LRO Residential Brings Island Vibes to Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses With the ‘Hawaiian Beachouse’

Editor’s Note: The annual Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses kicks off on May 22 at NorthPark Center, marking its 31st year raising awareness and funds to serve child victims of abuse or neglect. The nonprofit partners with the mall and local builders to showcase a lineup of custom-designed children’s playhouses. After two weeks on display, the one-of-a-kind builds are raffled off, with proceeds used to make more volunteer advocates available to children in need of protective services.

Each year, the non-profit organization partners with NorthPark Center and generous local builders and architects to present a lineup of custom-designed children’s playhouses. These one-of-a-kind structures are displayed throughout the shopping center for two weeks before being raffled off to benefit Dallas CASA’s mission of providing volunteer advocates for children living in protective care.

If you’ve followed Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses over the years, you already know that when LRO Residential is on the builder list, expectations are high. Led by custom homebuilder Les Owens, LRO has become synonymous with playhouses that look and feel like scaled-down versions of the real thing. His houses are thoughtfully designed, beautifully built, and always crowd favorites.

This year marks LRO Residential’s 17th year of building a playhouse for Parade of Playhouses, an extraordinary streak that has made the builder one of the event’s most consistent and beloved participants.

And for 2026, LRO is leaning fully into escapism. LRO’s latest Parade of Playhouses entry feels like a mini vacation. The “Hawaiian Beachouse” is designed as an elevated beach cottage, capturing the relaxed spirit of island living in pint-sized form.

The sketch reveals a charming, raised structure with a sloped roof, giving the house that classic coastal profile you’d expect to see near the water. An inviting front porch or lanai anchors the design, complete with open railings that suggest easy indoor-outdoor flow. Just beyond the porch, the drawing even includes a surfboard and lawn chairs, reinforcing the idea that this is a place meant for slowing down, sitting back, and imagining the breeze.

And because no beach house is complete without them, palm trees frame the scene, adding height, movement, and unmistakable tropical character. The result is playful, transportive, and instantly joyful.

Candy’s Dirt readers have watched LRO’s Parade of Playhouses designs evolve year after year, from nautical favorites to charming cottages and Americana-inspired builds. What hasn’t changed is the approach.

Owens and his team treat these playhouses like real houses. His team typically builds them on the site of one of his luxury new-home builds, using the same real materials on the playhouse as the new build.

That commitment to craftsmanship is why LRO’s entries consistently draw crowds at NorthPark Center. They don’t feel like props. They feel like tiny, fully imagined homes.

For 17 years, LRO Residential has shown up for Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses. What began as a creative way to give back has become a tradition — for Owens, his team, and the longtime partners who volunteer alongside them year after year.

When playhouse season rolls around, everyone knows it and wants to be part of it. That enthusiasm is part of what makes LRO’s houses feel so special. They’re not just built with skill; they’re built with heart.

Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses raises critical funds and awareness for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Proceeds from raffle ticket sales support Dallas CASA’s mission to train and supervise volunteer advocates who speak up for children in court and help guide them toward safe, permanent homes.

The Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses returns to NorthPark Center May 22 to June 7, and LRO’s Hawaiian Beachouse will be on display alongside other one-of-a-kind designs from local builders, architects, and organizations.

The event is free to view, and visitors can purchase raffle tickets at NorthPark or online for a chance to win a playhouse. If you’re dreaming of an island getaway this spring, LRO Residential may have just delivered the next best thing — no plane ticket required.