RESORT PROPOSED BETWEEN ROUND TOP AND CARMINE
A proposed resort development between Round Top and Carmine would contain up to 100 duplexes and a Christmas Market. The Fayette County Commissioners took up the item last Thursday in their meeting. The owner of the proposed development is Dirk Winter and it is designed after developments in California including Cambria Pines Lodge and Christmas Market. Winters is asking the Commissioners for permission to divide the 150 acre property into 5 parcels. Winters said the property will get its water from the city of carmine, and said the Christmas Market will be built first. He said the duplex construction will follow with a maximum of 100 units.
Commissioners brought up the question of traffic congestion around the resort. Winters said he is willing to pay for any improvements needed to surrounding roadways. Commissioners agreed to hold a workshop meeting in two weeks to review the plan and any action on the development will be deferred until then.
Ask yourself; who locally and regionally benefits the most monetarily if this comes to fruition? Figure that out and you’ll have your answer why?
I struggle to see what this proposal brings, other than traffic congestion, light pollution and a degradation to the charm of Round Top and the surrounding area. We do not need a suburban development and theme park in the area and widening roads will just make the traffic worse. If we want to grow the area, it makes more sense to do it organically, rather than create a theme park with no natural community.
I concur with all of the objections. Anything else I try to say will break the comment rules.
A development like this will kill the real estate market in this area for quality property. People want country property, not exurbia. The developer seems to have a poor reputation, too. And that’s a lot of strain on area resources—for water and accommodation of traffic.
Everyone needs to Google Mr. Dirk Winter… the developer. A very long article about him making promises to pay for infrastructure in California resort… he did not ever pay a dime! A very storied history. Lawsuits!
You’ve got to be kidding, Think people, think. i heard an ice skating rink too???
Problems paying taxes on property should be addressed by more income per individual —Like get a job
If you’re not a fan of it, you better talk to your Commissioners so they are aware of the concerns. They probably don’t read KWHI and other outlets for your comments. Don’t let them drink the Kool-Aid from a smooth salesman.
You can thank these RINOs and Governors in Austin for allowing California to come over at will and incentivized. And yet a large majority still decided to choose Abbott in the recent primary. Creating their own demise.
Horrible horrible horrible news!
Texas is NOT CALIFORNIA and no TEXAN wants anything LIKe California built in TEXAS!
And the best question to ask……
WHY?
Have to be all inclusive as area doesn’t cater to year round vacationing guests.. The county is busy in the antiques venue and local wineries yet are lacking in whole family entertainment’s. Not likely to hold up to even a handshake.
Be aware! Don’t do it!
So sad. The joy of having a weekend home on Round Top is the tranquility of the place and the small town atmosphere. I hate that lit marquis showed up on 237.and now this? Please do not approve. Round Top is losing its small town Texas feel.
Round Top looks like a junkyard!
It does and will only get worse! After each Antique week they don’t clean up and it gets worse each time. I hate to even drive thru Round Top. Pitiful! But the all mighty dollar is what it’s all about!
Have you seen Burton? ? That is why we needs laws to make sure no haphazard, junk yards can go up. Too many businesses and homes with junk all over the property.
And I know just where you are referring to. Our family has been here since the late 60s when Round Top Rd was a gravel road. This town is quickly losing its culture. I think it started with an powerful older ladiy that wanted to have an annual “garage sale”
I pray this doesn’t go through. We are TEXAS! Not California! RTC is such a wonderful community, rich with history. Those that move to our small towns need to respect that. If they want it to be like California they should live there. So many of us landowners who are not wealthy stand to lose our family property when the “improvements” they make raise our taxes so high we can no longer afford to live here.
Californians are already here and show no signs of slowing. There are talks at another development closer to Fayetteville. The problem is this area is the half way point between Austin and Houston. Millions of people with lots of money to spend. I do wish this would be closer to highway and don’t believe the county should subsidize any part of this development.
You should not even be taxed for something you own anyway !
This is already happening with land being sold at $20K-$30K (or higher) an acre in the area due to all the people looking for their little slice of heaven to enjoy on weekends.
I live in Silverton Oregon. It is the home of the Oregon Garden. When it started to struggle, this developer came in with a lot of promises. The town drank the Kool-aide. He built his hotel and resort property and completely let the garden go to a mess. The city took the Garden back this year and this dude still has his resort. Ya’ll beware. He does not come bearing gifts.
That is an absolutely untrue statement.
Mr Winter took over the garden when it was in receivership after the Oregon Garden had gone bankrupt and maintained the Oregon Garden for 15 years with his own money in the amount of 3 million dollars.
The garden ran smoothly while he ran it and created income from tourist taxes for the city of Silverton.
The change in management of the Garden occurred in the past year due to a discrepancy in the maintenance of infrastructure of the Garden between Mr Winter and the City of Silverton.
The city of Silverton now manages the Oregon Garden.
This idea seems like the end of Roundtop as we know it.
Sorry, but Round Top as it was once known ended a long time ago, my grandparents and dad were from this area and it’s nothing like it used to be. Done.
Amen!!
There are so many jobs here in Round Top that do not get fulfilled. We do not need more junk on 237. The traffic will be a total nightmare during the shows. It is not fair to all of us that have lived out here for many years to enjoy the peace and quiet. We are not California! Go somewhere else!!! We are tired of driving past all the garbage they call antiques that is just left out year around. This is nuts! We need to organize now!
Fuchs Rd can’t handle two cars, I don’t know how it will handle 800 to 1000 cars a day. I hope the commissioners and governing authorities of our county are concerned about life safety issues
I own a little piece of paradise in RT and don’t see this as good news. How can we make our voices heard? I don’t want to be California!
Research the Christmas Market in the Santa Barbara CA area, it’s a failing venture and a plague on the CA coast. It’s a tourist trap not a resort for relaxation and countryside enjoyment.
One of the dealers in Round Top is from San Luis Obispo. The market has had issues in the prior 2 years due to COVID restrictions not allowing the public to attend. It was relayed to me that people genuinely like the market and hotel. I think everyone that lives in the Round Top/Carmine area need to realize that we are seeing growth and it shows no signs of stopping. I do think there needs to better organization to stop some of these so called “antique venues” popping up on 237 that are just plain ole eyesores.
We are losing country fast to development. There is no shortage of roads and businesses in the world why can’t we leave some places alone and wild. We’re not gonna run out of concrete jungles but we are at risk of losing the outdoors and for what, profit that’ll go to a private business? Not every property has to justify itself with a fiscal reason.
No ! Emphatically no!
This, sounds like a bad idea.
You lost me at California and Christmas Market.
A flaming ball of hot garbage.
100% Agree
NO California here! I say keep our RT-C the way it is. And No to duplexes, apt buildings, section 8 housing and whatever else you propose down the line. I don’t want the traffic or the crime that comes with them. We’ve seen by others posts in here this guys adventures leave the people with high taxes and a big mess in their area. Leave our land like it is.
I agree 1000%. Traffic is already getting heavy. That area I’d very dangerous! No California here in Texas!!!
And duplexes
I certainly don’t want a development in this part of Fayette County Already enough traffic. We are not California.
I moved from Dallas to La Grange, and this is absolutely one of the most absurd and ridiculous ideas for Fayette county. I would be very surprised if they actually approve this.
Those poor home folks around RT-C. It all started with the antique chaos and now this. Them city people wont be happy until they pave the entire county. 🙁
The last thing Round Top, Carmine or anywhere else in Fayette County needs is duplexes or apartments. This sounds aweful and the opposite of a resort
When I read the part “….it is designed after developments in California ….” I shuddered.
They for sure need more rental properties as La Grange has grown, no matter how much the older generation has fought against it. If you don’t come from a family with land or money, then you get horrible housing and for crazy amounts. No one ever talks about how bad both Cottonwood and The Carter look and the bad crowds they bring, and yet they have stood forever! I hope housing is provided, and even more so, employment opportunities that don’t depend on if you hurt someones feelings, slept with someones man or woman, use to be a bad person but are reformed.
Would this be on 290?
No. It will be around the Carmine cut off on 237. Terrible idea! I plan to protest!!!
You are exactly correct when you say that it will bring an ‘increased tax base’, but I fear that the taxes will be increased for property owners, as the sales of the duplexes and other parcels will only elevate the surrounding lands’ appraised values. Sadly, many of the families in that area have owned land for generations, and if they do not have an ag exemption in place, or enough land for such an exemption, their taxes will rise dramatically. There is no “win-win” when it comes to development and the like; usually it’s the locals that lose.
This will being jobs, increased tax base and more residents that will spend money in the local community. Sounds like a win win!
Is the town of Carmine prepared to furnish water to the development, or is the developer going to pay for upgrading the City of Carmine’s water supply? Sewer system? Something to think about.
The jobs Round Top has already remain unfilled. I would wish for our area of rich history, arts, and culture something that highlighted the uniqueness of our area, not a replica of something generic already done elsewhere.
Win win? What?! Bringing a California-style resort and theme park to rural Texas is completely incompatible with the community. People move to the country to escape urban living and congestion. This proposal brings urban living and congestion to the country. Congested rural roads, increased water and sewer demands, light pollution (good-bye, night sky), more school children. How will the aquifer be affected? How will increased sewage be handled? Will more schools be required? The proposal destroys the country living of the community and its traditions. Don’t Californicate Texas!
All very good points, sadly.