Bringing the beach to Solano County, with a beautiful beach-like lagoon that uses 25 times less water than an average 18-hole golf course

03-07-24

California is known for being home to some of the most popular and iconic beaches in the country. But we continuously hear from Solano families that they have to trek long distances and sit in traffic jams just to get to the coastal beaches where their kids can cool off and have some fun. Family trips to the beach should be idyllic, relaxing, and fun, not wasted on the road in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

For many years, there was little anyone could do about this – until Crystal Lagoons® invented and patented a new technology to build beautiful, beach-like crystalline lagoons with sand and turquoise water while using 25 times less water than an average 18-hole golf course in Solano County.

Today, we could not be more excited to announce that California Forever has signed an agreement with Crystal Lagoons to make Solano County the home of the second such lagoon in California.

The new Solano Lagoon will be built in the great park in the middle of the new community in East Solano, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and entertainment. Importantly, while Crystal Lagoons amenities have sometimes been built to be only accessible to residents of the host community, the Solano Lagoon will be a Public Access Lagoons® project, meaning that it will be open to everyone from Solano County.

We believe that the Solano Lagoon will be an amazing addition to summers in Solano County. Crystal Lagoons technology is known for creating breathtaking, accessible, and sustainable man-made lagoons that offer a beach-like experience wherever they are built. This lagoon is meant for families to spend summer days, gather for birthday parties, participate in water sports, for kids to splash around during the summer (without fear of sharks!), and for everyone to relax in the sun. Visitors will be able to swim in the dedicated swim areas and have access to kayaks and paddleboards – in addition to several other fun-filled water sports activities.

In 2022, Disney brought the first Crystal Lagoons amenity to California, where it is now under construction as the anchor feature for Disney’s new community in Cotino, in southern California.

“Crystal Lagoons is proud to be part of this transformative development that will generate good-paying jobs, affordable homes, sustainable energy, and new entertainment options for Solano County. Our Public Access Lagoons® projects in urban settings are highly valued for bringing a piece of the ocean right to people’s doorsteps. They offer unparalleled entertainment and quality of life while contributing to sustainability, which has earned us recognition all over the country” said Benjamín Fischmann, Regional Director of Crystal Lagoons.

Here are some photos of real-life lagoons in various locations.

Forming a community working group to inform design and community needs

As with the Solano Sports Complex, we’re forming a community working group to help us solicit input and inform the design of the Solano Lagoon. Among other things, we want the lagoon to feel distinctly Northern Californian while preserving the fun beach vibe and incorporating the best of Solano County. We look forward to collaborating with our working group on that and on making sure the lagoon becomes a beloved part of Solano County and home to so many happy memories of amazing days with our loved ones. The early members of the working group include:

Sean Kazemi, father, principal partner at Kaz & Associates Stormwater & Environmental Specialists, and resident of Vacaville
Kim Wright, mother and resident of Dixon
John Wilkerson, father, realtor, and resident of Vacaville

“As a father and environmental specialist, I recognize the significance of sustainable development, and the new lagoon in Solano County is a prime example,” said Sean Kazemi, principal partner at Kaz & Associates and resident of Vacaville. “This lagoon uses cutting-edge technology to minimize water waste, which is vital in our climate. It’s not just an incredible amenity for our families to enjoy, it’s also a responsible choice for our environment, making it a win-win for all residents.”

“I’ve been living in Solano County with my family for years, and I’m thrilled about the prospect of a new Solano Lagoon right here—it’s like bringing the beach to our doorstep,” said Kim Wright, a mother living in Dixon. “This means we can enjoy beach days without the long drive, making it so much easier to spend quality time together. It’s a fantastic way to build lasting memories and strengthen our community.”

“As a local realtor and father, I’m excited about the introduction of the Solano lagoon here in Solano County,” commented John Wilkerson. “Anyone who knows my family, knows we love the beach and water activities. I can’t wait to watch my kids play at the lagoon. I love that this helps the majority of Solano residents – who don’t own a pool – to have access to a beautiful lagoon nearby. It will create a sustainable, fun space for families to enjoy. I can’t wait to have breakfast at home and then be on the beach 30 minutes later.”

We will be adding more members to the group after consulting with community leaders, elected officials, and residents on who would best represent their respective communities. The working group will be facilitated by our landscape designers CMG, who are designing the parks and open spaces for the East Solano Plan, and who have previously designed iconic spaces such as the San Francisco-based redevelopments of Treasure Island, Hunters Point, and Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground.

Later this summer, we will also take the working group on a tour of some of the existing Crystal Lagoons amenities that have already been built elsewhere. If you’re interested in joining the Solano Lagoon working group or have ideas you would like to share, please send an email to lagoon@EastSolanoPlan.com.

Supporting water efficiency and environmental sustainability by using 25 times less water than an 18-hole golf course

One of the most amazing design features of the Crystal Lagoons system is its sustainability and environmental performance, including using a special molecular film technology that can reduce water evaporation by up to 50%.

The lagoon shown in our rendering, which is about 7 acres and enough to accommodate thousands of people, would use about 20 acre-feet of water per year. That’s 25 times less than an average 18-hole golf course in Solano County, which uses about 493 acre-feet of water per year. Please see FAQ below for details.

The 20 acre-feet per year used by the Crystal Lagoons amenity is also only a small fraction — about 0.15% — of the 13,700 acre-feet of water that we have already secured for use by the East Solano Plan, and an even tinier fraction compared to the water supply at full build out. The lagoon can also use any type of water—salt, fresh, or brackish. The water will be part of the overall water needs of the East Solano Plan and, therefore, subject to the Water Guarantee in the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative. Learn more about our water supply plan and the Water Guarantee here.

The lagoons also require up to 100 times fewer chemicals than traditional swimming pools or drinking water treatment systems.

Finally, we are currently exploring innovative ways to use excess heat from cooling operations in the new community’s district thermal systems to heat the water and extend the lagoon’s use during the shoulder season. By reducing the need for Solano residents to travel far for coastal recreation, we also reduce the carbon footprint.

Contact us and discover how Crystal Lagoons can transform your city.

Outstanding news

Crystal Lagoons expands in the Dominican Republic with a new Project

The development will feature an impressive 3.21-acre crystalline lagoon as its central amenity, turning the complex into a destination in its own right: beach life, turquoise waters, and white-sand beaches.

The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Its stunning beaches and extensive hospitality offering, including luxury resorts and tourist complexes with a wide range of activities, attract millions of visitors from around the world every year. Counterintuitively, despite what one might expect, Crystal Lagoons will add a new lagoon developed with its technology in this destination.

Strategic expansion

In this way, the multinational innovation company continues its strategic expansion in the region with the announcement of Lagomar, a new project that promises to redefine standards of luxury and lifestyle.

Game changer

The complex is not just another residential development; it is tangible proof that Crystal Lagoons® technology is the “World’s Top Amenity,” capable of transforming any location into a world-class paradise destination. The project will feature an impressive 3.21-acre crystalline lagoon as its central amenity, turning the development into a destination in its own right:

● Beach life

● Turquoise water

● White sand beaches.

This pristine body of water will not only serve as the development’s visual and recreational anchor, but it will also:

● Solve critical challenges of the natural coastline

● Presence of strong waves

● Offering residents and visitors a perfect, safe, turquoise swimming experience 365 days a year.

Complementing the crystalline lagoon, the project will also feature:

● Walking trails

● A clubhouse

● Multi-purpose sports courts

● Kayaks, stand-up paddle, and other water sports and activities

This project is complemented by a new agreement covering the entire Cibao region in the Dominican Republic, which includes a second development planned for Santiago de los Caballeros, further strengthening Crystal Lagoons’ presence in the country.

“Lagomar will change the concept of tourism across the country’s entire North Coast, because with its central lagoon, all owners and visitors will be able to enjoy a ‘beach’ year-round, regardless of weather conditions. Most importantly, it will be in a controlled environment that will provide safety and privacy for the whole family. There is nothing like it anywhere along the country’s North Coast,” explains Elianne Sued, from the Marketing Department at Inmobiliaria Media Luna.

First project in the north of the country

Strategically located in the tourist corridor between Sosúa and Cabarete—world-renowned areas for water sports, culture, gastronomy, and its vibrant community of North American, Canadian, and European Citizens—Lagomar positions itself as the first project of its kind along the country’s entire North Coast, developed within a 54.36-acre master plan.

The complex enters the market as a mixed-use development, primarily focused on second homes and short-term rental investment, capitalizing on the area’s strong tourism demand.

Experienced development team

Inmobiliaria Media Luna, a firm with an uninterrupted track record on the North Coast since 1986, is developing the project. Its experience delivering subdivided lots, single-family villas, and apartment developments in the region provides the solid foundation needed to execute a project of this scale.

Also in the Dominican Republic

Lagomar is the second project of Crystal Lagoons in the Dominican Republic. The multinational innovation company already has “The Beach at Punta Cana City Place“, an exclusive residential and hotel complex that features Central America’s largest crystalline lagoon, with 7.41 acres of turquoise waters.

Original content

19-02-2026

Not Just Idyllic Beach Lifestyle, a Crystalline Lagoon Also Increases Return on Investment and Property Value.

A lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology changes the game: it doesn’t operate as an “add-on,” but as the project’s commercial centerpiece, capable of turning a development into a destination, increasing value per square meter, accelerating sales, and opening new revenue streams.

In real estate, ROI isn’t something you “feel”: it’s measured. And when we talk about amenities, the critical question for any developer isn’t whether something looks spectacular, but how much it increases value, how much it accelerates sales velocity, and how sustainable (and defensible) those results are over time.

That’s where a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology changes the game: it doesn’t operate as an “add-on,” but as the project’s commercial centerpiece, capable of turning a development into a destination.

The Direct Impact on Price per Square Meter

Integrating a crystalline lagoon transforms a project’s economic geography. By bringing idyllic beach life to any location—whether it’s inland, in the heart of a city, or in the middle of the desert—it creates immediate value.

What does “increasing value” really mean in a real estate project?

In practice, “value uplift” is expressed through four variables that directly impact returns:

Price premium per square meter (pricing power)
Faster sales velocity (absorption)
Greater asset appreciation (resale/capital appreciation)
New revenue streams (in public-access models), where the lagoon can operate with paid entry and create additional income streams.

The data-driven answer: how much value can increase with a crystalline lagoon

There isn’t a single percentage that applies to every market, but real-world cases show consistent impacts on pricing and commercial performance.

Case 1: Epperson (Florida, USA) — pre-sale premium and accelerated sales velocity

At Epperson, once the addition of a crystalline lagoon was announced, sale prices increased by 21% in the pre-construction phase, while competitors rose only 1% to 5%.

In addition, between January and June 2021, sales increased by +174% (compared to 2020), reaching 342 units sold.

The result: the “lagoon effect” doesn’t just allow you to charge more but also reduces the time it takes to convert interest into signed contracts.

Case 2: Baía Kristal (Cartagena, Colombia) — appreciation and accelerated sell-out

At Baía Kristal, the sale value per m² doubled (100%) in 2.3 years, while comparable projects grew only 5% to 15% over the same period.

The project sold 1,560 apartments in 2.3 years, averaging 56 units per month, when it was originally projected to take 7 years to sell out.

The result: when an amenity becomes “iconic,” appreciation can be accompanied by an equally—or even more—powerful advantage: sales velocity.

Why a crystalline lagoon truly moves ROI (and isn’t comparable to a pool)

The key difference is that a crystalline lagoon doesn’t compete in the “amenity” category: it competes in the “lifestyle” category. And that changes willingness to pay.

1) True differentiation (not a commodity)

A traditional pool is replicable. A crystalline lagoon creates an immediate “wow factor” and a sellable narrative (“beach lifestyle”) that multiplies appeal and memorability.

2) Sustainability and efficiency that support the model

The value proposition isn’t just aesthetic: it’s also operational efficiency. Crystal Lagoons® sustainable technology can operate using up to 100 times fewer chemicals and only 2% of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems.

In addition, it enables low water consumption: up to 33 times less water than a golf course and 40% less water than a park of the same size, and it can use fresh, salt, or brackish water.

What this means for ROI: an amenity that drives pricing and sales, while also helping meet sustainability/ESG criteria, tends to be more defensible over time.

4. The PAL® Model: Monetization Beyond Real Estate Sales

A unique innovation maximizing ROI for investors are Public Access Lagoons® projects, also known as PAL® developments. This business model allows the lagoonto operate as a public tourist attraction through ticket sales.

This turns the amenity into an independent business unit that generates perpetual revenue through:

· Daily ticket sales (ticket revenue).

· Corporate events and weddings.

· Retail, food & beverage, and watersports around the lagoon, plus concerts, outdoor cinema, and hundreds of other activities.

How to estimate “how much” ROI increases in a project

If you’re evaluating integrating a crystalline lagoon, a simple, but solid, model typically includes:

Projected premium by unit type and view (lagoon-front vs. interior)
Absorption effect: expected monthly sales with and without the lagoon
Impact on CAC / commercial efficiency: more organic leads, better conversion, less reliance on discounts
Land value / early-phase uplift: pre-sales and construction stage (where much of the upside is captured)
Comparative OPEX: energy, chemicals, maintenance (and the impact on NOI, especially in hospitality)
Complementary revenues (if applicable): ticketing + events + F&B + commercial lease income

When an amenity is measured in sales, it speaks for itself.

So, how much does a property’s value increase with a crystalline lagoon?

The cases demonstrate that the impact can show up as a price premium (e.g., +21% in pre-sales at Epperson), faster sales velocity (+174%), and appreciation that far outperforms the market (e.g., +100% in 2.3 years at Baía Kristal).

In a market where differentiation is no longer optional, a crystalline lagoon isn’t a “nice-to-have” expense: it’s a business tool to sell faster, sell better, and sustain value with a sustainable value proposition.

06-02-2026

Crystal Lagoons in 2025: Records, Rankings, and the Boom of New Amenities with Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ Technology

2025 marks a historic year for Crystal Lagoons: a record number of projects signed, strong presence in U.S. top-selling rankings (RCLCO), and the groundbreaking launch of the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ concept.

In 2025, Crystal Lagoons delivered one of the strongest years in its recent history. With an expansion pace higher than in 2024, the multinational innovation company not only accelerated its global growth, but also reinforced, through market data, a key trend for real estate developers and hospitality projects: when an amenity is truly disruptive, it becomes a business.

The outcome was threefold: on the one hand, a record year for signed projects and new operational lagoons; on the other, strong validation in the United States, where communities featuring Crystal Lagoons® technology once again ranked among the country’s top-selling; and finally, a new technology created to fill a gap that, in just four months, is already a success.

2025 in figures: real, measurable, multi-sector expansion

Crystal Lagoons closed 2025 with milestones that speak directly to what matters in real estate and hospitality: execution, scale, and pipeline.

15 new operational lagoons.
50 new projects signed, surpassing the 2024 record.
More than 180 projects under negotiation or construction, including real estate, hospitality, Public Access Lagoons®, and Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ developments.

These figures send a powerful signal: demand for “beach lifestyle” experiences continue to grow, and the Crystal Lagoons value proposition keeps capturing that preference.

The “Lagoon Effect” shows up in sales: Crystal Lagoons in RCLCO’s Top 50 (U.S.)

The U.S. real estate market is one of the most competitive in the world, and RCLCO’s annual ranking (Real Estate Advisors) is considered the definitive barometer of success. In its 2025 edition, projects anchored by a Crystal Lagoons® amenity stood out among the country’s top-selling master-planned communities, once again validating that lagoons drive sales velocity.

The developments that stood out in the Top 50 are:

1. 5th place – Sunterra (Katy, Texas): With 1,024 units sold, it was crowned as the highest-ranked community in all of Texas within the ranking. Sunterra’s success shows that geographic location becomes secondary when a world-class amenity is delivered.

2. 14th place – Mirada (San Antonio, Florida): With 650 units sold, this project reaffirms the dominance of the technology in the Sunshine State.

3. 47th place – Lago Mar (Texas City, Texas): A longtime presence in the rankings that remains its appeal with 380 units sold, proving the model’s long-term sustainability.

Beyond the ranking positions, the strategic takeaway is the pattern: Florida and Texas dominate Top 50 performance, and that’s precisely where Crystal Lagoons has consolidated high-impact projects. This reinforces that the crystalline lagoon doesn’t function as “decoration,” but as a traction driver in highly competitive markets.

The 2025 Revolution: Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ Technology

While large crystalline lagoons are the company’s signature, 2025 saw the birth of an industry game-changer: Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ technology.

This new concept is designed for projects where space, budget, or format previously limited the ability to incorporate a “beach lifestyle” with large-scale lagoons.

What they are and why they’re positioned as “game-changing”:

· Standardized lagoons ranging from 0.25 acre to 1 acre.

· In just four months, the model already shows commercial success: 17 projects signed and more than 120 under negotiation.

This format enables real estate developers to access the benefits of a crystalline lagoon without requiring the large land footprints of a traditional master plan.

Key features of the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ concept:

Instant visual impact: turquoise waters + white-sand beaches as the project’s icon.
Efficient design: built to maximize ROI per m², turning the center of the master plan into a beach destination at a fraction of the cost of traditional swimming pools.
Replicable model: standardization that speeds up implementation for certain project types.
Versatile use cases: from multifamily and urban projects to hotels, boutique resorts, mixed-use developments, and short-term rental–oriented projects.

In practice, these smaller lagoons respond to a clear market demand: an amenity that doesn’t require “mega-scale” to generate a premium, drive sales, and strengthen positioning.

A spectacular year that sets the trend for 2026

2025 has made it clear that innovation is the path to profitability. Whether leading U.S. sales rankings with large-scale projects or unlocking new niches with the Small Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons™ technology, the multinational innovation company continues to set the standard in the development of sustainable amenities.

For real estate developers, the market message is clear: turquoise isn’t just a color; it’s a competitive advantage that sells in record time.

Original content.

30-01-2026