Surf parks are booming across the USA. But are they sustainable?

Article Summary: 

• Surfing popularity has rapidly increased in recent years, as what was once a coastal sport is now available across the country through high-tech surf parks. 
• Wave pools often appear within extensive mixed-use developments, and some question the environmental impact of their construction and operation.   
• Several developers and wave technologies aim to limit their ecological footprint and hold themselves accountable via third-party certification. 
• Regardless, surf parks are shaping up to be a major travel trend with new projects in a dozen states — several of which are inland. 

As reported by the Surf Industry Members Association, surfing is the United States’ fastest-growing water sport with a 28.5% increase in participation from 2018 to 2022. 

“Through our research, we understand there are currently 28 million surfing enthusiasts in the United States, but less than 10% are regularly surfing,” said Nicholas Edelman, co-founder and CEO of global developer Aventuur. 

His written statement continued, “We believe this shows that access, not aspiration, has been the barrier to entry.” 

Surf parks also referred to as wave pools, have aimed to address the accessibility issue for decades. Tempe, Arizona’s now-defunct Big Surf Waterpark first brought surfable waves inland in 1969 but reliable and sustainable technology only recently entered the market. 

In addition to operational advances, the burgeoning industry benefits from consumers’ growing demand for experiences. Many existing and in-progress wave pools appear within mixed-use developments, which also offer lodging, dining, and other programming.

Edelman affirms, “Skiing and golf have long demonstrated how lifestyle sports can create value when thoughtfully integrated with real estate. We see surfing as the next frontier.” 

The Allure of Surf Park Destinations and Where They Currently Operate

In part, the increased interest in surfing can be attributed to its widely publicized Olympic debut in the summer 2020 games. To prepare, the US Olympic Surf Team frequented its official training pool: Waco Surf, located in Central Texas. 

“If you’re a surfer, you definitely know that this place exists,” says co-owner and general manager Mike Schwaab. He shares that Waco Surf functions at near capacity during its operating season. 

Some visitors are local or residents of nearby Texas cities, like Dallas and Austin, both of which are under a 2-hour commute. Others arrive from global destinations like Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and countries throughout South America. 

Schwaab explains that many enthusiasts try to get in at least one destination surf trip every couple of years, but there are several potential pitfalls when at the whims of Mother Nature. 

He says, “There might not be any swell. There might be swell and the wind’s terrible; tides could be wrong. You pay all this money and spend all of this time planning — and you get there and you get skunked.” 

Comparatively, Waco Surf promises consistent, quality waves via its PerfectSwell technology. At the push of a button, its operator can change the type of wave outputted, accommodating a range of skill levels. “The variability is a huge draw for guests,” comments Schwaab. 

Amy Hunt, Waco Surf’s director of sales and marketing, adds that other amenities enhance its appeal, including waterpark attractions, on-site lodging, and several bars and restaurants. Schwaab affirms, “We’re a hospitality business with a surf lagoon.” 

Waco Surf is one of several wave pools currently in operation, including: 

• Skudin Surf in East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Marion Splash House in Marion, Indiana
• Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida 
• Wai Kai in O‘ahu, Hawaii  
• The Palm Springs Surf Club in Palm Springs, California 
• Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California 

Many more surf parks are currently in development, but some question if the industry’s momentum is a threat to the environment and will further exacerbate water scarcity in parts of the country.  

How Up-and-Coming Surf Parks Aim to Address Sustainability

Joey Lawrence is the founder and principal owner of Barreled Surf Park, which is in development just outside of Yakima, Washington. His company has acquired control of the selected property, as well as land use and — what he calls an especially big deal — water use entitlement. 

“Water is huge in the Yakima Valley. It is an ag-heavy town,” explains Lawrence. He adds that the region is also a high shrub-steppe desert, which receives an average of just eight inches of rainfall per year. 

Unlike in Texas, where Schwaab says Waco Surf has been welcomed by the community and even featured in the official tourism board’s video commercial, some residents of Yakima have expressed concerns about Barreled Surf Park’s impact on water resources, among other issues. 

Lawrence has aimed to address the community’s feedback, dedicating more than half of his two 40-acre parcels to environmental offsets. He also put forward the commitment to make Barreled Surf Park DarkSky compliant. 

As for water use, Lawrence negotiated an arrangement with a local farm just south of the wave pool’s property. “They have agreed to stop growing the number of acres necessary to offset our annual usage. With the surf park or without, the same amount of water is going to come out of the ground,” he explains. 

Lawrence is currently seeking investors to get the project shovel-ready and through its second equity raise. A feasibility study was recently conducted by Barreled Surf Park’s selected technology provider, Wavegarden, a major player in the industry. 

Wavegarden Cove, a modular electromechanical system, claims to generate up to 1,000 waves per hour — using less electricity per hour than a single quad chairlift at a ski resort. Additionally, it claims its yearly water replenishment is equal to what’s generally required to irrigate three holes of golf.

In a 2024 article on industry trends, Endless Surf reported, “91% of surfers are willing to pay more for demonstrably sustainable surf park experience.” 

Tech provider Endless Surf addresses environmental concerns by reducing its projects’ footprints, thereby limiting excavation and concrete use. Pools’ smaller sizes translate to less water and energy requirements, and flexible operating modes further scale back energy consumption. 

Endless Surf was also accepted as a member of STOKE, the first sustainability certification body with standards specific to the surf and ski tourism industries. 

Where Surf Parks Are Being Developed in the US

Drawn to Wavegarden Cove’s sustainability efforts, Aventuur acquired exclusive rights to its technology in eight US markets. Per its announcement in August 2023, these include Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Phoenix. Aventuur is also planning to develop projects in Los Angeles and New York. 

Other soon-to-open wave pools will employ Wavegarden Cove, including Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia; DSRT Surf in Palm Desert, California; Koa Bay in Fort Pierce, Florida; Adventure Crossing USA in Jackson Township, New Jersey; and Surfworks in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

Endless Surf technology will be featured at the upcoming Thermal Beach Club in California’s Coachella Valley. Meanwhile, The Lake near Richmond, Virginia will use PerfectSwell by American Wave Machines — the same tech used by Waco Surf. 

Surf Lakes is another major tech provider, with current projects in Los Angeles and Riverside, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin and Dallas, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee; plus Panama City and Tampa, Florida.  

Revel Surf, which plans to open this summer near Phoenix, Arizona, boasts two technologies: traveling waves from Swell Manufacturing and what it calls “the best rapid surf wave on the market” from UNIT Surf Pool. 

“We’re looking at the future of outdoor rec,” says Lawrence. “If you Google search ‘surf park’ in whatever major city near you, I would guess there is a project at some stage of development.” 

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Prefer the old-school way of catching a wave? Check out Travel Lemming’s guides on surfing in California and Puerto Rico. 

(Featured Image Credit: Aventuur)