sun, surf, SI

New Sports Illustrated Resort set to splash into Houston's crystal lagoon lair

The planned Sports Illustrated Resort will float a beachy vibe.

Rendering courtesy of Sports Hospitality Ventures, LLC

The Houston area’s explosion of branded resorts is showing no signs of slowing. Sports Illustrated will debut its line of branded hospitality hotels in Texas City at a popular destination.

Appropriately dubbed the Sports Illustrated Resort at Lago Mar, the nine-story, 200-room resort is set to break ground at Lago Mar, the beachy, master-planned community that’s become a favorite for visitors and locals.

A brainchild of Sports Hospitality Ventures, LLC, (Sports Illustrated) and Lagoon Development (Lago Mar), the themed resort will offer a selection of suites tailored “to meet every guest’s needs,” per press materials. The Stadium Sports Grill promises to be a game-day spot for watching and dining.

But clearly, the resort is meant for outdoor lounging and fun, and that includes the Sports Illustrated Beach Club, with its beachside cabanas, resort services, and a swim-up island bar.

Lago Mar’s famed, 12-acre crystal lagoon (as the largest of its type, it boasts 24 million gallons of water) is a main fixture and attraction: besides the beach club, select rooms and suites will feature sweeping lagoon views.

“This location in Texas City is an exciting venture for us,” said Christopher Schroeder, CEO of Sports Hospitality Ventures, LLC, in a statement. “Texas sports, especially Houston sports, are integral to this state, and we are pleased to bring this resort to such a dedicated fan base.”

Construction is set to begin shortly after groundbreaking, per a press announcement. Once complete, the resort backers will aim to capitalize on Houston’s booming tourist, sports, and outdoor demographics.

“We are thrilled to announce and welcome the arrival of the Sports Illustrated Resorts to Lago Mar,” Uri Man, founder and CEO of Lagoon Development, noted in a statement. “This partnership blends the dynamic energy of sports with the exceptional hospitality of Texas, creating a haven in the heart of the Lone Star State.”

Sports Illustrated’s resort entry into the region marks a veritable boom for area hospitality. The Jimmy Buffett juggernaut Margaritaville Resort has just been announced in Galveston, while a highly anticipated Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas is under construction in Webster.

income news

This affluent Houston neighbor is America's 2nd wealthiest suburb

City of West University Place, TX - City Government / Facebook

West University Place is the fourth best suburb for house renters in Texas.

West University Place has long been considered Houston's richest suburb, and a new study has revealed this affluent enclave has climbed to the top to become the second wealthiest in America.

The report from GoBankingRates, called "America’s Wealthiest Suburbs Today Compared to 10 Years Ago," tracked the average household income across the nation's 50 wealthiest suburbs from 2014 to 2024. Cities had to have at least 5,000 households and be part of a large metro area to qualify. Income data was sourced from the Census Bureau.

In the new report, West University Place moved up one spot to become the second richest American suburb after ranking third for two consecutive years. Its current ranking is also two spots higher than where it ranked in 2016, at No. 4 nationwide.

The findings also confirm that its residents have certainly become richer over time. According to Census Bureau data, West U. households made $294,723 in average income 2014, which has since surged to $439,594 in 2024.

One more Houston neighbor, Bellaire, also appears among the 50 wealthiest American suburbs. Bellaire now ranks 18th, up from No. 23 last year. Bellaire households made $335,492 on average as of 2024, up from $226,295 in 2014.

Of course, calling either city a "suburb" is sort of absurd, as the late Ken Hoffman hilariously argued in a 2024 column. "A little research or even a phone call would have told them that neither West U nor Bellaire is a suburb. Both are fully independent cities that are completely surrounded by Houston on all sides," Hoffman wrote.

Other affluent suburbs in Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth neighbors University Park, Southlake, and Colleyville are also named among the top 50 wealthiest American suburbs for 2026.

University Park maintains its elite status as the sixth wealthiest suburb in America for the third year in a row. Households made $407,253 on average in total annual income in 2024, up from $254,422 in 2014.

Southlake is the country's eighth wealthiest suburb for 2026, up from No. 16 in 2016. Average household income in this bustling city has grown from $232,034 in 2014 to $384,530 as of 2024, for a growth rate of about 66 percent.

Colleyville, meanwhile, has dropped down the list of the wealthiest suburbs over the last 10 years. It currently ranks 46th but previously ranked 28th in 2016. Average household income in this particular DFW city has increased 35 percent, from $205,828 to $277,720 in 2024.

The top 10 wealthiest suburbs in America in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Scarsdale, New York
No. 2 – West University Place, Texas
No. 3 – Rye, New York
No. 4 – Los Altos, California
No. 5 – Paradise Valley, Arizona
No. 6 – University Park, Texas
No. 7 – Alamo, California
No. 8 – Southlake, Texas
No. 9 – McLean, Virginia
No. 10 – Orinda, California

income gobankingrates.com suburbs houston