AeroVista at Salado Airport: Texas Aviation Community Guide

Key Insights

• AeroVista sits at 15771 S IH-35 Service Rd, Salado, TX 76571, on the grounds of Salado Airport (2TX), roughly 5 minutes from downtown Salado and about 50 minutes from downtown Austin.
• The community includes 75 residential lots ranging from about 0.5 to 1.3 acres, with lots starting around $179,000 and roughly 25 percent already pre-sold.
• Salado Airport's existing runway is 3,494 by 40 feet, paved, and open to public use, with a larger, illuminated 4,300-foot runway planned for completion in 2026.
• AeroVista is governed by the AeroVista Master Association, Inc., managed by Goodwin & Company. Dues are currently projected at $300 to $350 per month (fixed for 2026, capped at a 5 percent increase in 2027), though the exact figure is still being finalized.
• Separate one-time transfer charges also apply per recorded HOA paperwork: a $3,600 working capital assessment, a $300 transfer fee, and a $375 resale certificate fee.
• Development entity SA Phase 3, LLC reports that Phase A infrastructure (roads, utilities, gated access, and the runway connection) is fully funded and not contingent on lot sales, with lots targeted build-ready by August 2026 and the neighborhood substantially complete by September 30, 2026.
• The community is planned to include 30 acres of private trails for hiking, biking, and ATV use, along with a self-serve fuel station on site.
• Buyers are purchasing fee-simple lot ownership, not a lease or club membership, with taxiway and runway access included.

AeroVista is a new 75-lot aviation community taking shape at Salado Airport (2TX), just north of Austin in Salado, Texas. Built around direct runway access, half-acre-plus homesites, and a private, gated setting, it is one of the few fly-in communities of its kind in Central Texas, and it is already about 25 percent pre-sold.

Maybe you picture taxiing from your own driveway toward the runway, or maybe the appeal is simpler: room to build a custom home, a hangar, and a lifestyle that does not look like everyone else's subdivision. Either way, a project like this raises real questions before you reserve a lot.

Here is what is actually known about AeroVista right now, based on the community's own materials and public airport records, and who this kind of property tends to fit.

What Is AeroVista, and Where Does It Sit on the Map

AeroVista is being developed on the grounds of Salado Airport, a privately owned, public-use airport identified by the FAA as 2TX. The community sits at 15771 S IH-35 Service Rd in Salado, Texas, just off Interstate 35 in Central Texas, with the developer citing roughly a 50-minute drive to downtown Austin and just a few minutes to downtown Salado.

The community at a glance

The plan calls for 75 residential lots, generally ranging from about half an acre up to 1.3 acres, giving buyers meaningfully more room than a typical suburban homesite. Lot pricing starts around $179,000, and the developer reports the community is approximately 25 percent pre-sold ahead of full build-out.

Runway specs and airport status

According to public FAA-sourced airport data from AirNav, Salado Airport's current runway, designated 2/20, measures 3,494 by 40 feet and is paved in asphalt in good condition. The airport has been active since 1975, is open to the public, and does not have a control tower. The developer's own materials describe plans for a larger, 4,300-foot illuminated runway along with a self-serve fuel station, with that runway redevelopment targeted for completion later in 2026. Buyers should confirm current construction status directly with the development team before relying on any specific completion date.

Who is developing it, and is it actually funded

The development entity behind AeroVista is SA Phase 3, LLC. According to the developer's buyer materials, the first construction phase, known as Phase A, is fully funded and not contingent on lot sales. Phase A covers roads and utilities, gated neighborhood access, the connection to the runway, and full runway reconstruction, essentially the work required to deliver build-ready lots. Ramp construction, fuel station installation, and other commercial airport improvements are described as a later phase, separate from the neighborhood infrastructure timeline.

Per the developer's most recent buyer FAQ, lots are targeted to be build-ready by August 2026, with the broader neighborhood infrastructure complete by September 30, 2026. Buyers are not required to close before that infrastructure is finished. Some buyers may choose to close earlier to lock in current pricing or early-buyer incentives, but waiting until infrastructure is complete is also an option, with the understanding that later closings may affect pricing or incentives.

Who Is AeroVista Built For?

Based on how the community is positioned, AeroVista is aimed at four overlapping types of buyers.

Pilots and aircraft owners

The core appeal is straightforward: a lot connected to taxiways and a runway, with the ability to build a hangar home rather than driving to a separate airport for every flight.

Custom home buyers

Half-acre-plus lots and a design review process give buyers room to build a custom home or hangar-home combination suited to storage, workshop space, or simply a larger footprint than most in-town lots allow.

Investors and short-term rental buyers

The developer has marketed AeroVista as a niche land opportunity along the I-35 growth corridor. Per the developer's buyer FAQ, short-term rentals are expected to be allowed, capped at one rental unit per lot and enforced through the HOA management company and board. That policy is not yet locked into final governing documents, so buyers planning around rental income should confirm the rule before closing rather than treating it as settled.

Collectors and lifestyle buyers

Larger lots also suit buyers who want space for vehicles, hobbies, guests, or a workshop, separate from any aviation use at all.

Salado, TX: The Historic Village Behind AeroVista's Address

Part of AeroVista's appeal is that it is not just an airstrip with houses attached. It sits a short drive from downtown Salado, a small Bell County village that has been a Central Texas stopping point since long before Interstate 35 existed.

Salado was founded in 1859 along Salado Creek, and its Main Street later became part of the Chisholm Trail, with cattle drives passing through town from 1866 into the mid-1880s. The creek itself, spring-fed and lined with limestone, was designated the first official Texas Natural Landmark in 1966. Today, downtown Salado's 19th-century limestone buildings house art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants, and the Stagecoach Inn, built in 1852, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

That mix of small-town history and creekside charm is a large part of why AeroVista's developer markets golf-cart-distance access to downtown Salado as a feature in its own right, not just a runway with a residential subdivision attached.

Being positioned directly off the I-35 service road also puts AeroVista within the broader Central Texas growth corridor that runs between Austin and the Temple and Killeen area. Buyers weighing the location should still treat any specific drive-time claim as an estimate rather than a guarantee, since actual commute times will vary with traffic, route, and the specific destination.

What Buyers Should Know Before Reserving a Lot

Is there an HOA at AeroVista, and what does it actually cost?

Yes. AeroVista is governed by the AeroVista Master Association, Inc., managed by Goodwin & Company. Dues estimates have moved across the developer's own materials, most recently landing on a projected $300 to $350 per month, fixed for 2026 with any 2027 increase capped at 5 percent, though the exact figure is still being finalized. Separate recorded paperwork also lists one-time transfer charges, a $3,600 working capital assessment, a $300 transfer fee, and a $375 resale certificate fee, not referenced in the newer buyer FAQ. A developer-controlled board runs the HOA initially, transferring to lot owners over time. Confirm current dues and fees directly with the Association before closing.

What exactly are you buying: a lot or a lease?

According to the developer, buyers are purchasing fee-simple real estate ownership of a residential lot within the gated community, not a lease or a membership. Each lot is described as including access to the community's taxiways and runway. As with any land purchase, buyers should confirm the deed structure, any easements, and runway access rights in writing before closing.

When will the runway and neighborhood infrastructure be finished?

Per the developer's most recent buyer FAQ, Phase A, the roads, utilities, gated access, and runway connection, is funded independently of lot sales, with lots targeted to be build-ready by August 2026 and the neighborhood substantially complete by September 30, 2026. Ramp construction, fuel station installation, and other commercial airport upgrades are planned for later phases into 2027 and beyond. As with any development, treat these as target dates rather than guarantees and confirm current progress before relying on them.

What is the reservation and deposit process?

The developer's buyer FAQ describes a lower deposit rate available to buyers who reserve a lot before the formal HOA documents are finalized. Once those documents are ready, buyers are given a 15-day review period to either move forward into a Purchase and Sale Agreement or receive a deposit refund under the reservation terms. Buyers should get the specific refund conditions in writing as part of their reservation agreement rather than relying on a general description.

Are there aircraft, training-traffic, or rental restrictions?

The airport is privately owned and currently operates as public use, and the development team has indicated plans to restrict unnecessary flight-school and training traffic from non-owners. For lot owners, no aircraft limitations or flight-hour restrictions are currently planned, though buyers should review the final governing documents for exact language once available. A short-term and long-term reserve structure is planned for runway maintenance, funded as part of the HOA budget. As noted above, short-term rentals are expected to be allowed at up to one unit per lot, enforced by the HOA.

What are the build requirements, timeline, and estimated property taxes?

The developer anticipates a build requirement of 24 to 36 months from lot closing, subject to final governing documents. There is not currently a planned minimum square footage requirement, but all construction is subject to architectural review, design guidelines, approved materials, and community quality standards. Formal property tax projections are not yet available; based on typical Bell County estimates, property taxes may generally fall in the range of 1.5 to 1.8 percent of assessed value, and assessed values often lag behind market value. Buyers should treat that range as a rough planning estimate rather than a confirmed figure.

What can and can't be built on an AeroVista lot?

Hangar-first construction may be allowed, but a residential component is expected to be required in some form, and hangars must be designed with a residential or community aesthetic rather than an industrial look. Phased builds, for example a hangar first, living space above it, and a main residence later, may also be possible subject to architectural review.

Wells will not be allowed, since water will be stubbed to each lot, but pools, solar panels, rain collection systems, metal roofs, and generators may be permitted if reasonably concealed and consistent with the community's aesthetic. Individual lot appraisals are not currently offered by the developer, and lot pricing is fixed once a lot is under contract.

A community built around a private runway is not a fit for every buyer, but for pilots, custom home builders, and lifestyle buyers looking for something distinctive in the Central Texas growth corridor, AeroVista is worth a closer look. As with any early-stage development, the smartest next step is verifying current pricing, HOA terms, and construction timelines directly with the sales team before committing to a lot.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Development details, pricing, HOA terms, and timelines are subject to change and are drawn in part from developer marketing materials and a non-official buyer-convenience summary of recorded HOA documents; where these sources conflict, the actual recorded documents control. Verify current information directly with the developer, the AeroVista Master Association, or its management company before making decisions, and consult with your own real estate professional, lender, tax advisor, and other qualified professionals before buying or selling property.