

A completed white aircrete dome with a round stained-glass window, two people standing in front of it
On site, 2026Dome with stained glass installed
Hand-stacked limestone walls of the pool and waterfall under construction among cedars
On site, 2026Pool & waterfall limestone
A hand-carved reclaimed cedar sink basin with a glossy finish
On site, 2026Reclaimed cedar sink

Program

  • 12 Spanish Neo-Gothic aircrete domes, each named for a constellation — positioned as the first domed aircrete eco-luxury resort in the U.S.; stained glass (Blue Moon Glassworks), reclaimed cedar, one-of-one interiors.
  • 200,000-gallon natural beach-entry limestone pool with a 12-foot waterfall — overnight stays, day passes, cabana rentals, events, F&B.
  • Waterfall-front studios/villas, nature-preserve tents and glamping.
  • Oeste, garden-to-table restaurant in the converted ranch house: organic, non-GMO, seed-oil-free, partly grown on site.
  • 450-capacity amphitheater, yoga pagoda, spa/wellness facilities, dedicated event space, botanical gardens and native habitat, river-oriented lodging.
Rendering of the beach-entry pool with waterfall, cabanas and two small domes at sunset
RenderingPool, waterfall and day cabanas

Location & demand

Cedar Creek, Bastrop County — Northside Lane & FM 535. About 20 minutes from downtown Austin, 10 from Austin-Bergstrom (approx. 21.8M passengers in 2024) and 8 from Circuit of the Americas (F1, MotoGP, major concerts). No direct competitors east, north or south within 17 miles of COTA.

Growth

  • Austin MSA approx. 2.55M residents
  • Bastrop County 114,931 (2024), +18.2% since April 2020
  • Nearby homes: Sun Chase 4,000 · Velocity 1,693 · Kellam 1,500 · Water’s Edge 1,254 · Lexington Parke 1,218 · Riverbed Landing 650

Demand drivers & pipeline (~18 mi)

  • Downtown Austin, AUS, COTA, Tesla Giga Texas, The Boring Company
  • Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, McKinney Roughs, Carson Creek Ranch amphitheater
  • Courtyard by Marriott (late 2026), Pearce Lane improvements (~$42M), COTALAND, Austin Surf Club, Surf Lakes “Pura Vida”
Illustrated map placing The Heavens ATX among Austin, the airport, COTA, Tesla, The Boring Company, Lost Pines, McKinney Roughs and other demand drivers
IllustrationDemand drivers around the site (not to scale)

Phasing & use of funds

Phase 1 — about 6–8 months after MEP installation: 20 keys (3 domes, 8 waterfall-front stays, 9 nature-preserve tents), 8 day cabanas, pool and initial amenities, initial F&B, yoga pagoda and amphitheater. Phase 2 — about 12–18 months: the full program to 59 keys, with full F&B, wellness, events and river-oriented lodging.

Phase 1 use of funds
Line itemAmount
Land acquisition$1,500,000
Lodging & day decks$680,000
Site & utilities$300,000
Pool & guest amenities$300,000
Yoga pagoda & amphitheater$300,000
Contingency$300,000
Operating & marketing / PR$250,000
Total$3,630,000
Phase 2 use of funds
Line itemAmount
Lodging expansion (domes & remaining units)$5,300,000
Core infrastructure & site development$4,200,000
Food, beverage & event facilities$3,250,000
Experiential & premium amenities$2,100,000
Operations, marketing & soft costs$1,600,000
Contingency$450,000
Total$15,900,000

Underwriting

Blended ADR
$420–$430
Blended occupancy
60–63%
Stabilized revenue mix (long-run average, third-party underwriting)
Revenue sourceAnnualMix
Rooms (combined)$3,702,81254.6%
Meetings, events & groups$1,335,00021.5%
Food & beverage$956,21514.8%
Day pass / day-use$414,4737.0%
Other operated departments$135,8242.1%
Spa (guests & non-guests)$96,4801.5%
Valet parking$39,3440.6%
Total$6,544,324100%
Stabilized profitability
LineAnnualMargin
Total revenue$6,544,324100%
Total expenses$3,600,00055%
Gross operating profit$2,944,00045%
EBITDA$1,964,00030%

Events and day-use add revenue without proportional key growth. Figures are the sponsor’s, from third-party underwriting; full pro forma and assumptions available on request.

Valuation & site

“As-if completed” value (DCF)
$20,000,000
Value per key
~$350,000
Discount rate
11%
Terminal cap rate
9.25%
Site area
29.945 acres
Flood zone
Zone X (minimal)
Frontage
~2,045 ft Northside Ln
Secondary frontage
~700 ft FM 535

Third-party appraisal and discounted-cash-flow underwriting completed. Topography generally level.

Team & partners

Roland Barrera

Co-Founder & Creative Director

28 years creating restaurants, live-music venues and experiential destinations; producer of 1,000+ live events; hands-on in stone, tile, mosaics and masonry.

Dan Mages

Co-Founder, Brand & Community

Originating sponsor: site acquisition, concept, capitalization. Philosophy professor for nearly 20 years, traveled 50+ countries, writer of Tribal Truths.

Peter Wessley Haynes

Managing Partner

U.S. Navy veteran, retired Captain and Naval Aviator; Experimental Test Pilot at Merlin Labs.

Operator

Lucky Find Hospitality — boutique luxury hotel group overseeing pre-opening, operating systems, revenue strategy and stabilization; phased openings, lean staffing, diversified revenue.

Design

LSI (integrated architecture & landscape) with contributing architect Webber Studio, Austin. Organic-food operating experience via Old Coyote Cafe.

Risks & mitigation

As identified by the sponsor
RiskMitigation
Construction & deliveryPhased delivery, milestone-based draws, contingency allocations
Demand & absorptionDiversified revenue streams; drive-to demand; multiple demand generators in the corridor
Operating & executionLean early staffing; clear ramp plan; systems discipline
Capital markets & refinancingDelayed-draw structure; ability to cancel later tranches; conservative underwriting and third-party valuation

Community round

Alongside senior lending, The Heavens ATX is testing the waters for a community round on Wefunder.

Instrument
Revenue Share Loan
Revenue share
1.50% of revenue
Payback multiple
2.0×
Early-bird (first $20K)
2.5×
Security
Assets of The Heavens ATX
Minimum reservation
$100

Goal $50,000. Investor perks at $250, $500, $1K and $9.5K.