It has been nearly 10 years since Jason Romano and his wife Sharon turned a vision about providing a simpler way of living into a reality. In 2012, the Romanos embarked on their first phase of this long-term initiative with a strategic and phased business plan.
After locating a 75-acre plot of land in Arp, Texas in 2012, Jason and Sharon established High Hill Farm and in 2015 the doors opened to the public. High Hill Farm is celebrating seven years with the addition of High Hill Development, the second phase of Romano’s master plans.
Reflecting Back on the Past Seven Years
As previously mentioned, East Texas—Tyler in particular—is becoming a goldmine for folks looking for a slower pace of living while still being close to major cities. High Hill is proving to be the perfect answer to that request as the master plan is panning out to be a self-sufficient, sustainable community.
Jason and Sharon share a combined love of travel and home-building expertise which makes them the perfect duo to tackle this vision. Creating a space that provides a slower-paced lifestyle in a semi-remote environment, with architecture that draws inspiration from the Florida panhandle, is exactly what the Romanos were going for.
What started as a 75-acre plot of land canopied with rolling hills of towering pine trees has now grown into a 175-acre oasis in East Texas. The first venture, High Hill Farm, was created as a boutique resort development.
“We created High Hill for people looking to escape the everyday hustle,” Jason Romano, owner of High Hill Farm and Development says. “Once we opened the doors to those first couple of guests, we quickly realized that this place was filling a void for many. We were providing a way for people to have a destination experience yet still be close to home.”
The resort and spa are positioned on a walkable property with accommodations for up to 40 guests in secluded bungalows, a multitude of activities to do while visiting, and includes an on-property fine dining experience.
Making Memories for a Lifetime
High Hill Farm’s signature restaurant Côte opened in September 2015 with a seasonal menu that includes the freshest ingredients sourced from local farms. Since High Hill’s inception, the Romanos knew creating an intimate environment for people to come together and share a meal was crucial.
“Good food shared with good company is something we value as a family,” says Sharon. “We want to provide that opportunity to our guests who are visiting and perhaps need to unplug and recharge over a good meal.”
The 975 sq. ft. contemporary art-filled restaurant seats 48 guests for an intimate gathering. On occasion, the restaurant will hold event dinners that include a 5-course dinner with different liquor pairings. Guests can also enjoy a signature cocktail, specialty beer, or glass of wine at the conjoining Napoleon bar.
In addition, High Hill is known for its Sunday brunch which features exclusive menu options. Creating memories is an important aspect for the Romanos, so the High Hill team has an event calendar full of ways to accomplish this.
“We look forward to hosting gatherings for our guests because we love creating memories with our family,” Jason adds. “We’ve also found ways to host events that can give back to the community we’ve grown to know and love.”
Every year High Hill holds its annual Jazz Festival which brings together local performers from all around East Texas. The family-friendly event provides entertainment, food and drinks, and all proceeds benefit a local charity. Additionally, the team hosts an annual New Years’ Eve celebration and hosts movie nights throughout the year.
Bringing Home Ownership into the Mix
While the original plans started with providing a sustainable place for vacationers to call home for a short period of time, the Romanos always had their eyes fixed on creating opportunities for second-home ownership in East Texas. As a second phase of the master plans, High Hill Development was created as a way to combine high-quality home ownership and leisure travel.
The first phase of the master-planned community includes sites to build 110 two-story homes and 28 condominiums. Homeowners will also have access to shared green spaces and a 20,000-square-foot retail space accompanied by an amphitheater for live music, restaurants, and a Top Golf-inspired driving range.
“We expect these homes will be the perfect complement to the flexible way we travel today,” Jason says. “Owners may choose to spend seasons or months at a time here, enjoy holidays or even the occasional weekends in their homes while High Hill Management manages rentals the rest of the year. It’s wholly customizable according to owner needs and desires.”
The property’s underlining infrastructure, entertaining spaces, newest vineyard, lake and surrounding beaches is complete. Now, the development team is focusing on completing the first of several homes sold. They plan to begin the next phase of common structures including the automated golf range, Central Park, the resort pool, and bar before year-end.
The High Hill sales team is represented by the Danuser Rado Group, which has a profound understanding of luxury homes and the second-home market. Current Tyler resident, Lauren Fulgham, serves as the Compass Agent for High Hill Development home buyers.
Lauren studied design at the University of Oklahoma School of Architecture and her experience in interior design and construction makes her the perfect match for High Hill clients. She is also an East Texas native and can add a personal touch to those looking to make the move to the beloved piney woods.
Accompanying the sales and development team is lead designer Yvette Leihgeber. Yvette has 20 years of experience in design and assists the High Hill team with adding luxurious Mediterranean coastal vibes to all the fully-furnished homes on the property.
Planting Strong Roots for the Future
Since putting down roots with High Hill Farm seven years ago, Jason and Sharon have learned much about the surrounding community and what their guests are looking for.
“We have been warmly welcomed and strongly support the East Texas community,” says Jason. “High Hill Development benefits the local economy and community members at every phase, from construction to completion, bringing exciting economic development along with new work and play opportunities to greater East Texas.”
The power couple looks forward to continuing their success with this laidback luxury venture. With seven years under their belt, they are ready to take on the next seven and introduce more people to their second home at High Hill Development.
