Airport News

Heliport at convention center in downtown Dallas closes for rebuilding

Vertiport

Helicopter Dallas

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the temporary closure of the Dallas Vertiport, located adjacent to the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, effective July 24.

This closure will allow the facility's demolition and reconstruction as part of the multi-year project to build a new and expanded convention center in the Central Business District, as City of Dallas officials announced in 2022.

Located on the south end of the convention center, the Dallas Vertiport is the world's largest urban elevated Heliport/Vertiport. It has a dual deck that accommodates three helicopters plus two vertical-take-off and landing aircraft.

Construction for the new facility will begin after the vertiport's closure, with work projected to start by late 2025.

Once completed, the site will feature an entirely new infrastructure, according to the City of Dallas Department of Aviation, which manages the vertiport, Dallas Love Field, and Dallas Executive Airport.

While the airport layout plan is still in progress, the new vertiport will have similar square footage and design. It will meet current FAA vertiport design criteria and incorporate upgrades such as:

Emerging electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requirements
Expanded aircraft parking capacity from five to six positions
A reimagined passenger lobby and on-site vehicle parking

"This facility has served as a valuable asset to the city for over 30 years, and we are excited to rebuild it to guarantee long-term adaptability and operational readiness," says Rafael Garza, General Aviation Manager for the Department of Aviation, in a statement.

The Dallas Vertiport accommodates a variety of general aviation operations, including military training, sightseeing, law enforcement missions, aerial photography, and more. It sees frequent use by businesses in downtown Dallas, with corporate flights, recreational flying, law enforcement, sight-seeing, aerial photography, flight training, and military training. It also hosts the HAI Heli Expo every four years, attracting more than 400 attendees.

This is the first time the vertiport has been closed since it opened in 1994. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029.

downtown transportation

coming in 2027

Texas hotel near NASA to get a Margaritaville makeover with lazy river

Rendering courtesy of Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay

Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will open in late 2027.

One of the signature hotels of the Houston Bay Area is undergoing a massive transformation. When it opens in late 2027, the new Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will bring a boutique-style experience to one of the most popular vacation destinations in the state.

Located roughly 250 miles, about four hours, from Dallas in the former Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake (3000 E NASA Parkway), the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will feature a comprehensive set of upgrades. Launched in 2020, Compass Hotels carry on the brand’s vibes in smaller markets and without the full resort price point.

Plans call for four Margaritaville-themed restaurants, a lazy river, conference and meeting spaces, and “fully reimagined guestrooms,” according to press materials. Once complete, the 229-room property will also offer marina access, boat parking, and a store.

“We are excited to introduce Compass Hotel Nassau Bay and bring this new destination to the Clear Lake community, just minutes from NASA/Space Center Houston,” Nassau Bay Resorts LLC CEO Kam Miramadi said in a statement. “We look forward to transforming this property into a welcoming hotel and recreational experience that reflects the character of the surrounding area while providing guests with a comfortable place to stay and explore.”

Nassau Bay Resorts LLC acquired the property in 2025. In June, it filed a notice with the Texas Workforce Commission that it would lay off all of its employees on July 31 to facilitate the renovations.

Margaritaville, named after the Jimmy Buffett hit, has expanded the singer’s easygoing vibes into a global empire. The company is also working on a $250 million, 334-room property on Galveston Island.

hotels bay area galveston margaritaville openings