Our Story: Built by Owners, Driven by Results
Southern Sands was never part of a grand plan; it was built from real experience, smart decisions, and a relentless focus on performance.
After spending over 20 years in the oil and gas industry, one of our founding partners, Jason Johnston, experienced firsthand the volatility of the market when oil prices dropped to historic lows. During that time, what started as a simple personal decision to invest in something tangible quickly turned into something much bigger. With encouragement from his wife, Jason and Danielle purchased their first beach home in the Terramar neighborhood of Galveston—Kokomo. Backed by his engineering mindset and real estate experience as a licensed Realtor, he knew how to evaluate opportunities, analyze numbers, and identify markets with strong investment potential.
Not long after, Jason connected with Mark Lane, an experienced lender with deep knowledge of financing structures and investments, reached out to explore a real estate investment of his own. What began as a conversation quickly evolved into a partnership. Together, they acquired a beachfront property in Crystal Beach, called Breezy Days. At the time, the home was generating approximately $40,000 annually. Through strategic upgrades and data-driven management, they increased revenue to over $158,000 in just one year, with only about $25,000 invested in improvements.
That success wasn’t luck; it was a repeatable system.
Our Story: The Turning Point
The turning point came when a homeowner, impressed by their results, asked if they would manage her property. That single opportunity became the foundation of Southern Sands. What started with one home has since grown organically to over 150 properties in less than five years, without acquisitions or outside roll-ups.
Today, Southern Sands is built on that same foundation:
• Data-driven revenue optimization
• Luxury-level guest experience
• Operational excellence at scale
As owners themselves, and with multiple investment properties across Galveston, Crystal Beach, and the Smoky Mountains, they understand both sides of the business:
• Maximizing ROI as investors
• Delivering exceptional stays as hospitality professionals
They also bring deep industry knowledge and relationships, from real estate, financing, and insurance to contractors and design, ensuring every property is positioned to perform at the highest level. Southern Sands was built by owners, for owners, and with one clear mission: to turn great properties into top-performing assets.
