Room for growth

Dallas leads the U.S. for number of new hotels underway, says new report

Dallas' hotel scene is booming, thanks to new ones like the forthcoming JW Marriott Dallas Arts District.

Rendering courtesy of JW Marriott Dallas Arts District

A hotel boom is underway in the Dallas area.

As of the second quarter of 2022, 173 hotel projects with 20,707 guest rooms were in the planning or development stages in the Dallas area, according to a new report published by hospitality data provider Lodging Econometrics.

Dallas leads all U.S. regions based on the number of hotel projects in the pipeline, followed by Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville, the report says.

“While some might expect Miami or New York City to lead the U.S. in terms of the number of hotel projects underway, that distinction actually belongs to Dallas … ,” says The Points Guy travel blog.

Among the city’s highly anticipated hotels are the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District, set to open in 2023, and the Four Seasons Dallas, on track to debut in 2025.

The Points Guy points out that Dallas has led all U.S. locations in hotel development for four consecutive quarters.

Brian Hughes, managing director of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, tells the travel blog that “a heavy trend of corporate and population migration to Texas” has lifted hotel performance in Dallas as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.

Another plus for Dallas, it says, is Texas’ business-friendly tax structure. This draws companies to the state, which then feeds demand for hotel rooms to accommodate business travelers.

Other regions of the state also are benefiting from the moving-to-Texas trend when it comes to hotel development. But Dallas far and away leads the state’s pack in this regard. And Big D’s hotel sector stands to enjoy even more of a boost when the city’s new $2 billion, 2.5-million-square-foot convention center is completed in 2029, reports say.

In the Lodging Econometrics survey, Fort Worth-Arlington ranks 15th for the number of hotels in the pipeline — 65 projects with 8,005 rooms. Elsewhere in Texas:

Houston ties for seventh place, with 94 projects featuring 10,247 guest rooms
Austin ranks 10th, with 80 projects featuring 10,306 guest rooms
San Antonio ranks 21st, with 46 projects featuring 5,116 guest rooms

“Encouraged by 2022’s upward trend in hotel performance, owners, management groups, developers, and investors are moving forward with development plans as evidenced by increasing counts at every stage of construction,” Lodging Econometrics says.

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lets go camping

Llama ranch near Dallas roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Courtesy of Hipcamp

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A family-owned, llama roaming ranch just an hour outside Dallas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

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