A $60 million sports and recreation complex could open in Dripping Springs in 2028.

Owners of the Dripping Springs Sports Club on Nov. 18 announced they have raised $2.7 million in a pre-development round for the 150,000-square-foot facility, which will be located on 10 acres at the northwest corner of Canyonwood Drive and U.S. Highway 290, about 20 miles southwest of Austin.

It's set to include a 60,000-square-foot fitness center, family entertainment center, lifestyle cafe, child care facilities and outdoor sports courts, along with room indoors for 12 volleyball courts, four high school basketball courts or 20 pickleball courts, according to an announcement.

More than 30 investors pledged money to the project, including luxury real estate agents Gary and Michelle Dolch, tech entrepreneurs Andrew and Kimberly Abrams, and C3 Presents LLC Chief Financial Officer Erika Fitzgerald, along with more than 20 local Dripping Springs residents.

"Our pre-development round was supported by 30+ Dripping Springs families and Austin investment partners who see firsthand the need for this facility," DSSC founder and CEO Drew Rose said in a statement. "That local support — combined with our operational facilities already generating revenue — creates a compelling foundation as we continue building our partnership base."

Rose, under the entity DSSC Equity LLC, had reported raising $1.15 million of a planned $1.25 million equity raise as of November 2024, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The minimum investment was $50,000.

The announcement comes on the heels of DSSC Equity in September securing entitlements from the Dripping Springs City Council and Board of Adjustment. The fast-growing city typically limits building sizes to 100,000 square feet, but owners worked for months to win approval by modifying plans amid pushback from residents in the community of 10,000 people. The building footprint cannot exceed 65,000 square feet.

In city documents, officials said they anticipate more than $8 million in revenue by the third year and expect to employ 30 full-time staff and as many as 90 part-time.

"This gentleman has taken this further than anyone we've ever seen as far as getting buy-in from the community and adjusting his project to mix with our community," Dripping Springs Mayor Bill Foulds said of Rose during a Sept. 2 joint meeting.

In its announcement, DSSC said it has mitigated start-up operating risk by launching its brand in two leased facilities, the 5,000-square-foot DSSC Flex and the 16,000-square-foot DSSC Warehouse set to open in February.

Rose, who co-founded a venture-backed cybersecurity company and is also involved in leading youth sports initiatives in Dripping Springs, said those facilities establish brand awareness, validate program acceptance and generate revenue before the flagship facility opens in 2028.

Original Article by: Justin Sayers – Senior Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal