Spa, wellness center could bring Colorado hot springs to Central Texas

WorldSprings could be developing an 8-acre project in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin, equipped with more than 40 pools, hot springs, a Dead Sea floating pool, and cold plunges, according to the Austin Business Journal. It’s projected to be a part of a $250 million New Hope project along U.S. Highway 183A. 

ABJ reports that representatives from the project presented initial plans for the development  to request a special use permit for the site during a February 20 meeting of the Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission. A representative from WorldSprings told MySA the company is focused on the upcoming opening of its first Texas location in Dallas-Fort Worth this spring, but will provide more information on future developments soon.

WorldSprings Grandscape is located at The Colony, which is 20 minutes north of the metro, according to its website. Its marketed as, “a year-round Texas destination stretching across nine acres in a lush, open-air setting” with “45 outdoor pools inspired by nature’s greatest mineral pool destinations, plus Finnish saunas, wellness therapies, spa, café and bar.”

The center also offers body treatments, classes, and trainings. Project representatives said during the zoning meeting that the WorldSprings concept began as a way to bring the natural hot springs of Colorado to other places. 

“The area along 183A between (Ranch to Market Road) 1431 and New Hope (Drive) has gathered a lot of momentum and now serves really as a regional destination for folks looking for services (and) entertainment uses. That’s only going to continue to grow,” said Kimley-Horn planner Ethan Harwell, WorldSprings project representative during the meeting.

The multi-million dollar project is expected to take up at least 430,000 square-feet of industrial space, along with roughly 29,000 square-feet of retail space. A founding partner of Cordova, a real estate firm for the area, said during the meeting that the WorldSprings project would be part of the site dedicated to entertainment, restaurants, hotels, and more.

After commissions expressed concern over the water usage of the project amid the city’s drought restrictions, developers reassured them that their water is comparable to that of a fast-food restaurant, the commissioners ultimately recommended approval of the permit. It will now go to the City Council for final approval.