Waypoint RV Preserve to Celebrate Groundbreaking for Nature-Inspired RV Resort in Palmetto

170-site RV resort combines outdoor hospitality, thoughtful stewardship of the land and significant private investment in Manatee County

South Swell Properties, LLC will celebrate the official start of construction of Waypoint RV Preserve, a new 170-site, nature-inspired RV resort destination in Palmetto, Florida, with a ceremonial ground-breaking on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 4p.m.

The event will bring together project partners, local officials, business and tourism leaders, lenders, contractors and members of the community to mark an important milestone in creating a new kind of outdoor hospitality experience for the region.

Set among Florida’s natural landscape, Waypoint RV Preserve is being created around a vision of bringing guests closer to nature while providing the comfort, hospitality and amenities of a modern resort. The 170- site destination will offer RV travelers an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a setting thoughtfully shaped around the land itself. A central part of that vision is the property’s 25-acre nature preserve, which will remain a protected natural feature of the site. Throughout the planning process, careful consideration was also given to preserving the property’s mature and old-growth trees. Layouts were adjusted to save significant trees and retain more of the natural character that makes the property unique. “We have owned this property for nearly two decades, so our connection to this land is personal,” said Daniel Harte, principal of South Swell Properties and resident of Terra Ceia. “We didn’t want to simply create another RV park. Our vision has always been to create a unique RV experience.”

Waypoint Bar & Grill, located at the front of the property and open since 2021, serves as an amenity for resort guests while continuing to welcome the surrounding community, creating a connection between the RV resort, local residents and visitors to the area.

Waypoint RV Preserve has been designed to offer a distinctly different experience from a traditional RV park. The resort combines spacious RV accommodations with resort-style amenities, including a pool area featuring a 3,706 square foot pool with zero-entry access, lap lanes, and a sun shelf, as well as an 85 square foot spa. Surrounded by natural landscapes and preserved green space, the resort also offers inviting areas designed to encourage guests to relax, explore, and reconnect with the outdoors.

Guests will also have convenient access to the beaches, waterways, attractions and communities of Manatee County, Florida’s Gulf Coast and the greater Tampa Bay region. Following an extensive planning, entitlement and permitting process, the project has now entered the construction phase with it’s first guests to be welcomed in the winter of 2027.

In addition to supporting construction activity and creating permanent employment opportunities, Waypoint RV Preserve is expected to generate ongoing economic activity for nearby restaurants, retailers, recreational businesses and other tourism-related businesses throughout Tampa Bay.