Last week we launched our investor portal for Baya, our tropical landscape resort in South Florida.
We're already 2/3 subscribed with accredited investors who believe in what we're building.
The offering closes June 30th, and we're hosting a live webinar Monday, June 23rd at 6pm with my partners Steve Turk and Banks Chisum to answer questions and share more details.
If you're an accredited investor interested in joining us, register for the webinar here.
I've been building in public on social media for months, but there's one story I haven't shared the full details on yet…
Our $14M expansion to Onera Fredericksburg.
We just wrapped up our soft opening weekend, and with the official launch happening in just weeks, it felt like the perfect time to pull back the curtain.
This is the story of how we're expanding our landscape resort from 12 to 35 units…
But first, let me tell you about the land deal that almost didn't happen.
Four years ago, I had my eyes set on a specific piece of land adjacent to our original Onera property.
The owner was a local dentist who had zero interest in selling.
For six months, negotiations went nowhere. The land had been in his family for generations, and money wasn't the motivator–preserving his son's legacy was.
I was running out of options.
Then I noticed something. His brother owned another parcel two properties down the road.
It was closer to the highway, so the noise made it unsuitable for us. But it could be perfect for someone who wanted a piece of land to stay in the family.
That's when the solution clicked.
We bought the highway property for fair market value and proposed a land swap with the dentist.
His son got to keep the family name on the original land.
Everyone won.
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs don't come from pushing harder–they come from getting creative when everyone says no.
Fast forward to today, we are wrapping up our build on that exact piece of land…
We're expanding Onera Fredericksburg from 12 to 35 units with our most ambitious (and Instagrammable) designs yet.
Each of our completely new unit types were meticulously designed for the modern traveler:
Monolith – A 40-foot treehouse that literally floats in mid-air using a massive steel cantilever.
Floor-to-ceiling glass wrapping every side with a cedar hot tub suspended in the treetops. No optical illusion, just masterful engineering that appears to defy gravity.
Diamond – The next evolution of our most Instafamous unit, Monarch, featuring a "shoot-through" design.
Elevated 25ft in the air with a private cedar hot tub overlooking the creek and perfect sight lines from entrance to forest view, exactly what Monarch was missing.
Quonset – Military-inspired luxury with soaring vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows framing pristine forest views.
Our architect actually designed this on spec to win the job for our expansion.
Winecup – Wine barrel-inspired cylindrical units celebrating our location in Texas wine country.
Cozy circular living spaces with local art, private hot tubs, and generous decks surrounded by nature.
Cypress Lodge – Family-friendly duplex units with connecting doors that open into one contiguous space.
Each side mirrors the other with two bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchenettes, decks and hot tubs.
Plus The Great Lodge – Our 70-person event space with 8 luxury king rooms, conference facilities, sauna, and pool.
The perfect space for team retreats where groups can disconnect from daily life and reconnect with each other.
Why This Time Feels Completely Different…
When we first built Onera Fredericksburg in 2021, we were flying blind.
No blueprint to follow, just belief that travelers deserved something better than cookie-cutter hotels.
We made mistakes. Lots of them.
We tried importing structures from China (absolute disaster). We underestimated timelines. We learned the hard way that you can't cut corners.
But each challenge taught us something critical about what actually works.
Now we're building with four years of experience under our belts.
We know what guests want. We understand how to create spaces that inspire connection and are easy to share on social media.
More importantly, my entire design philosophy has evolved.
I used to be obsessed with structures that disappeared into nature. Caves. Natural pools. Organic shapes.
I wanted guests to question: Is this man-made or natural?
But building two landscape resorts taught me a deeper truth.
The most viral structures don't disappear into nature–they frame it.
Hard lines and dramatic roofs create beautiful opposition to organic surroundings. This contrast doesn't compete with the landscape, it celebrates it.
When minimal black staircases meet ancient oak trees, both become extraordinary.
It's honest. It's elegant. And frankly, it works better on social media.
Clean lines create visual tension that makes properties pop on video.
This expansion embodies that philosophy completely.
This past weekend was our soft opening and it was one I'll never forget.
I got to experience our newest units as a guest for the first time, and as my wife said: "You don't fully appreciate the design until you stay in it."
This expansion tested us in ways we didn't expect. We hit limits, pushed through, and found creative solutions when everything seemed impossible.
But seeing the whole construction team and their families celebrating at the Lodge, watching the pride in everyone's eyes–that made it all worth it.
We're weeks away from opening, and now we get to share what we've built with the world.
To everyone who poured into this project and supported us along the way–this dream is coming to life, and I'm grateful to experience it with those who matter most.
Exciting news for your hotel!
We’ve expanded the Oasi team to bring you the same strategies and expertise that fueled Onera’s success.
From boosting your social media presence and marketing strategies, to optimizing pricing and offering full-service property management, we’re ready to help your property attract the Modern Traveler and maximize your returns.
Fill out an inquiry here and let’s explore how we can work together.
See you guys next week!
-Ben Wolff
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📸 Looking to Learn More? Check Out My Daily Content on Instagram
🎥 Check Out My Episode on The Bigger Pockets STR Podcast on Redefining Luxury Hotels and Outperforming Traditional Hotel Models
🎥 Check Out My Podcast Episode on the Action Academy about Making Millions Through Direct Bookings
Ben Wolff
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