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The Dallas Dirt podcast with Candy Evans takes you inside the real estate news stories you’ll find daily on CandysDirt.com and beyond, giving you more insight, juicier details, and the inside scoop from one of Dallas’ most well-connected real estate personalities.
Speaker: I am Candy Evans
and this is Dallas Dirt.
Now, we may be in Dallas,
but we are really taking you
today to the Texas Gulf Coast.
Yes, the Texas Gulf Coast where
it's a beautiful beach and there's
a lots of surf and there's sand and
their cinnamon shore, and I have my
guests today Jody and Leanne Peters.
Who are with Cinnamon Shore, in
fact, have developed Cinnamon Shore.
And if you haven't heard about Cinnamon
Shore, pay attention because you're gonna
know all about it after our show today.
you need to know about it because
it is one of the prominent vacation
home communities in the United
States and a big one in Texas.
That's right.
You can drive down there.
What is it, four hours
from Dallas in a car?
About six.
About six?
Yeah.
Okay.
And then you can fly down there An hour.
Yeah.
Corpus Christi, here we go.
Take it away.
Leanne, tell us about Shore and how
you first got to know this community.
Speaker 2: Well, that, that's a story.
It requires a glass of wine.
Oh good.
That's okay.
But, um, we met this developer in
Atlanta where we were doing real
estate and he wanted us to check
this place out in Port Aransas, Texas.
we hop on a plane and come
with him to check it out.
next thing you know, we're packing
a suitcase and moving to Texas.
Speaker: From Atlanta?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
well,
Speaker: I'm gonna explain
a little bit about Atlanta.
Atlanta very often vacations in Florida
on the Florida coast, on the west coast,
at a place they call 30 a, which is, it
started developing in 1981 with Seaside.
And it just grew and grew I was down
there following this and tracking this.
So that's why when I heard about
Cinnamon Shore, I was like.
Oh my God.
We're getting, we're getting
the 30 a vibe here in Texas,
much closer and in our state.
So it doesn't surprise me at all
that you guys are from Atlanta
because you knew about that.
That's where we went.
That's where, yes.
You went all the time.
Yes.
So many people went there.
So what did you think when you came
here and you came to, Port Aransas?
were you just like, oh my God.
Speaker 2: I was, struck by how much land
was available and, the beauty of the land.
Mm-hmm.
the interesting thing about the Texas
coast is that there is not very much
land left that can be developed.
So a lot of it will remain
looking the way it is.
the interesting thing.
Is that most Texans were still going
to 30 A to Florida to either Seaside
or Watercolor or Rosemary Beach.
And so our generation grew up
coming to Port Aransas, like that's
where they vacationed as children
with their families, but they did
not necessarily want to stay in
the older places in Port Aransas.
when Cinnamon Shore came along, we
weren't surprised at the following that
we started getting Texans would call and
say, this looks like Seaside in Florida.
And we said, it's gonna be like that.
But We're in Texas.
We're in your backyard.
Speaker: Yes, we're right
here in your backyard.
Exactly.
Because I know so many people.
It's about a 12 to 14 hour drive.
I mean, you gotta get in your
suburban, pack it up or you fly.
It was long.
now they have the smaller airports.
we flew down there to Corpus and I
don't think I even had my seatbelt.
Buckled and we were there.
it was so fast.
about 12 years ago I discovered
this and, because I cover second
homes, I'm always obsessed with
the idea of, vacation properties.
I went down to visit and I was
just blown away by the beauty
of your homes and everything.
It's a beach cottage community.
Everything is built that way.
It looks very much like seaside and.
Watercolor and all those
beautiful areas on 30 A that
kind of was the plan, wasn't it?
The
Speaker 3: inspiration came from 30 A.
But like.
My mother said it is Texas's
version of 38 from Seaside.
Speaker: Now I have to explain,
we have a mother daughter team
in case you don't know here.
I don't know if you can tell who's
the mother and who's the daughter,
Leanne is, the mother of Jody.
And did you just go into
real estate immediately?
Speaker 3: Pretty much.
Yeah.
I mean, yeah.
growing up.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You grew up steep, So, so they
started the community together.
they brought it up out of the ground
and, worked with Jeff Lampkin.
Mm-hmm.
So Jeff is actually the
developer in the visionary.
I see.
And the real estate team is the
one that gets to bring it to life.
Right.
Bring it to life and make it go.
Yes.
Speaker: so that's what you did.
When you built that first, you
started turning the dirt and
you had that first home there.
how did you feel when that sold?
Speaker 2: It was just such
an exciting time, and actually
we were infants, you know?
Just getting our streets in and we
didn't have our pools and our lakes
were there, but, people believed our
vision and they were looking for.
The Florida Coast and Texas.
it's so rewarding to see Texans
staying, keeping the money in the
state And supporting Texas Beach.
But with the beauty that the 30 a
corridor offers But without the traffic,
Speaker: and I'm assuming you have
much more retail and restaurant.
On the campus or on site?
On site than you did when I, I
think there was maybe one or two
stores, maybe one when I was there.
Of course, I remember Port Aransas and
probably the best Italian food I've
ever had in my life at the Venetian hot.
Venetian
Speaker 3: hot plates.
Awesome.
She still there?
She's still there, yeah.
Oh my God.
It
Speaker: was like, are you kidding me?
This is so good.
we thought Port Aransas was so charming.
It is charming.
It's charming.
It's just amazing.
This is in our backyard.
So you, created an interesting dynamic
You had people ready to come because
they'd been there as children.
But of course, you know, when you,
when we're all, you know, 40, 50
years ago, things di are different.
The, the homes get a little older.
You know, the, the hotels get
older, and it's not as pleasant.
So of course there's the newness of 30
A, which, Grasped everyone and everyone
embraced it, but then they could turn
around and say, oh my gosh, we can go
back and relive our childhood with our
family and be in a new home, a new place.
Yeah.
So how does the Texas coast
do you think differ from 30 a?
Speaker 3: Well, the town of Port Aransas.
Is what is so great.
Port Aransas is the town Where,
cinnamon Shore is located, but
we are just outside of the town.
Right.
But the town is so charming when,
so first it's, so it's a support
came to Portea for the first time.
Yeah.
It was, almost like a breath of fresh
air because it was just such a quaint,
original, Little Seaside Village.
Speaker: right.
Port A is The nickname Poor Port A.
And it is.
And see when, you know, when
you go up two 30 A, you really
don't, you have Panama City.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: And that's not
super attractive really
Speaker 3: there's a little town
with a school and a real, community,
There's a big draw to that.
And people been there for
Speaker: And historical homes.
Speaker 3: Yes.
Speaker: Yes.
So you really have a different vibe.
A definitely sea village vibe.
So then you built this because your sand
is not white, it's cinnamon colored.
Hence cinnamon
Speaker 3: It's some of the days
it can look as white as your.
Blouse.
Really?
Yes, it really does.
The water can be just blue and the
water barrier, especially in October.
October, we have these gorgeous sunsets.
And sunrises.
but the difference I would say
between Texas and Florida, we get to
see the sunrise in the morning over
the water, so that's so special too.
Speaker: land is kind of.
You know, it's kind of
jutting out into the golf.
Whereas when you're in Florida,
you're just looking west.
Yes.
Speaker 3: We've also become a golf cart
community and people really like that.
you can load your stuff up and your
family up and drive to the beach and
it's really, it's of in experience.
Yeah.
It's a little different in Florida,
but, the sand is also really compact,
so if you are an avid walker.
We love to walk the beach in the morning.
So, um, and you don't get, you
don't get your feet stuck in the
sand, you can go for a nice walk.
the sunrise over the water is a huge.
Point of differentiation.
Speaker: Well, if I remember correctly
from our visit, my husband was
quite impressed with your waves.
He loves to ride waves.
I used to do it, but now it's too cold.
But he was so impressed.
the west coast of Florida is very calm.
but when you get down there,
there was some wave action.
we thought that was just awesome.
Speaker 3: We had.
surf contests in Port A.
Yes.
Speaker 2: You can surf.
Oh, and we do surfing
lessons at Cinnamon Shore.
So the little kids are out there
and they're getting up on boards
when they're seven to surf.
That's awesome.
Speaker: So you got this started
and phase one kind of grew,
when did phase two come about?
Speaker 3: So we had the plan and
the design for phase two for, several
years working in design on that.
And then we launched it for pre-sale.
Was that in 2018?
We launched it.
Made our first, 20 sales
at the end of 2018.
We're able to close them in 2019
and then all of a sudden covid.
I was gonna say, your timing
Speaker: probably was perfect.
Speaker 3: It was, yeah.
But we had just been through Harvey.
So we were just coming out of a hurricane.
A and then the pandemic, which
brought on, a growth that nobody was,
Speaker 2: and many of our
owners lived at Cinnamon Shore
during that lockdown period.
they would be posting pictures
on the beach and their friends
would say, where are you?
And they're like, In Cinnamon shore.
Speaker 3: Yes,
Speaker 2: we're out on the beach
Speaker 3: What happened
that year was, spring break.
people came down for spring break
and then they just didn't leave.
They stayed and then they
bought because they loved it.
their friends came and,
that's when we sold through.
Cinema Shore South, the very
first phase of Cinnamon Shore
South, and just . No time.
We, we were,
Speaker 2: we couldn't release it.
We were presell
Speaker 3: into phases
that didn't even exist.
So we were creating the land plan
And selling it at the same time.
It was just.
Unbelievable.
Speaker: I thought about you.
we, all met, we had our Zoom meetings
when Covid started, and some of my
second home communities in Colorado
and other places would call me and
say, oh my God, what are we gonna do?
Is anyone gonna buy real estate?
are we gonna buy second homes?
I told, the folks in Colorado,
I said, you're in the mountains.
you are gonna make so much money,
you're not gonna be able to count it.
It's gonna be amazing.
And of course that's what happened because
people wanted to get away and get out.
What are you gonna do with your kids?
They're home all the time.
Send 'em to the beach.
It's perfect.
Yeah,
Speaker 3: it was perfect.
at one point in time they had the beaches.
no driving.
So it was all just people walking
on the beach and it was wonderful.
Speaker: It was great.
so that was kind of the thing
that spurred, and before
you knew phase two was sold.
And did you have the condos there?
'cause I don't know if you, I think you
were just building them when I was there.
So you had, we had a
couple buildings standing.
Speaker 3: the condos
that, circle Town Center.
The Town center and Cinnamon Shore North.
And that.
Is where all of our retail and
restaurants live is in the town center.
And the condos are what?
you know what circled?
Yes.
Speaker: Because there's lakes
and pools and things like that.
And parks.
And so how do you have it structured?
there's the beach.
Mm-hmm.
And then your first, and probably your
most expensive property is the beachfront.
Yes.
But do you have it staggered to the
homes behind there also can see.
the beach as well,
is that how you do it
or is it all one row?
Speaker 3: so the, the overall
design of the community, it was,
Marchelle is our urban designer.
Mm-hmm.
And what is talented person.
but so it is a new urbanist community
and so there's very specific design
requirements and design elements,
that when you're at the community,
Everything just feels right.
at the end of the View corridor
you might see this beautiful tower
Uhhuh, and that same tower might
have views over a house to the water,
all intentionally designed that way.
we try to take advantage of all the
views because, what also is really
in, what we do different at shore,
because there's so many views in
Sinema Shore, is the reverse living.
So you know where your second
floor is, your main living space?
Mm-hmm.
Because that's where the views are, right?
You might be looking over a
park or down a street boulevard.
so the living room, the
kitchens are upstairs and the
Speaker: bedrooms are on the first floor.
Right.
Right.
That's interesting.
But you're absolutely right.
The whole point and this started
with Seaside, In Florida on 38, was
that, design for the communities
where you could walk anywhere.
Nothing was ever more than
a mile from where you lived
you could bicycle and just get there.
when my children were little,
this is what I always loved about
vacations, you could go there and
the children could have free range.
I think that's what helped so
many of these communities grow
You let the kids have a wonderful
child, summer safe place.
Yes, exactly.
A safe place to run and play like
normal kiddos Yes, we all did years ago.
And so that's how you guys developed,
cinnamon short with intentionality,
Speaker 3: the walkable, you know,
it's a very walkable community, right?
Front porches, public spaces where.
You know, you have high density, so
you know the homes are 10 feet apart,
but you've got these beautiful parks.
That everybody can enjoy.
So it encourages people to get out
and walk and enjoy the community.
And meet your neighbors.
Speaker: go to the beach.
Right.
Exactly.
And of course it is nice you
can take the carts down there.
That really does make it, you
know, instead of dragging the
wagons like the rest of us do.
The kids love it.
The kids love that.
So that is so interesting.
When I was there, you had a couple little.
I think little restaurants and
now you have probably more.
Speaker 3: We're actually getting
ready to open our first true boutique.
Well, it's Ladies, men's and Children's
Boutique, and it's called The Shore Shop.
it's beautiful.
We have two new restaurants
opening this summer.
One is tiki j's.
It's gonna be more of a, tiki
style bar and restaurant.
and then, Jason stouts at the shore will
be the second large restaurant right next
to Lisa Ella's inside the town center.
Speaker: so would you, and of
course, you also don't have
to eat out all the time there.
You can cook at home People load up at
the grocery store and they have those
beautiful kitchens you can really cook up
some great fish and, have in-home chefs
and home chef don't wanna cook or come to
Speaker 3: you.
We have beach boils down on
the beach that we provide.
So that's a really fun family.
activity to do is to have a
bonfire down on the beach in the
evening and do the shrimp boil.
Yes.
That's really fun.
Families really love that.
And then they don't have to fool with,
cleaning their kitchen in the evening.
Speaker: right.
Everything's done.
And it's really good too.
Yeah.
Speaker 3: So we have
Lisa Bellas restaurant.
Mm-hmm.
that's kind of Mediterranean fair.
we have Dylan's Pizza, which is fantastic.
people rave about, the food there.
We have Shore Cafe, which is like
a little coffee shop and cafe.
and then now we have Tiki
J'S opening Plus our two.
pool restaurants.
I don't.
You don't have to leave.
You don't have to leave.
You can stay,
Speaker: Yeah, you can.
And then if you want to go, it's only
like 30 minutes to port A, correct?
Speaker 3: yeah.
Speaker: Couple miles.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You could bicycle, you
could totally bicycle.
You can take your golf cart
down the beach, That's right.
it's amazing that you guys don't have
more Dallas sites knowing about this.
I think you have a good core group
here, but I think it's going to
grow because North Texas needs this.
I mean, we all need our beach, it's
just something that's a part of us.
You get to the beach and your
adrenaline escapes and your blood
pressure just goes down when you
see that water and those waves.
I think there's something
subliminal about it.
You know, it's proven.
Speaker 3: special place.
Yes.
I mean, not only is Porter Anza
just a, a beautiful town, you
know, with wonderful people.
But, cinnamon Shore is
definitely a special place.
we call it the heart,
It's really just a sense of community
Speaker: it reflects the kind of
family feel and the fact that you
have been there the whole time,
you know, from the very beginning.
It's amazing.
how old were you?
were you out of college, when you
started this or were you a baby?
Well, I'll say
Speaker 3: that my daughter, you
know, was one, . So, and she's 16.
Okay.
So, yeah.
So you've been there the whole time.
it's been almost 18 years.
Crazy my parents led the sales team
from day, one and we're still here.
The original team.
I have to say, we work with a
really amazing developer who does
what he says he's going to do.
he really is the true visionary.
Speaker: And this is Sea
Oats, which is the cos Group.
Yes.
Yeah.
And they're also very committed to
sustainability, as I understand, correct?
Yes.
And that's kind of built into every
Speaker 3: home
Speaker: In
Speaker 3: to mature?
Well, it's the overall
design of the community.
Okay.
So all of the walkability,
the public spaces.
Right.
that's all sustainable living.
we also use a lot of,
green building products.
We've recently used this BLE block,
which is like a concrete based
for one of our larger buildings.
interesting.
Speaker: So tell us about.
Phase three.
Phase two is sold out now, right?
Speaker 3: We'll be in phase two.
We still have, maybe a
year, year and a half.
we do have future phases,
that are really exciting.
we can't, let it out of the bag yet?
But we have a lot, in
the plan for the future.
Speaker: How is phase two
different from phase one?
Larger, larger
Speaker 3: We have larger
lakes in phase two.
Oh, okay.
And boardwalks that, surround the lakes.
it is larger.
The architecture is just.
It's beautiful.
. Speaker: Yes.
So that'll be, the same
style, the cottagey.
Whitewash.
timeless.
Speaker 3: It's, timeless and
Speaker: classic.
Very classic.
Yes.
Now you can buy a home furnished, correct?
Oh, yeah.
Yes.
Totally furnished.
Mm-hmm.
Or not.
Speaker 3: Or not.
Speaker: Okay.
how do you go about the furnishings?
Do you do everything from
the China to the silverware?
Speaker 2: we can do whatever
somebody wants Some people
want to say, just do it all.
You know, let me just
have the key and move in.
Yeah.
And some want to be very involved
with the architect and the designer.
Speaker 3: Which is a fun process.
Yeah.
If you're creative and you enjoy
design, then working with an architect
and, designing the house for the
views that is a really fun process.
Speaker: I would imagine that is
probably your number one goal is to
maximize the windows and the views.
And so you kind of learn to accept the
fact that there are storms, you know?
Mm-hmm.
There are storms and
they come and they go.
if you rebuild, if something
is knocked down, That's nature.
I think we're all getting used to that.
Yeah.
More of us, more than ever now.
Right.
And you really haven't had, knock
on wood since Harvey You haven't
had any major storms there.
Speaker 2: But our developer
raised the land of cinnamon shore.
So flooding was not ever an issue.
And, , so when you drove through
Cinnamon Shore after Harvey.
you could not see any damage at all.
Speaker: Wow.
Speaker 2: Our little town
sustained some damage, but the
rebuilding has been beautiful.
And still staying with the
little eclectic town that it is.
So, but yes, he raised the
land and that caused some money
to bring that extra sand in.
But you can see how it paid off.
Speaker: that's very important.
And that's also a very good sign of a
community that will thrive and grow is
when the developer plans well and actually
invest the capital into what's needed.
Speaker 3: So, in addition to
that, the design code requires,
certain, building requirements.
which are like the windows
Speaker: Do you have to have
shutters on the windows then,
Speaker 3: you just have to have
the windstorm, doors and windows.
Doors and windows.
But it was a testament to the design
of the community and of the homes
, Speaker 2: you know , the
sustainability Of the construction.
Harvey put it through the test.
And we came
Speaker: You came through.
And that was quite a test I might say.
Speaker 2: Yes.
And unless, there won't be
another one in our lifetime.
I just know God would not do that.
So
Speaker: that's what I see about
the present hollow tornado too.
I'm like, we probably won't see another
one, but it is amazing that, you
guys have just thrived and developed.
So well, I'm so happy when I hear
that because it's a success story
and there haven't, they're not always
second home communities, they're not
always success stories, unfortunately.
There's a few that, that I've seen.
I'm like, I'm, you know, they're
beautiful, great intentions, but they
either weren't, you know, funded well
enough or they just didn't have the
right sales team, and you guys had.
All the right ingredients,
plus a very beautiful location.
I'm dying to get, Jeff on
the show sometime and ask
him how he found, the land?
Do you know the story?
How did he find it?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
He actually, hired a private plane and
flew the whole coastline of the United
States looking for pockets of land.
the far northeast headland.
The far northwest, but the
climates are, challenging.
And then he said, once he flew the
Texas coast, he said that was it.
he, zeroed in on Port Aransas and
that coastal area that was the place
the climate the fishing and the
small town that is so the charm.
It is charming world class fishing and
some of the best people you will ever meet
Speaker: I have to ask you one
last question 'cause I think a
lot of people wanna know, how
are you keeping that charm?
How are you keeping a control
on it so it doesn't become.
a place where you don't wanna go
because you gotta wait in line
and it's over commercialized.
How
Speaker 2: are you
Speaker: doing
Speaker 2: It actually won't
become that way because most of
the land cannot be developed.
Speaker: land
Speaker 3: It's state.
There is, a park on Mustang Island.
So we're on Mustang Island,
which is 18 miles long.
Port Aransas is at the northern tip
of Mustang Island and we're just a
couple miles outside of the city.
just south of us is a park.
So much of the island
can't even be developed.
Speaker 2: we wanna preserve that too.
Speaker: yes, we do.
Speaker 3: sure.
Speaker: Well, thank you Jeff Lambkin
for And finding this little spot and
making it available so people can have.
Experiences there and you know,
I'm sure some people probably wanna
retire there and live there full time.
Yes, yes they do.
we are starting to see more of
that, We'll have to talk about
that the next time we get together.
Thank you so much.
My lovely Peters, my
Peter's ladies right here.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for coming.
And we look forward to hearing
more about Cinnamon Shore
and visiting Cinnamon Shore.
if you haven't been to Cinnamon Shore,
I would highly suggest that you look at
that as your next vacation destination.
give Jodi, give Leanne a call,
and they'll show you around.
That's it for this episode of Dallas Dirt.