Why Atlanta needs PAL® Projects

• Projects by the multinational innovation company once again ranked among the 50 best-selling master-planned communities in the United States, according to RCLCO. The result confirms a trend that repeats year after year: developments anchored by crystalline lagoons stand out for their ability to accelerate sales and increase the appeal of real estate projects.

The Sunterra project in Texas and Mirada in Florida, both anchored by a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, were once again recognized among the 50 best-selling master-planned communities in the United States, according to the 2026 midyear edition of the prestigious ranking prepared by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, one of the country’s most influential real estate consulting firms. In this edition, Sunterra ranked No. 10, while Mirada placed No. 50.

Beyond this year’s rankings, the more relevant point is this: Crystal Lagoons projects appear consistently in the rankings, reflecting the impact that crystalline lagoons have on sales velocity, property appreciation, and the differentiation of residential developments.

From real estate rankings to a sustained trend

In 2025, Sunterra ranked No. 5 nationwide with 1,024 homes sold, Mirada reached No. 14 with 650 sales, and Lago Mar placed No. 47 with 380.

The story goes back even further. Epperson, Lago Mar, Balmoral, Sierra Vista, Windsong Ranch, Mirada and Sunterra, among others, have appeared in different editions of the RCLCO rankings.

In 2023, for example, five projects associated with Crystal Lagoons ranked among the country’s 50 best-selling communities: Sunterra, Sierra Vista, and Windsong Ranch in Texas, along with Mirada and Epperson in Florida.

Epperson reached No. 27 in RCLCO’s 2021 midyear ranking with 342 sales; Sierra Vista ranked No. 20 that same year, while Balmoral placed No. 12 and Lago Mar No. 36.

For developers, there is one signal that is hard to ignore: crystalline lagoons work as a sales driver across different types of projects.

Sunterra and Mirada: beach life as a reason to buy

Sunterra, developed in Katy by Land Tejas and Starwood Land, is centered around a 4-acre lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, surrounded by white-sand beaches. The community was already recording record sales before the amenity opened in 2025, showing how the promise of a beach lifestyle can become a compelling sales proposition even in the early stages of a development.

Mirada, developed by Metro Development Group, takes that concept to another scale. Its 14.9-acre lagoon is the largest of its kind in the United States and offers kayaking, paddleboarding, beaches, relaxation areas, and water activities.

What does a lagoon change in a real estate development?

• Accelerates sales velocity: Communities with crystalline lagoons achieve significantly faster sales rates than traditional developments in the same area.
• Increases value per square foot: Giving homes views of or direct access to white-sand beaches increases the final price buyers are willing to pay.
• Appeals to a broad range of buyers: From young couples looking for water sports to families seeking a relaxed waterfront setting.
• Creates a powerful brand identity: The development immediately stands out from local competition without having to compete primarily on price.

From “Location, Location, Location” to the World’s Top Amenity™

For decades, the real estate mantra was simple: “location, location, location.” Crystal Lagoons changed that logic by demonstrating that an extraordinary amenity can create a destination of its own and transform the perception of a location.

This is what is now known as the World’s Top Amenity™: lagoons with turquoise waters and white-sand beaches that bring the beach lifestyle to virtually any location.

According to RCLCO, even in a challenging market, buyers continue to value master-planned communities for their quality of life, depth of amenities, and ability to create attractive places to live.

Sunterra and Mirada once again demonstrate this. For a real estate developer, a crystalline lagoon is no longer just an amenity. It can become the element that defines, differentiates, and sells the entire project.

Sustainable technology designed for large-scale projects

The visual impact is matched by operational efficiency. Crystal Lagoons® amenities can use up to 33 times less water than an 18-hole golf course and 40% less water than a park of the same size.

They also require up to 100 times fewer chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and consume only 2% of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems.

Sunterra and Mirada once again reinforce a clear idea: when an amenity creates an experience that is difficult to replicate, location is no longer the only deciding factor. The development itself becomes the destination. And that is reflected in sales.

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• Lago Mar evolved from a residential community into one of Texas’ most successful destinations. Its crystalline lagoon, developed under the Public Access Lagoons® model, attracts thousands of visitors each year and has boosted the project’s real estate performance.

Bringing the beach lifestyle to the heart of Texas sounded like a risky bet. However, in Texas City, developer Land Tejas set out to transform a piece of land into an extraordinary master-planned community, finding a formula capable of attracting both homebuyers and visitors.

This is the Lago Mar development, whose centerpiece is an 11.49-acre crystalline lagoon, recognized as the longest lagoon developed by Crystal Lagoons in the United States. Surrounded by white-sand beaches and a complete entertainment district, it created a beach and waterfront lifestyle where none existed before.

The development has become one of the most successful examples of how a crystalline lagoon can completely transform the perception and value of a real estate project.

The Public Access Lagoons® Model That Drove Its Success

One of the most innovative aspects of Lago Mar was its evolution from a traditional residential project into a mixed-use development under the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as the PAL® model. Through the LagoonFest Texas concept, the lagoon opened to the public through paid admission, expanding the project’s reach far beyond its residents. The response was immediate.

From its earliest seasons, demand exceeded expectations, with tickets selling out up to a week in advance during peak periods. Today, the complex can welcome up to 4,000 visitors per day and has established itself as one of the state’s leading recreation destinations.

The results support that success. Annual attendance at LagoonFest grew from 43,000 visitors in 2020 to nearly 119,000 in 2023, generating revenue from ticket sales, food and beverage, activities, and special events.

In fact, the lagoon does more than sell homes; it generates its own operating revenue: more than US$6.8 million annually from PAL® model operations.

An Experience That Goes Far Beyond the Beach

In addition to white-sand beaches, Lago Mar offers:

• Paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing. 
• Floating obstacle courses. 
• A swim-up bar and waterfront restaurants. 
• Corporate and social events. 
• Concerts and live entertainment. 
• Spaces designed for families and visitors of all ages. 

The New Vacation Spot for Houston Residents

For years, those looking for a beach experience had to travel long distances to reach the coast. Lago Mar changed that dynamic.

Its strategic location, connected to one of the region’s busiest corridors, brought a resort-style experience closer to millions of people. Today, it has become a favorite alternative for those looking to enjoy a vacation, water sports, and entertainment without leaving the Houston metropolitan area.

The combination of crystalline waters, beaches, dining, and recreational activities turned the development into a true hub for family relaxation, entertainment, and waterfront living.

The Impact on Real Estate Sales

For real estate developers, the most relevant figure lies in the project’s commercial performance.

Lago Mar has been included multiple times in RCLCO Real Estate Advisors’ Top 50 ranking of the best-selling master-planned communities in the United States. In 2025, it ranked No. 47 nationwide, recording 380 home sales and 10% growth compared with the previous year.

The community is planned to include more than 4,200 homes upon completion and has already surpassed 1,000 completed units.

Crystal Lagoons® Technology as a Driver of Value

Behind the success of Lago Mar is a technology that makes it possible to develop large bodies of crystalline water with efficient and sustainable operations. This innovation creates destinations capable of driving traffic, increasing real estate value, and opening new revenue streams through the PAL® model.

For the real estate industry, Lago Mar sends a clear message: when an amenity successfully combines tourism, hospitality, recreation, and quality of life, the impact is reflected both in the user experience and in commercial results.

Lago Mar not only transformed Texas. It also became a benchmark for how to build more attractive communities that are profitable and capable of remaining competitive over time.

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• Treasure Bay Bintan placed water at the heart of its concept: a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology that brings together hotels, glamping, water sports, and ticketed access in one of the most iconic examples of the Public Access Lagoons® model.

At the Treasure Bay Bintan project, the crystalline lagoon is not simply a decorative feature. It is the reason to visit.

Located on Bintan Island, Indonesia, the project is centered around a 16-acre crystalline lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, recognized as the largest man-made seawater lagoon in Southeast Asia. Its turquoise waters create an expansive setting for swimming, family fun, and water sports.

Scale matters. The lagoon became the main attraction of a US$3 billion tourism destination that has been operating since 2015. Rather than developing a conventional swimming pool as an add-on to a resort, Treasure Bay made the water experience the centerpiece of its concept.

The commercial impact of the Public Access Lagoons® model
How can an amenity be transformed into a direct source of operating revenue? The key was implementing the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as the PAL® model.

Under the Chill Cove commercial concept, the lagoon offers daily access to non-guest visitors through ticket sales, while also serving resort guests. This creates a constant flow of activity:

• Steadily growing visitor traffic: The result is a consistent source of demand that drives the project’s commercial performance. In 2025, Treasure Bay welcomed 315,459 visitors, an increase of nearly 22% compared with the previous year. Around 350,000 visitors are projected for 2026. 
• Accelerated profitability and diversified revenue streams: The financial results support this model. The complex’s revenue tripled during its first two years of operation after opening to the public and reached US$5.65 million in 2025, generated by hospitality, ticket sales, activities, and food and beverage. Around 28% of revenue comes directly from tickets and lagoon-related activities.

For a real estate developer, the takeaway is powerful: the asset no longer depends solely on people who purchase a property or book a room. PAL® projects can monetize access, activities, commercial spaces, and other services surrounding the lagoon.

Hospitality and luxury glamping: The multiplier effect on rates

The value of the lagoon directly impacts the surrounding hospitality infrastructure. Treasure Bay Bintan is home to two high-end accommodations: Natra Bintan (Marriott International’s first glamping experience, featuring 100 safari-style tents) and Anmon (a desert-themed glamping resort owned by The Hip And Happening Group Holdings).

The data reveal a compelling competitive advantage for real estate developers:

• The presence of the lagoon increases nightly rates by 300% to 500% compared with traditional glamping properties in the area that do not offer water amenities. 
• This increase in value makes it possible to command significantly higher room rates than local competitors and even glamping options in higher-cost markets such as Singapore.

A success story for real estate developers

Treasure Bay Bintan demonstrates how an iconic amenity can become the economic engine of an entire development. The combination of a Crystal Lagoons® amenity, the PAL® model, a differentiated hospitality offering, and sustainable operations has helped attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, increase asset value, and position the project as one of Indonesia’s most recognized family destinations.

For real estate developers, the project offers a clear lesson: when an amenity generates demand of its own, creates new revenue streams, and increases the destination’s appeal, it becomes a competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate.

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