Openings

• Heroes Paradise launched EpicSurf

  See details from last week’s post here:

Closures

• Waco Surf FlowSurf down for repairs

  On the heels of its unveiling, the FlowSurf standing wave pool at Waco Surf (dubbed “Shredmill”) shut down this past weekend for repairs due to a pump failing.

Planning & approvals

• Utah wave pool approved ahead of 2028 Olympics

  Utah’s Draper City Council unanimously approved plans and a zoning amendment for an 8.8-acre surf park within the Veranda West mixed-use development, a project led by Kamaka Responsible Development and The Wasatch Group. The Endless Surf wave pool at the park will be the official training ground for the USA Surfing National Team. The pool will use 6 to 9 million gallons of water per year and produce waves up to 8 feet that mimic the waves of Lower Trestles in San Clemente, the designated surfing venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The pool is designed to capture rainfall and snowmelt to help offset evaporation losses. The development also includes retail, restaurants, and 418 residential units: over 100 townhomes are already built and almost 300 apartments are planned. Resin Services has been announced as a foundational partner on the project.

  

  

Personnel

• Aventuur’s newest associate

  Aventuur added a research Associate Sam Seifert, based in California, to support the company's global investment activities. Seifert joins from Applied Value Group and previously worked at L.E.K. Consulting, both global management consulting firms.

Other news

• Camper vans at The Wave

  The Wave in Bristol introduced “The Field”, a lodging area where guests can pitch tents and park camper vans.

• Atlantic Park beer sponsor

  Atlantic Park Surf has an official beer sponsor, Kona Big Wave, founded by Kona Brewing Company in Hawaii and now based in Missouri.

For more data on these surf parks, check out our newly launched platform SurfParkDB at surfparkdb.com.

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Openings

• Heroes Paradise launches EpicSurf this weekend

  The first public* EpicSurf standing wave pool will be launched in Brandon, Florida at an outdoor entertainment space called Heroes Paradise, originally a laser tag venue. Both teams have been sending test riders including Mike Goldys (“Surf Park Nerd”) and Heroes Paradise staff into the pool over the past week. The Heroes Paradise website has its first EpicSurf bookings available for June 20th.

  

Construction

• DSRT Surf fills the pool

  DSRT Surf, planning to open this summer in Palm Desert, California, just filled their Wavegarden Cove pool with 23.8 gallons of water. Videos of the pool making waves have not yet landed but they have been very active with construction updates on their Instagram so expect clips out soon.

  

• Bahrain Surf Park fills the pool

  After a year of construction, Bahrain Surf Park started filling their Wavegarden Cove with water. They reported they will continue adding water over a period of weeks. They also participated in signing the Pledge of Loyalty and Allegiance at Edamah (Bahrain Real Estate Investment) offices, “reaffirming our dedication to the Kingdom of Bahrain, its leadership, and the values that unite us.”

  

Personnel

• URBNSURF CEO moves on

  Jennifer Moore Vandekreeke has left her position as CEO of URBNSURF after two years leading the company. Before joining URBNSURF, she spent more than two decades at Carnival Cruise Line, including serving as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.

• Revel Surf Parks COO moves on

  Adam Saks left his role as Chief Operating Officer of Revel Surf Parks after six years with the company. Prior to joining Revel Surf, Saks spent 11 years as President of Dynamic Entertainment Group, the parent company of UltraStar Multi-tainment Centers, which operates bowling, esports, arcade, dining, and entertainment venues.

Other news

• Atlantic Park gets a new restaurant

  Chicago based Parker Hospitality opened another of their Hampton Social restaurants at Atlantic Park on June 11. The opening comes less than three months after Atlantic Park welcomed guests to The Sitio, a 20-room boutique hotel overlooking the surf lagoon.

Additional notes

- * EpicSurf has two private pools that we are aware of: a R&D pool in New York where their manufacturing facility is based and a pool at the estate of musician Deadmau5.

For more data on these surf parks, check out our newly launched platform SurfParkDB at surfparkdb.com.

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Construction

• Gemswell preps Wavegarden Cove installation

  Development continues at Gemswell Surf Madrid, the site next to Atlético de Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. The team is preparing to install its Wavegarden Cove system.

• Cabo Real Surf Club construction video

  Cabo Real Surf Club is making visible construction progress in Los Cabos. Endless Surf says the project will feature one of its largest lagoons, anchored by an ES48 system, and the team is producing a documentary on the development’s story and progress.

• Brasil Surfe Clube Aretê Búzios puts Myrtha to work

  Brasil Surfe Clube Aretê Búzios is under construction in Brazil’s Região dos Lagos, with Myrtha Pools reporting that the surf lagoon will be its largest wave pool project to date.

Planning & approvals

• Cannon Beach receives Design Review Board approval for hotel

  Cannon Beach in Mesa has received Design Review Board approval for its proposed hotel at the Revel Surf site, clearing a key city design review step. The planned Hilton Tapestry Collection property would add 148 rooms, a rooftop pool, restaurant, and meeting space to the surf park destination.

• Auckland Surf Park / Dairy Flat Surf Park gains consent for 50 homes

  Stage one of the 500-home development at Auckland Surf Park/Dairy Flat Surf Park received approval. Former All Black rugby team player Sir John Kirwan plans to move into one of the chalets at the golf course-style surf park.

• Surfpark Resort Krefeld receives building permit

  Surfpark Resort Krefeld (formerly Surfpark Lake Elfrath) operator WestSurf GmbH & Co. KG has received a building permit from the Krefeld city council for the planned Wavegarden Cove project at Elfrath Lake. The permit allows the first site-preparation work to begin, including tree felling, land grading, and elimination of contaminated sites.

Other news

• GB Surfing trains at The Wave and highlights Lost Shore Surf Resort

  The Wave (Bristol) hosted GB Surfing athletes from its Development and Progression Squads for training sessions with coaches Andy King and Mick Cain. GB Surfing also highlighted Lost Shore Surf Resort as one of the facilities supporting its high-performance pathway toward LA 2028.

For more data on these surf parks, check out our newly launched platform SurfParkDB at surfparkdb.com.

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• New data reveals Europe dominates surf park industry

  The Surflytics team presented at Boston Tech Week hosted by a16z and showed the latest data on surf park developments around the world. Europe has the most surf parks across both standing and traveling waves followed by Asia.

  

• Lost Shore hosts Hi-Land Fling competition

  Scotland’s Lost Shore Surf Resort held its first major competition, positioning the country as a potential European talent hub. The event highlighted differences between watching wave pool competitions in person versus on television.

• Copenhagen Surf Park visits The Wave Bristol

  Copenhagen Surf Park team spent two days at The Wave, noting strong local community support and international visitor draw. The team observed over 25 Spanish surfers during a regular Friday session with near-capacity bookings.

For more data on these surf parks check out our newly launched platform SurfParkDB at surfparkdb.com.

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Opening soon

• California’s Giant Surf Park Resort to open in summer 2026

  California’s Giant Surf Park Resort, known as DSRT Surf, is set to open in Palm Desert in summer 2026. This venue will feature a 5.5-acre wave pool, a luxury boutique hotel, and various amenities including pickleball courts and a pump track.

Business & funding

• Mick Fanning’s Palm Valley surf park secures $4 million investment

  The Queensland government has granted funding to support the development of the surf park on the Gold Coast, which will feature a wave pool and golf resort.

• Cannon Beach seeks height exception for luxury hotel

  Plans for a 148-room hotel at Cannon Beach in Mesa, Arizona, have been submitted, aiming to enhance the surf park experience.

Other news

• Soaring Debt Forces Onkaparinga Council to Scrap Major Project Upgrades The Onkaparinga Council has temporarily halted major project upgrades. It is unclear if this will impact the $100 million surf park in Aldinga.

For more data on these surf parks check out our newly launched platform SurfParkDB at surfparkdb.com.

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A Drop in the Swell

In 2025, 8 new surf parks (7 traveling waves and 1 standing wave) opened across 5 countries and 4 continents—four fewer than in 2024 but the same amount as in 2023. Overall, the surf park industry is seeing 14% year-over-year growth.

The Brazilian Storm is Back

This year’s pioneers included KSM Realty and JHSF, tied for first developer to build multiple private surf parks. They each opened one new park in São Paulo, Brazil, bringing the city’s total to three. Today São Paulo is the first city with more than one traveling wave pool.

These parks are particularly unique for being backed by pro surfers. Three time world champion Gabriel Medina and two time world champion Filipe Toledo partnered with KSM Realty on Beyond the Club. One time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Ítalo Ferreira partnered with JHSF on São Paulo Surf Club.

A Shift to Private Pools

In 2025, for the first time in history, private access was the dominant type for newly launched surf parks. This includes Brazil’s three new private surf parks which cost $10,000 to $190,000 to access. The most affordable is Surf Center, the third indoor traveling wave operational today.

The other two private parks are The Wave Source, an R&D site for a new wave pool technology in Western Arizona which is now for sale for $14.9M, and SRF Park TLV in Tel Aviv which is not accessible to all because of ongoing war.

The three public parks include Atlantic Park Surf, which hosts the first modern wave pool on the East coast U.S., Irie Surf, another Citywave in Germany, and Surfland Riyue Bay, the first surf park in China.

What’s Up Down South?

One surf park got stopped in its tracks this year: Boca Surf Park planned to open a Wavegarden Cove in Boca Raton, Florida, next to Boca Teeca condominiums which houses many seniors. After weeks of debate and many email complaints from nearby residents, the city rejected the project’s proposal.

It wasn’t the best year for Texas either—Goodsurf Beach Club which featured a Citywave standing wave pool might not reopen in 2025. Up the street, another Citywave venue called Fireside Surf failed to reopen after it closed due to mechanical issues at the end of 2024. Fortunately it appears to have been bought by neighboring venue PopStroke which is expected to keep the waves running alongside its mini golf courses under the brand “Surf n Turf”.

The Tea Doesn’t Stop

There were significant leadership changes at two surf parks this year: The Wave in Bristol and Palm Springs Surf Club in California. Some referred to them as “hostile takeovers.” We leave it to you to decide if that is a correct representation.

What we know is that The Wave shut down without warning, police got involved, and their website was left in a state of disrepair because of a change in ownership after they were deemed insolvent. Customers held their breaths for five days before the venue reopened.

On the other side of the pond, former pro surfers Cheyne Magnusson and Kalani Robb announced their departure from PSSC with the implication that they were pushed to sell their stakes in the venue. As Magnusson put it, “one day, the real story of what went down here will be told, not today though.”

Breaking Ground

Despite this year’s drama, it is clear surf park development is not slowing down. There are a record number of surf parks on the horizon that achieved a critical milestone this year. 8 surf parks broke ground in 2025:

• The Point Surfpark, an Endless Surf traveling wave pool in Fellsmere, Florida, expected to open Q2 2026

• SURFERS COVE (also known as Surf Village), a Wavegarden Cove traveling wave pool in Óbidos, Portugal, expected to open in 2026

• Zion Shores, a private park in Washington, Utah that will host a PerfectSwell traveling wave, and two UNIT standing waves

• Bahrain Surf Park, a Wavegarden Cove traveling wave pool in Bilaj Al Jazayer, Bahrain, expected to open Q1 2026

• Cannon Beach Texas, the second surf park after Cannon Beach Arizona from developer Cole Cannon, expected to open Q2 2027

• El Nido, a Wavegarden Cove traveling wave pool in Punta del Este, Uruguay, expected to open Q2 2026

• Surf Park de Luján in Buenos Aires, Argentina, featuring La Ola Group’s first traveling wave pool

• The Wave Source mentioned earlier reportedly broke ground and completed their project in just four months

The Future of Surf Parks and Wave Pools

Though the majority of these developments were announced with a public model in mind, we may see surf park developers and operators shift to building wave pools with limited access and exclusive membership club models in order to make the projects financially viable. If so, can surf parks truly be the great equalizer many of us hope they live up to? Time will tell.

To stay in the loop as these trends develop or explore opportunities in the surf park space, make sure you are subscribed to Surflytics and browse the real-time data in Surf Park DB at https://surfparkdb.com.

That’s a wrap for 2025. Thank you to all of our subscribers and our 1,300 visitors! If you’d like to access 2024’s report feel free to use this 14% discount code.

Happy New Year surf nerds!

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Jay’s mentor, Frosty, taught him the “four pillars of the human foundation” to prepare to surf Mavericks: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Surfing has pulled me into these pillars like nothing else has so it’s no surprise that I decided to spend my time out of the water writing a book about surfing. Exercising the mental pillar.

This book is specifically about surf parks because they are kind of like my Mavericks. (More on that in an upcoming post).

On the heels of of surfing three different wave pools in the Southwest U.S. last month, today I’m excited to share the first of many previews for the book. The next few previews will include my first hand accounts of surfing Palm Springs Surf Club in California, Revel Surf in Arizona and Waco Surf in Texas.

Preview #1

It was once a fad that fizzled out quickly. That was the 80s. Today surf parks are the center piece of a burgeoning market in the world of sports, recreation, and entertainment.

Pre-order the book here

Surf parks and wave pools allow everyone to surf anywhere—no ocean required. They provide a canvas for radical maneuvers for top surf athletes and they are breathing new life into the global surf industry by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and real estate developers.

• But what does it take to successfully build and operate a surf park?

• How do machine-made swells turn into reliable waves?

• And what has convinced people to bet billions on this industry’s future?

This book provides those answers and much more. Through behind the scenes interviews with 11+ surf park executives, plus in depth research and analysis, you will understand how the surf world is becoming more inclusive, accessible, and profitable, with surf parks priming this sports sector for disruption. By the end of this book you will have all the knowledge you need to navigate the surf park industry, uncover untapped opportunities, and help shape this emerging wave of sports entertainment. So let’s dive in!

What’s inside?

Part I - What are surf parks and why should you care about them
Part II - Reference guide for every surf park and wave pool around the world
Part III - How surf parks are developed from market sizing to water tables
Part IV - How surf parks are run including 1:1 interviews by top operators
Part V - Why surf parks are a worthwhile investment

Who is this book for?

“You won’t go”. If you’re still on the fence about surf parks, this book is guaranteed to bring you on board. You will learn about the widespread benefits of surf parks for current and aspiring surfers whether in the ocean or in a wave pool.

Frothers. Whether you’re already passionate about surf parks or eager to dive in deeper, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to identify key opportunities and take the next step. You will gain an overview of surf park development and operations from market analysis and cost breakdowns to zoning, throughput and design. After reading you will be able to engage in informed conversations with industry professionals and enthusiasts, understanding how surf parks are built and run.

Vets. For those convinced that the surf park industry is worth pursuing, this book offers insights that will help you understand the latest development and operations processes from all the surf parks around the world. After reading you will be able to identify where your skills and knowledge fit within the surf park industry, whether you are an entrepreneur carving out new business or an operator seeking to expand your skills.

Money bags. Investors will learn why people are betting billions on surf parks. We’ll show you a breakdown of the data and provide insight into the industry’s growth potential as well as the risks and rewards involved in these real estate developments.

What will you learn?

• How surf parks offer a new wave of surf experiences for people around the world.

• How wave pools work, what they’re capable of, and what they’re not! We explain the science behind artificial waves.

• Who the main companies in the industry are, how they work together and what roles they play in turning wave pool dreams into surf park realities.

• The history and timeline of the surf park industry: how far we’ve come and where we are headed.

• Insights into the mature and less developed aspects of the industry, highlighting where the biggest opportunities for improvement and innovation lie.

• A peek into the financials from how much it costs to build and maintain a surf park to the projected growth of surf park markets.

• Interviews with the people pulling this off—surf park operators, developers, and engineers shared their experiences and lessons learned.

The Surf Park book gives you a strategic view of a rapidly emerging industry.

Pre-order the book here

This is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand surf parks and wave pools, from the nitty-gritty of development and operations to the big picture of why this market has such massive potential. Whether you are an entrepreneur, real estate developer, or investor, Surf Park will help you catch the wave of opportunity in this exciting, growing industry.

About the author

Val S. K. is a surf industry researcher from Boston, Massachusetts. After studying computing as an undergrad and graduate student at Cornell University, Val worked as a software and data engineer across many industries. Working remotely enabled her to feed her obsession with surfing by traveling the world to famous ocean breaks and newly launched surf parks. When she’s not in the water or watching WSL, she regularly publishes research through her company Surflytics and maintains the largest free database of surf parks in the world on her website surfparkdb.com.

Yes, I live in New England where we surf at sunrise in the dead of winter when it is just abou…

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Let’s dive into what made this year so extraordinary.

Surf Parks Take the World by Storm

In 2024, 12 new surf parks opened across 9 countries and 4 continents—the most ever in a single year and a 71.43% increase compared to openings in 2023. Even better, we got 13 new wave pools because Revel Surf closed out the year as the first surf park to have two surfable pools: a UNIT Standing Wave and a SWELL MFG traveling wave.

Other pioneers of 2024:

• URBNSURF became the first traveling wave brand to operate two parks.

• RiF010 introduced the first traveling wave built into a dam.

The industry shredded records again with 8 new traveling wave pools, the most to open in one year. This is no small feat because these projects came with hefty price tags ranging from $10M to $750M. The crown jewel? Surf Abu Dhabi, a Kelly Slater wave estimated to be the most expensive park of the year. Each of the standing wave surf parks cost roughly under $10M showing that fun waves don’t have to break the bank.

In total, an estimated $1.4 billion was poured into global surf park development in 2024.

Open To All, Who Have The Money

Public surf parks remained the dominant business model in 2024. Out of the 12 new parks, 11 are public including the YourWave R&D site which doubles as a commercial surf park. The lone private park of the year was the AllWaves R&D site which made waves of its own by inviting surfers for test sessions, earning great reviews and a fun demo video.

But here’s the catch: “public” doesn’t always mean available to the general public. We have to consider affordability. How much does it really cost to ride these waves? Based on prices for the new 2024 surf parks, the average surfer would need to pay $145 per hour for a traveling wave pool and $77 per hour for a standing wave pool. And that’s before taxes and fees—which can add 10% or more. Need a board to ride, food, drinks? Expect to empty your pockets.

For surfers looking to save, services like Gnarly Tickets have emerged to offer discounts and deals, helping to ease the financial burden of catching those perfect waves.

Tides Coming In Fast

While high costs remain a barrier, the rapid growth of surf parks sets the stage for more accessible pricing in the future as developers race to meet rising demand. Texas is already feeling the heat of this market competition—two Citywave surf parks opened in 2024 within a 30 minute drive from each other.

Construction timelines are speeding up. Some traveling wave pools that opened in 2024 launched in under five years, and one standing wave was operational just months after breaking ground. This acceleration signals a promising future for developers, investors, and surfers.

Geographically, the USA continues to pull away from the lineup in terms of number of surf parks open. Their 4 new parks in 2024, which accounts for 1/3 of the total, comprised a 300% increase in the U.S. lead over other countries. Yet Europe nudged ahead of North America with 5 new parks opened.

Next year we hope to see more developments in other parts of the world too.

Not Without Close Outs

Even when the swell is pumping, not every wave peels out perfectly. Despite the highs for surf parks in 2024, some projects experienced lows:

• Surf Poel had to permanently shut down before launch despite an impressive demo.

• Honokea Surf Village was stopped in court, which depending on how you look at it may have been the best outcome.

• Unexpected closures took place at Skudin Surf American Dream, Palm Springs Surf Club, and Fireside Surf.

Additionally, at least 8 parks slated for 2024 openings were delayed including Surf Center, Thermal Beach Club, and Crest New York. (See Wavepoolmag for more.)

The Swell Is Here

Looking ahead to 2025, 16 surf parks have announced openings. Though delays are likely, the momentum is undeniable. Projects that broke ground in 2024 like The Reef Club at Bridal Falls, The Lake, DSRT Surf, and Austin Surf Club give us plenty to look forward to.

By the end of 2024, the surf park industry logged an impressive 28% year-over-year growth. The surf community has evolved to embrace wave pools and it’s clear that surf parks are becoming a core part of the global surf scene.

Uhh, Who Cares?

This surf park boom isn’t just a win for existing surf enthusiasts—it’s reshaping local economies, driving tourism, and creating exciting investment opportunities. For real estate developers and industry professionals, the rise of public parks means more foot traffic and potential partnerships.

If you want to learn more about these trends or explore opportunities in the surf park space, visit Surf Park DB for more insights and data-driven reports.

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