New $250M Margaritaville Resort set to break ground in Galveston

culturemap Houston
By Steven Devadanam
Jan 23, 2024 | 8:59 am

Attention Galveston Parrot Heads: a Margaritaville Resort is coming to the island.

The new, 334-room resort, will be located at 317 East Beach Dr. and will occupy 300,000 square feet, marking one of the largest developments in eastern Galveston. This new, $250 million project is the brainchild of RREAF Holdings LLC, a private real estate development firm, and Innisfree Hotels, a beachfront hotel and resort operator.

Plans call for myriad amenities, including pickleball courts, a family entertainment center, a lazy river along with an adult pool, and all the requisite, signature food and beverage offerings that have made the destination a favorite of families and Jimmy Buffett devotees and his no-shoes, beach lovin', pirate vibe.

Kids — and big kids — can look forward to a 2.5-acre elevated water park overlooking the beach. Dining and entertainment comes via four restaurants and a ballroom, perfect for weddings, reunions, parties, and coastal conventions. As this is a beachside resort, an easy trip to the sand and water is key.

Representatives of RREAF Holdings also confirm to CultureMap that the resort will offer for-sale beachside cottages — sure to draw vacation home buyers, rental investors, and more — as reported by Houston Business Journal.

Boasting some 300,000 square feet, the new Margaritaville will be one of the biggest developments in East Galveston.
Rendering courtesy of Galveston

“The Galveston market has exponential growth opportunities stimulated by its economy and the evolution of people moving to Texas in the past two years,” said Kip Sowden, CEO of RREAF Holdings, in an announcement. “We are honored to work with such distinguished companies as Innisfree Hotels and Margaritaville. With best-in-class management and highly amenitized options for our customers, we are offering a premier experience in a well-positioned hospitality asset for a fruitful future.”

With a new Galveston outpost, Margaritaville fans and loyalists (Parrot Heads) can now choose from the lakeside location in Conroe or the beachside island retreat.

A new Margaritaville also means expanded options for Galveston tourists and visitors among Tilman Fertitta’s San Luis Resort, the newly renovated Hotel Galvez, the just-opened new Hotel Lucine, and other hospitality.

Current plans call for the project to break ground in early 2024 as RREAF Holdings has now secured the necessary City of Galveston approvals, per press materials.

Already dotting beaches and coasts along the U.S., Mexico, and even the Dominican Republic, Margaritaville is aggressively expanding with beach resort (such as South Padre Island in Texas), and all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

Could Buffett — a self-dubbed "Pirate" who refused to adult and made beaches, boats, sandals, beers and margs, and day drinking — he coined the phrase "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere," after all — envisioned a hotel and resort empire inspired by his songs?

Buffett (with his beloved dogs just days before he passed away) spent some quality time with our columnist. 
Jimmy Buffett/Facebook

Perhaps. Regardless, it's easy to imagine that the pirate — who passed away just last year and spent some quality time with CultureMap columnist Ken Hoffman — is raising a glass somewhere.