“Life is a constant transition,” said Robert “Beau” Theriot ’70.
Being on the threshold of a dream come true is not a new position for the 58-year-old. He has already left an indelible mark on two of Texas’ biggest cities. But his latest achievement may be his hardest fought.
Well known across the Lone Star state for his two landmark restaurants, The Brownstone in Houston and The Oasis in Austin, as well as a sought-after eye for interior design, Theriot is beginning development of 500 scenic acres on the edge of Lake Travis.
“We’re actually breaking ground,” he said. “Sometimes I just about have to pinch myself to believe it’s really happening.”
His dream-in-progress has taken more than a dozen years to reach this point, and, because as many as 17 governmental entities had to be satisfied before construction could proceed on Theriot’s Comanche Canyon Ranch, an up-scale community. In fact, the carefully planned development must leave room for two federally protected bird species – the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler, as well as subterranean karst invertebrates – any of a group of 16 endangered invertebrate species only capable of surviving in caves or karstic rock known to the Central Texas region. Habitat loss due to urbanization is a major threat to the species.
In 2000, the federal government granted Comanche Canyon Ranch a 10-A permit, which meant development could proceed, but only with the guarantee that both the avian and subterranean creatures would be protected. To meet that goal, Theriot has, in effect, had to leave three-fourths of the land undeveloped.
It has “taken $4 million just to get through the process,” Theriot said of the cost he estimates will add $75,000 to the price of each lot. “But it is going to be a unique area,” he said, “a place like no other.”
The acreage surrounds Theriot’s popular Oasis restaurant as well as his home, Villa del Sol, a Mediterranean-style villa perched 300 feet above Lake Travis. All the homes in the new development will have architectural similarity based on Theriot’s vision, and magnificent views will be in the offing.
“We will have different builders to do the job, but I will control the style,” Theriot said of his five-year plan. “If it happens in five years, I’m really going to be on skates,” he said.
After 25 years of going back and forth between Austin and Houston, Theriot is ready to plant his feet for a while. But he’ll be just as busy, overseeing the development of the land he bought so many years before.
One area will be a gated community with 99 lots, beginning with 40 garden homes with courtyards in the $500,000 range, then 40 canyon-view lots with homes in the $750,000 to $1-million range, with the balance of lake-view lots harboring homes valued at $1 million plus.
Theriot expects the community to be in great demand because of its unique appeal and its proximity to downtown Austin. Only 11 miles from the Capitol, the development will be the closest community on Lake Travis.
Theriot credits his business sense to his father’s guidance while he helped in the family lumber company as a boy. “That taught me great basics,” he said. Theriot also loved his college years and the work experience he gained while at Lamar. It was from his Phi Delta Theta brethren that he gained the “Beau” moniker. An overabundance of frat brothers named Bobby resulted in a move to new nomenclature – French in keeping with his surname.
Just as lasting was the effect of an auto accident that left him with two broken legs and temporarily wheelchair bound. His college friends teamed together to ensure he
got to classes during his lengthy recovery. Out of the experience, the already eager young man gained a seemingly unquenchable zest for life and friendship.
But his love for form and design he credits to his mother. “Mom always had an interest in furniture and a pretty home and took great pride in that,” he said. “That’s how I really got into it.”
After finding some success as an antique dealer and seller of furniture to interior designers, Theriot decided to build “a little restaurant and antique gallery.”
Through his vision, what began as a collection of old warehouses was transformed into “a place so unique that it would please all the senses.”
Even as The Brownstone grew in stature as the place to dine in Houston, Theriot was gaining a reputation as the man to seek when it came time to make a home transcend the ordinary. “People loved the way it was decorated and asked me to help them decorate their houses,” he said.
Theriot’s employees are loyal, with some having been at The Brownstone since it opened 31 years ago and many more with tenures of 25 years or more. Both The Brownstone and the adjacent antique business prospered, giving Theriot the funds to purchase the 500 acres on Lake Travis. There, he opened “a little eatery called
The Oasis.”
With as many as 275 employees in its busy season, The Oasis is perhaps Texas’ largest restaurant, seating up to 2,500 people on terraced balconies each affording an
unrestricted view of splendid sunsets over Lake Travis.
“The Oasis has been growing steadily – every year we’re adding more decks – three new decks this year. It’s quite a place,” Theriot said. “I’ve got a great chef up there so I’m really pleased with that aspect of it. We’re always working to make it a better and better place.”
Now in its 23rd year, The Oasis remains one of Austin’s Top-10 attractions and the only one privately owned.
Changes may be in store for his two antique shops as well. He hopes to trim the 30,000-square-foot Houston store and double the scale of the store in Austin. “I want to make it a lot bigger and remodel it to a castle-type feel,” he said. “The rock work in Austin lends itself to that.”
With the development, Theriot is also considering adding a parking garage “with a great little Italian village on the front of it” to house some trendy shops.
In true entrepreneurial fashion, Theriot rents furnishings – and decorating skill – to some of Houston’s finest homebuilders when they have spec homes that haven’t sold. “We make it look like somebody lives there, and they generally sell twice as fast.” Theriot’s touch embellishes living areas, libraries and dining rooms.
“We do a pretty good little business, but it takes a lot of furniture, warehouse space, trucks and people to keep everything going,” he said. At last count, he had 23 houses decorated. Sometimes, the new owners like the presentation so well they buy the works.
A renowned interior designer who never took a class in interior design, Theriot has a natural gift. “I can take an empty room and picture in my mind the way I want it decorated.
“I can see the overall picture – that’s what I can do really well,” Theriot said.
“I like pretty things, I make no bones about it. It has been my life.”
From antiques to decorating, to gourmet dining, to friends and fun in the setting sun, it’s a beautiful life indeed.
