The original vision for TexPlex was ambitious: Take 1,000 acres in Midlothian and turn the land into a park stocked with activities — boating, biking, shooting, motorsports, the works — all grounded in the idea of creating memorable experiences for customers to enjoy.
Then, about a year into the business, founder and president Tommy Kehoe decided to scrap that plan.
“[The business plan] entailed a lot of stuff that didn’t end up working,” he says. When he saw the motorsports side of TexPlex growing, Kehoe decided to dial things down, get “back to that fundamental of creating great experiences” — and close the indoor gun range, jet boat rides, and bike park.
But TexPlex kept motorsports, as well as hired a vice president, Billy Champion, to run day-to-day operations.
Since then, the business has been thriving, allowing TexPlex to better focus its resources and staff. According to Kehoe, “We gained a combination of credibility and improved branding within the motorsports industry after committing all of our energy into creating an awesome motorsports facility.”
Today, TexPlex is still 1,000 acres but primarily dedicated to UTVs, ATVs, bikes, and trucks, with about 10 tracks for different vehicles and skill levels. The facility also hosts events like the TexPlex UTV Racing Series, a series of eight races with a prize purse of $110,000. And, nearby Blaine Stone Lodge offers luxury accommodations with a rustic, Texas-themed flair.
“The real magic of the property is when those two things [TexPlex and Blaine Stone Lodge] work together,” Kehoe says.
While built for weddings and parties, TexPlex and Blaine Stone Lodge specialize in corporate functions, particularly for motorsports companies like Honda, BRP Can-Am and Toyota, who use the facility to host training events and product launches.
In fact, it was those motorsports companies that helped prompt Kehoe to refocus the property’s offerings.
“They’re looking at me and saying, ‘You’re the customer we can’t get because your generation isn’t buying stuff like this,’” says Kehoe (who’s 33). “The way our business is being built, how we do these rentals and suite experiences … Millennials don’t want to go buy a $20,000 unit; they’d rather pay a $100 a month and have access to it. Them telling me that … that was where I was like, ‘Okay. We’ve got something special.’”
Smaller companies can book the facility too, with a “ride, shoot [clays], eat, and drink package” being the most popular, according to Kehoe.
The average rate is about $100 – $120 per person, including food and beverage, though the price can vary depending on how many activities are included (for those who bring their own vehicles, the price is about $30). TexPlex offers BRP Can-Am Maverick Sport UTVs, as well as training, for guests of private parties — but no walk-ups. That is, you can't drive up there and rent a vehicle for a day, but you can walk up and ride on the track if you bring your own vehicle.
Then, at Blaine Stone Lodge, companies can host meetings and other professional activities. The resort has Wi-Fi to run 300 laptops, features a 17-foot, high-definition projection TV and can even flash your company logo on other TVs throughout the building.
“Being in rural Texas, we want this to be a truly great Texas day,” Kehoe says. “Eat some good food, shoot some guns, be out in the country, do some off-roading — we want people to walk away living up to that Texas brand.”
A brand that’s better, Kehoe says, thanks to the decision to refocus the business. His advice to other companies in the same boat — listen to the people around you, then listen to yourself.
“It’s about being true to yourself and being authentic. If you’re the leader of the business, you’ve got to do what you really believe in. How you come to the realization of what’s right, I think everyone has a different path,” Kehoe says. “It’s a painful thing. It sounds easy six months after the fact, but it was a really tough night to go through that stuff, changing teams over and going back to my investors and saying, ‘Well, that didn’t work. Sorry.’ … When that moment comes, you know.”
Booking information can be found at texplexpark.com and blainestonelodge.com.
