New Texas Resort Highlights Mythic Beauty of Lost Pines Region; Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa Captures Charm of Central Texas' Best-Kept Secret.

AUSTIN, Texas & BASTROP, Texas -- Combining a natural beauty revered by early Native Americans with a colorful history rooted in pre-Republic Texas, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa will offer guests a new and unparalleled Texas experience just 20 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The resort is being constructed adjacent to the 1,100-acre McKinney Roughs Nature Park alongside the Colorado River, and will open in 2006.

Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas and Hyatt Hotels Corporation recently unveiled detailed development plans and renderings for the 491-room destination resort, which will include more than 50,000 square feet of indoor function space, an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa and multiple food and beverage outlets. Recreational amenities include a lavish man-made water park with multiple pools, including a flowing river pool; canoeing, kayaking, rafting and fishing opportunities in the Colorado River; and more than 16 miles of hiking and equestrian trails. Hyatt's trademark services, such as Camp Hyatt children's program and Regency Club, also are planned.

Resort set in picturesque Lost Pines region

"Central Texas has earned a wonderful and well-deserved destination reputation, primarily through the popularity of the Texas Hill Country, but there is also a secret treasure here called the Lost Pines Region, with a beauty and history as intriguing as its name," said John Scovell, president and CEO of Woodbine Development Corporation.

"The Lost Pines of Bastrop County are separated from the better-known pine forests of East Texas by more than 80 miles," he said. "Legend has it that early Texas Native Americans planted the seedlings to remind them of the magnificent trees to the east, but it's generally thought that the lost pines are survivors from the Ice Age, when other parts of the forest between this region and its more familiar neighbors didn't survive the shift to drier climates."

"The historically significant loblolly pines provide a wonderful and dramatic change of scenery from the rest of the region, and we wanted to acknowledge this by naming our new destination resort the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa," said Scovell. "We believe the resort will capture the feel of the region and its place in history."

Separated from the Texas Hill Country by Interstate 35, the Lost Pines area is located at the convergence of differing Texas terrains - where rolling prairies meet box canyons and heavily wooded ridgelines and river valleys form unique environments for flora and fauna. In fact, four different ecosystems -- Post Oak Savannah, East Texas Piney Woods, Central Texas Plateau, and Blacklands Prairie -- merge within McKinney Roughs.

The natural beauty of the region combine with the rich history of the county seat, Bastrop, which was settled in 1832 as part of Stephen F. Austin's "Little Colony" and thrived through the mid-19th century as a timber town. Today, Bastrop has been designated as the "most historic small town in Texas" because it contains more than 125 historically designated buildings. Guests to the region can visit historic sites, shop, bird watch, and explore the Colorado River and other abundant natural resources around the 70-square-mile region east of Austin.

Other attractions include additional area golf courses, the Bastrop Opera House, the popular Bastrop Farmer's Market, and lakes and state parks, including Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park, which are a relaxing and scenic 12-mile bike ride apart.

Resort to be economic catalyst for region

Woodbine purchased 656 acres of Bastrop County land from the Lower Colorado River Authority in March 2004. The resort site utilizes 405 acres of land, including a mile of Colorado River frontage. The remaining 251 acres are being reserved for future development.

"Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa will bring not only thousands of additional visitors to Bastrop when it opens," said Bastrop Mayor Tom Scott, "but it will also bring hundreds of new jobs into the community. The economic impact is worth millions to our area, and we are excited about this project and its impact for the entire Lost Pines region."

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is a joint venture among affiliates of Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas, managing general partner; Cook Inlet Region, Inc., (CIRI) of Anchorage, Alaska; The Oklahoma Publishing Company (OPUBCO) of Oklahoma City; and Hyatt Hotels Corporation of Chicago.