b'C o m m u n i t yThe canals at The Islands of Rockport are even pro-tected from debris using state-of-the-art bubble cur-tain technology, and community amenities include the marina with boat slips and lifts, fuel, clubhouse pool, pickleball courts, and of course, the luxury hotel.The vision behind The Islands of Rockport is that of JulianKikiDeAyala,whodiscoveredRockport while developing the highly successful Laredo Enter-tainment Center District in Laredo, Texas. Kikis vision of bringing world class entertainment to South Texas sparked a wave of arenas throughout the region, in-cluding The American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.DeAyala was born in Miami to a family of Cuban im-migrants who eventually relocated to Houston, where he and his four brothers excelled in athletics and ac-ademics at Memorial High School. Recruited by the University of Texas at Austin on a football scholarship, DeAyala ended up setting numerous school records includingbecomingtheall-timequarterbacksack leadera record that still stands today. Kiki DeAyala was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, but chose to play in the USFL for the Houston Gamblers, where he was named to the All-USFL team in his two seasons there. Kiki then signed a contract to play for the Cincinnati Ben-gals for two seasons.Above: Conceptual view of the main canal entrance to The Islands of Rockports planned luxury, boutique hotel and marina, whereAfter wrapping up his projects in Laredo, DeAyala and inshore and offshore fishing charters will be offered. A first-class, destination-worthy restaurant is also in the plan for the hotelhis partners saw the opportunity to create a coastal property. Below: Phase two resort swimming pool and clubhouse, one of three such facilities planned for The Islands of Rockport. Thecommunity in Texas that could rival the highest stan-newly-extended phase one canal provides direct access to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and then offshore, or into Redfish Bay. dards set in Florida and Californiabut located on one of the least-crowded and environmentally native stretches of coastline. The Islands of Rockports loca-tion provides not only immediate access to some of the best bay fishing in Texas, but also sets right on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, allowing direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.The market for waterfront homes over $1 million in the Coastal Bend was proven decades ago, but the bulk of sales on the very high-end, in recent years, have largely been motivated by investment value via overnight and short-term rental income. Beachfront communities that have been successful on Mustang Island, where guests are subjected to dodging ve-hicles on the beach, have been constructed at high standards and provide coveted amenities, but at the cost of familiarity that comes with a community of permanent residents.One of the major differences between The Islands of Rockport and virtually all other waterfront commu-nities on the Texas Gulf Coast, is that overnight and short term rentals under one year are not permitted within the private residences. Owners in phase one of the project are mainly full-time, or split-time residents who get to know their neighbors and value the peace and privacy that come with this important distinc-40THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'