Beach house dreams

New Texas beach community floats active lifestyle for residents

Palm Bay promotes a lock and leave lifestyle.

Rendering courtesy of Palm Bay

Like much of Texas, the real estate market in Galveston is red-hot and shows no sign of cooling, so it's an appealing choice for a beach house. To that end, Texas developer Wan Bridge has made plans to develop a build-to-rent community in the area.

Palm Bay on Galveston Island will boast 94 single-family homes in the Bayside at Waterman’s community.

Located at the 4500 block of Stewart Road, Palm Bay sits on Lake Como, an inlet of Galveston Bay that features Galveston Country Club, the only golf club on the island.

Construction is set to begin in December 2020.

Homes will offer up a signature island aesthetic that will evoke the architectural style of other Gulf Coast resort communities such as Seaside, Texas, and Water Color, Florida, according to a press release.

Palm Bay will feature both three- and four-bedroom options with 2.5 bathrooms and living areas spanning 1,600 to 1,800 square feet. More than 20 condominiums located in the neighborhood’s “Fish Camp Reserve” are also planned.

Seafaring tenants can access amenities including access to the beach and direct access to the bay, plus boat rentals. With Palm Bay’s close proximity to the country club, state park, and Waterman’s Marina and Restaurant, tenants can lead an active lifestyle, without the hassle of homeownership, per a press release.

“Bringing the first BTR community to Galveston Island is an honor that we are excited about,” said Kevin Stuckey, senior vice president of development for Wan Bridge, in a statement. “Whether an island newcomer or longtime resident, we look forward to offering both long-term rental homes and condominiums that are always in demand on Galveston Island.”

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End of the Road

Hill Country's Enchanted Rock opens expanded backcountry to hardcore hikers

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Enchanted Rock Ranch is a new purchase that was added on to the state park in 2025.

Confident hikers have a new area of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to explore in the Texas Hill Country. On July 7, the park opened the Backcountry Area, which invites visitors to stop by during the daytime for self-guided use.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says additional amenities will be added later to accommodate visitors of all experience levels.

This marks the first phase of development for the newly expanded state park, which doubled in size thanks to a 3,073-acre acquisition in 2025.

Enchanted Rock, in Fredericksburg, is one of Texas' Centennial Parks, a group of parks purchased or expanded through the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund that Texas voters approved in 2023. Each is on a timeline that guides how the public will use them; at 12 months, they should be ready for guided hikes, and in 18 months, visitors can "explore on their own," a webpage about the Centennial Parks explains.

“This first wave of development will be a good fit for true adventurers who want a more rugged experience than what they’ve been currently experiencing at Enchanted Rock,” said superintendent Doug Cochran in a press statement. “Future phases will see closer parking so people of other experience levels can enjoy the beauty of the Backcountry.”

For now, the only way to access the Backcountry is through park headquarters, followed by a roughly two-mile hike to the pedestrian gate. Visitors can find their way through new trail maps at the headquarters and online.

Because the park expansion is still early in its development, visitors should take extra precautions. Trails are "rugged," TPWD says, and there is not much shade. There are two water refill stations in the new area: one at the entrance and another toward the center of the property with a portable restroom.

TPWD further cautions that hikers bring their own water, salty snacks, sunscreen, long shirts, a buddy, and a cellphone. Having a hiking plan in advance enhances safety, especially if it includes heat safety precautions.

The Backcountry Area at Enchanted Rock will have different hours from the rest of the park. The Backcountry will be open from 8 am to 6 pm.

Texans plugged into park news have likely heard about several new park projects. In Central and South Texas, they include the newly purchased Silver Lake Ranch, Bear Creek State Park, and an area in Burnet and Lampasas Counties including Yancey Creek.

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