TEXAS CITY, Texas — Sports Illustrated is normally associated with coverage of athletes and swimsuit models but now their dipping into the resort business.
Plans are currently underway for an Sports Illustrated Resort south of Houston. It will be located adjacent to the massive Lago Mar lagoon in Texas City and will be one of the first SI Resorts in the US, according to the website.
The 12-acre lagoon in Lago Mar is 1/4 of a mile long -- reportedly the longest in the U.S. -- and it holds 24 million gallons of water.
“The lagoon has become a super regional attraction bringing people from other cities and beyond. This new resort will provide the much needed hospitality for our guests who want to spend the week at the lagoon," Lagoon Development CEO Uri Mann told us. "The residents of the community will have a beautiful resort to recommend to their visiting friends and family.”
Billed as the "Major league of leisure," SI Resorts offers "a vibrant, exciting and interactive experience that celebrates the legacy of athletic achievements," the website promises. The Lago Mar project has been in the works for a year and is still in the design phase.
"It's more than just a beautiful hotel and beach club; this resort becomes part of the fabric of the sports enthusiast local community, bringing families to the lagoon,” Lagoon Development President Greg Singleton said. “The SI Resort is a great fit for our lagoon since Sports Illustrated will be engaging the local community and offering Sports Illustrated of the Year awards to ISD students."
When Lago Mar is complete, the mixed-use entertainment district will also include hotels, retail, dining and entertainment.
Plans are also underway for an SI Resort in Orlando.
The Dominican Republic is home to the Sports Illustrated Resorts Marina & Villas Cap Cana, an all-inclusive luxury resort. That's where the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue was shot.
