$50M Green Resort Lands Roddick Tennis Facility

The tennis center, planned for a site along Ridgeview Road, is being touted as the first one to be built with a retractable roof. Construction to date in the sustainable resort includes On the Rocks Restaurant, a locally owned coffee shop and a handful of artists' studios. Eighteen acres are dedicated for the development of boutique retail, with the remainder to hold about 100 condominiums, 36-room Copperhead Hotel, a bed and breakfast, two chapels, an independent living home, spa and the BurnLounge Recording Studio.

Lawrence Roddick, director of the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program for the Austin-based Andy Roddick Foundation, says the CastleRock Texas facility will be the main training center for the foundation's nationwide program for underprivileged children. "The CastleRock project is separate from what the foundation is doing, but they're kindly using their resources to help build the center," Roddick says. "It'll be the hub for programs we're hoping to build nationwide."

[IMGCAP(2)]Additionally, the center will be an attraction for CastleRock Texas, which is located along Rural Route 2147. The resort is the brainchild of Marley Porter, a well-known architect of sustainable developments.

John Arthur Martinez, director of creative marketing for CastleRock Texas, says that, interestingly enough, CastleRock Texas attracted retail and the tennis center before any condominiums or residences could be built. However, he adds that the site plan is flexible enough to accommodate the change.

"Marley is committed to taking what the market has given him," Martinez tells GlobeSt.com. "Right now the retail component has leapfrogged over the condo and residential component."

Martinez sees that as a plus. "The retail will actually help move the project forward," he says. "Plus, anyone will see value in adding an extraordinary tennis center."

Martinez says condo construction will begin when presales cross the 50% mark. In the meantime, the architect is working with other partners for various parts of the development. "There are still components during these early stages that haven't been staked yet," Martinez says. "For example, we're still trying to find the right partner to help us with the spa."

Martinez adds there is really no set build-out time for the project nor any rush to get it completed. "Marley isn't an outside developer that wants to build to increase the property's value, then flip it," Martinez points out. "He actually owns property here, lives in the community and wants to do this right."

CastleRock overlooks Lake LBJ and the Horseshoe Bay resort in the Texas Hill Country. The development is adjacent to Marble Falls, a town of renowned restaurants, art galleries and music venues about 50 minutes from Austin and slightly more than an hour from San Antonio.