Hundreds of jobs possible over phases of construction, operation

WorldSprings and PopStroke, a pair of entertainment projects planned in Cedar Park, are both slated to come to the city northwest of Austin.

The projects were approved on March 27 by the Cedar Park City Council for specific use permits for their sites.

The entertainment complexes, if built, will add to a growing roster of attractions in Cedar Park, which had a population of 77,642 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. North Dakota-based sporting goods store Scheels is bringing an indoor entertainment destination to the 118-acre Nebraska Furniture Mart project. Other large-scale lifestyle projects in the suburb include the new headquarters of baseball and softball scouting company Perfect Game Inc. and the redevelopment of Bell Boulevard, a 95-acre mixed-use site that could eventually have nearly 450,000 square feet of industrial and commercial space.

PopStroke planned on C-Bar Ranch Trail

Florida-based PopStroke is planning a 14,000-square-foot restaurant and bar and two 18-hole synthetic turf miniature golf courses on three acres at 817 C-Bar Ranch Trail.

In addition to miniature golf, the project would include an ice cream parlor and beer garden featuring foosball, ping pong and corn hole. Other amenities include a lounge and private event space, drink delivery to the course, large televisions that show leaderboards and live sports, plus an outdoor play area for kids. One of the courses is American Disability Act and stroller accessible.

A representative for the company said they won’t issue an official comment until the project is fully ready to go, but they referred to a previous statement from CEO and founder Greg Bartoli.

“We are seeing huge consumer demand to bring our immersive experience into new cities. PopStroke was created to bring people together across all ages and skill levels through the game of golf. We are thrilled to expand our reach and share the PopStroke experience with new guests,” he said.

Brad Carabajal of Quiddity Engineering LLC, who represented the developer during a previous meeting, said the project would create hundreds of local jobs during the planning, construction and operational phases. He estimated construction would take about eight to 10 months once necessary approvals are secured.

“There’s not really another mini golf course like this in the area, so it really allows Cedar Park to be its first of kind in the Central Texas area,” Carabajal previously said.

PopStroke, which is headquartered in Palm Beach and has 1,000 employees across its corporate offices, has roughly 10 open locations, with plans to either open or start construction on another 10 this year. The company’s growth strategy has a particular focus on Texas: one location is open near Houston and another will be opening soon; projects are under construction in both San Antonio and Dallas; and a separate, preliminary project is being considered at an undisclosed site within Austin city limits.

PopStroke has attracted a number of big name investors like Tiger Woods and golf equipment provider TaylorMade Golf Co. PopStroke was valued at $650 million as of last year, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The project would be located in the 38-acre mixed-use Cross Creek Market being developed by Austin-based Cordova Real Estate Ventures, which also includes Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, EyeMart Express, Woodhouse Spa and Emler Swim School.

Spas and more planned for burgeoning entertainment district

WorldSprings wants to develop an 8-acre project in Cedar Park that could have more than 40 pools, including hot springs, a Dead Sea floating pool and cold plunges. It would be in the New Hope project along U.S. Highway 183A, a stretch of highway that includes rocket maker Firefly Aerospace Inc. and the NFM project.

Representatives have said during public meetings that the WorldSprings concept began as a way to bring the natural hot springs of Colorado elsewhere. The company also offers food and alcoholic beverage offerings, programming, classes and trainings.

Representatives from the company have declined to comment on the Cedar Park location, saying they’re currently focused on opening their first complex in The Colony near Dallas, which is slated to open this spring. An estimated job total for the Cedar Park site was not available.

“WorldSprings is a really unique product that is really new to the entertainment recreational market. Worldsprings is a new product that takes the hot springs concept, freshwater pool concept out of the mountains and brings it into communities like Cedar Park, the Colony, Houston, Atlanta,” said Kimley-Horn planner Ethan Harwell, who represented the WorldSprings project, during a previous Cedar Park Council meeting.

Some public officials have expressed concern about the water usage of the project amid Cedar Park’s drought restrictions. Representatives for the developers said their water use is the equivalent to a hotel in terms of total water usage, but it uses less per square foot than a restaurant or hotel and about the same as a big box store.

The New Hope development that WorldSprings would be part of is a joint venture of three Austin-based real estate firms — Cordova Real Estate Ventures, Riverside Resources and Live Oak. The $250 million project is expected to total at least 430,000 square feet of industrial space, along with roughly 29,000 square feet of retail space.

Whitworth, of Cordova, has said the WorldSprings project would be in the portion of the site that is dedicated to entertainment, restaurants, hotels and more. It brings momentum for other projects.

“That’s what we liked about WorldSprings,” he said at a previous meeting. “From feedback we’ve gotten from other entertainment uses, restaurant uses, they like this and it brings a demographic in that they want and kicks off our next phase, which we’re excited about.”

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