At The Table with Luke Haverty 025 | Isaac French, Entrepreneur & Designer - From Bookkeeping to a $7M Micro-resort Biz
Aug 26, 2025
Isaac French, an entrepreneur and designer, transformed five acres in Texas into Live Oak Lake, a stunning micro-resort sold for $7 million. He shares his journey from bookkeeping to hospitality, emphasizing the power of imagination and thoughtful design. Isaac reflects on the importance of crafting genuine connections and creating beauty in experiences. He also discusses balancing personal space in hospitality, his inspirations, and the lessons he's learned about presence and legacy in parenting. His passion for design and storytelling is infectious!
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From Zillow To Live Oak Lake
- Isaac discovered a five-acre overgrown property on Zillow and bought it with $19,000 in savings and family help.
- Within 10 months he built seven cabins and opened Live Oak Lake for $2.3M build cost.
Bootstrapped Construction With Family Credit
- Isaac used his family's construction line of credit to start work while he secured a bank loan.
- He risked ~$350k on construction before bank funds arrived and hustled to raise the rest.
Vision Trumps Short-Term ROI
- Isaac prioritized a clear artistic vision above immediate ROI when making design choices.
- He believes money follows strong conviction and execution, not vice versa.
