Sapphire Bay is the single biggest thing to happen to Rowlett since the lake was filled in 1968. Here is where the project actually stands as of early 2026, based on City of Rowlett planning documents and developer filings.
What Sapphire Bay is: A $1B+ mixed-use waterfront development on 117 acres along the south shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, roughly between the PGBT bridge and Bayside. The developer is Sapphire Bay Developers LLC. The city approved the original PD (Planned Development) zoning in 2018 and has amended it multiple times since.
What's confirmed and in progress:
- Crystal Lagoon — the centerpiece. A 6-acre swimmable lagoon with white sand beaches. This is the attraction anchor. Construction on the lagoon basin is underway. Target opening has slipped multiple times but current projections put partial opening in late 2026 or early 2027.
- Boutique hotel — 200+ rooms, lakefront. Site prep visible from Bayside Dr.
- Restaurant row — 8-12 restaurant pads along the waterfront promenade. Several LOIs signed but no public tenant announcements yet.
- Retail village — approximately 60,000 sq ft of specialty retail.
- Marina expansion — additional boat slips and a kayak/paddleboard launch.
- Amphitheater — 3,000-capacity outdoor event venue on the water.
- Residential towers — mid-rise condos and townhomes in later phases.
Timeline reality check: The original timeline projected major amenities open by 2024. That did not happen. Supply chain issues, financing restructuring, and permitting delays pushed everything back. The current realistic timeline is:
- Phase 1 (lagoon, hotel, restaurant row): late 2026 to mid-2027
- Phase 2 (amphitheater, marina, retail village): 2028
- Phase 3 (residential, remaining commercial): 2029-2031
Property value impact: Rowlett median home prices have already climbed partly on Sapphire Bay speculation. Homes within a mile of the development site (Bayside, Waterview, lakefront lots on Dalrock) have seen 15-25% appreciation since the project was announced, outpacing the broader Rowlett market by about 8 points. If the lagoon opens and delivers on its promise, expect another bump. If the project stalls further, there is downside risk on the most speculative purchases.
Sources:
- City of Rowlett Planning & Development — Sapphire Bay PD amendments
- Rowlett City Council meeting minutes, 2024-2026
- Zillow and Redfin — Rowlett submarket data
- Dallas Morning News — Sapphire Bay coverage
I live in Bayside and can see the construction from my back patio. Heavy equipment has been moving dirt for months but the pace feels slow. I'll believe the lagoon when I'm swimming in it.