How to Find Land for a Micro-Resort or a Landscape Hotel?
I recently chatted with one of you, and I asked: what topics would you like to see in the Unique Stays newsletter?
Four fantastic suggestions came in (thank you again!), and one of those suggestions was so obvious it almost hid in plain sight:
How do you find land to build unique structures?
On the surface, you might already know some of the basics:
Seek unregulated zoning (if you want to build fast)
Look for diverse demand
Find land at the intersection of multiple markets (when possible)
Identify natural features to build around
But let’s go deeper.
In Part 1, we’ll explore Desires, Logistics & Your Unique Edge.
In Part 2 next week, we’ll cover next steps.
Note: this approach might not suit everyone. I’m simply sharing how I’m thinking through this process.
Part 1: Desires, Logistics & Your Unique Edge
For me, the real question isn’t just “Where do I find land for unique stays?”
It’s “Where do I find land where I can build the best project possible?”
If you’re going to start something, do it right—or don’t start at all.
You don’t need to have everything perfect from the start or during the process, but you need to strive for greatness. That’s your pre-requisite.
Here’s how I break it down:
1. Quality Above All Else
If my goal is to create a micro-resort or landscape hotel, every aspect—build quality, design, materials, details—must be exceptional.
Whether I hold the property as a long-term legacy asset or flip it in ten years, I want it to stand the test of time.
Excellence is the way to stand out in a mature market. And even if your market is not yet mature, one day it will be.
Excellence will be your edge.
2. Being On-Site Daily
To maintain that level of quality, I need to be on-site almost every day—even with a trusted general contractor (GC). Here’s why:
Proximity Matters
If you’re an hour away, you’re forced to work from your car, wait on contractors, or rush back if someone doesn’t show. We’ve been there: my husband, Rod drives out, a contractor ghosts him, and suddenly it’s a two-hour round trip with no place to plug in or refocus.
Spotting Opportunities (and Risks)
When you’re on the ground every day, you catch value-add ideas and potential problems early—especially important if you’ve purchased a large parcel.
3. My Ideal Setups
Depending on your personal situation, consider one of these options:
Land Very Close to Home
Keeps your current lifestyle intact.
Being on-site, even if it’s 20 minutes away, is still better than a longer commute.
Land with an Existing Home
Live in the house during construction (assuming it’s livable).
No daily commute means more sleep, fewer missed site visits, and faster decisions.
Bring in a Manufactured Cabin or RV
Hook up an RV or prefab cabin to utilities (if available).
Note: utilities can be a hurdle, and an RV may not suit a large family.
Build a Demo Cabin in Your Backyard
Construct a small modular cabin at home, document the build, and build your brand before buying land. (Check local zoning or HOA rules first—some areas prohibit temporary structures in residential yards.)
You practice storytelling, filming, and refine your processes on a small scale.
You can build it in such a way that will allow you to bring this cabin to your future resort once you get the land.
Requires upfront capital.
4. What Makes Sense for You & Your Family?
Before you start scrolling through listing sites, ask yourself:
What am I optimizing for? (proximity, budget, climate, lifestyle)
How flexible is my family? (spouse, kids, work commitments)
How much time and money can I dedicate to being on-site?
In our case:
It’s just Rod and me—no kids yet—we work remotely—so we’re pretty flexible.
We decided to look only within the U.S. for now because:
We understand U.S. laws and processes.
We already have contacts—manufacturers, architects, and other professionals.
International deals add layers of complexity on top of an already complex process.
As Unique Stays grows, I’ll likely expand my search globally. But for now: land in the U.S. only.
5. State-Level Choices: Why Texas?
Even though we’re open to anywhere in the U.S., we’ve narrowed it to Texas, where we live. Here’s why:
Family Proximity
Having family close by is important to us.
Vetted Contractors
We already know local contractors who can deliver the quality we need, fast.
That alone reduces risk and saves time.
Familiar Markets
We know some Texas markets well—prices, neighborhoods, emerging trends—so we move faster.
Underserved Opportunity
In my view, Texas is still craving unique stays. There’s demand and not enough supply.
Low Regulations & Diverse Demand
Certain Texas counties have fewer zoning restrictions and a varied guest profile (we’ll dive into this in Part 2).
If there will be some amazing opportunity out of state, we will consider it still.
Your reasons will differ. Jot down what matters most to you and rank those priorities.
6. Your Unique Edge
Instead of calling it an “unfair advantage,” I like to call it unique edge—something that sets you apart in a positive way. A few examples:
Existing Land with Natural Features
If you already own land with a pond, mature oak trees, or a hillside, you might be sitting on your project right now.
A Trusted, Vetted GC
Knowing a GC who can handle your vision—and has the portfolio to prove it—is huge. They’ll save you time, money, and headaches.
In Our Case
I tell Rod he’s my unique edge because of his construction experience. He brushes it off as romantic, but it means we can consider any location—he’ll vet local contractors, oversee budgets, and troubleshoot on the fly.
At this stage, we haven’t even touched on demand analysis, zoning restrictions, or other critical elements—we’re simply clarifying what you want, what your constraints are, and what edge you already have.
In Part 2 next week, we’ll tackle those market-facing factors: zoning, demand, and more.
Until then!
