Today, the stretch of land along Riverfront Boulevard is an open field studded with stands of trees close to the Trinity River.  But one day, the site in the Cedars neighborhood near downtown Dallas could become a major European-inspired “wellbeing destination”—with an $800 million budget and sister locations across the Atlantic that already attract 3.5 million visitors annually.

Vienna, Austria-based Therme Group plans to build what it’s calling Therme Dallas as its first entry into the U.S. market. Pending city approval, the wellness resort will span hundreds of thousands of square feet, and “become a vibrant hub in the heart of the city, offering an accessible and affordable diversity of wellness experiences—featuring thermal baths, saunas, mineral pools, lush greenery, waterslides, swim-up bars, and a variety of dining options,” Therme said.

Rendering of Therme Dallas [Image: Therme Group]

The resort will feature everything from a splash session for families and kids to a pool bar hangout to “a solo rotation through thermal pools and saunas for peaceful relaxation.” The goal will be to promote physical, social, and mental health while fostering “a sense of collective wellbeing.”

“Therme Group is proud to bring its vision for accessible, world-class wellbeing to the U.S.,” Therme Group CEO Robert Hanea said in a statement. “With our deep expertise in creating Europe’s most-visited wellbeing destinations, we see Dallas as the perfect place to introduce our concept—one that will provide an unparalleled experience for residents and visitors while contributing to the city’s economic and social vitality. We are grateful to the city of Dallas for welcoming this vision, and we look forward to making Therme Dallas a transformative space for the community.”

Could create ‘hundreds of jobs,’ $1.8B in tax revenue

If it’s approved by the Dallas City Council, Therme Dallas could have a significant economic impact on Dallas and Dallas County by “creating hundreds of jobs, partnering with small businesses and local colleges and universities and adding an undeveloped piece of property to the tax rolls,” Threme said.

The project is expected to generate over $1.8 billion in tax revenue over the first 30 years, with $1.1 billion in local tax revenue and an additional $700 million in state tax revenues redirected to the city through the Project Finance Zone, the company said.

Dallas City Councilman Jesse Moreno said Therme Dallas “will contribute greatly to the economic growth in District 2 and quality of life improvements in our city.”

“I look forward to working with Therme as they engage with community members and stakeholders in the coming months,” he added in a statement. “Dallas is a city of opportunity, and so many international companies are ready for everything Dallas has to offer. With our central location, business-oriented climate, and a diverse population, I know that the city of Dallas is the place to be for the Therme Group.”

Rendering of Therme Dallas [Image: Therme Group]

40 million Therme guests to date

Therme said its European wellbeing destinations have welcomed a total of 40 million guests, “attracting wide appeal and high return rates.” The company’s focus on holistic wellbeing have guided its “technological advancements and scientifically backed environments and experiences” to reach a broad population.

“Therme Dallas will bring to life a new standard for urban spaces offering an integrated solution that reconnects us with nature, self, and others—enhancing physical, mental, social, and collective wellbeing,” said Robert Hammond, president and chief strategy officer of Therme Group U.S. and co-founder of New York City’s High Line, one of the world’s most renowned urban parks.

“Most present-day social infrastructures are siloed spaces—parks, restaurants, museums, spas, pools and baths— performing a limited set of functions in isolation,” he added. “What people increasingly crave is integration—a single destination promoting overall wellbeing by combining green spaces, water elements, and community-focused amenities into one holistic environment.”

A relaxing ‘third space’

Therme said its Dallas location will offer a diversity of inclusive wellness experiences featuring “cutting-edge sustainable technologies, biophilic architecture, lush greenery, and water to create a rejuvenating and relaxing third space.”

Designed for people of all ages and promising “attainable price points,” the park will enable guests to reconnect with “nature, self, and each other,” the company said. 

Therme’s European locations include Germany’s Therme Erding, the world’s largest wellbeing destination, and Romania’s Therme Bucharest, the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified wellbeing infrastructure. Upcoming projects in Manchester, Frankfurt, Toronto, and the U.S. will continue to expand the company’s
transformative approach to urban wellbeing,” Therme said.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.