Burger King

A new 3,492 sq ft Burger King restaurant at 702 US Hwy 83 in Zapata, TX, has completed construction and passed its final TDLR accessibility inspection in April 2026. This new fast-food restaurant was built by Ampler Development on private land within Zapata County. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in July 2025, with plan review completed the same month. Construction began in September 2025, and the record shows the building is now finished.

Project Scope and Cost

The estimated cost for this new construction was $1,200,000, which works out to $344 per square foot. This figure is above the median estimated cost of $817,742 for new construction projects in Zapata County. The median size for similar filings in the county is 6,446 sq ft, making this restaurant smaller than the typical new build. The scheduled build window was 211 days, which is longer than the county median of 152 days.

Design and Registration Details

Charles W Pope and Associates served as the design firm of record for the project. David M Mcmillan was the registered accessibility specialist responsible for ensuring the building met state standards. The filing lists the project name as "Burger King - Zapata." Ampler Development has six other TDLR-registered projects, including locations in Canton, Westworth Village, Killeen, and Fort Worth. These other projects are listed as closed. The total value of these additional filings is $4,700,000.

Local interest in the project was noted in online discussions. A Facebook post by SouthTexasEatsTreats asked if Zapata was getting a Burger King, while a post by Zapata County News reported the store was now open. DoorDash listings indicate a Burger King location at 706 N Us Highway 83, which is near the registered address. The U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates for ZIP 78076 show a population of about 13,085 and a median household income of $35,763. The area has 5,684 housing units, with housing predominantly owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home value is $89,600. Zapata County had an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent in June 2026, which was higher than a year earlier.

The construction record confirms the building is complete. The final TDLR accessibility inspection was passed in April 2026, closing the project file. This status indicates that the physical structure meets the required accessibility standards for public use. The project represents a significant addition to the commercial landscape of Zapata, providing a new fast-food option in the community. The details in the TDLR filing provide a clear record of the development, from initial registration to final inspection.