Forget about Malibu or the North Coast. Next summer, you can catch a wave in Palm Desert, 100 miles from the nearest ocean.
After years of delays, DSRT Surf is expected to surf the Coachella Valley Surf, open to the public in the summer of 2026. The new complex will offer surfers of the interior a constant current of machine waves in a surf pool of 5.5 acres integrated in the extensive desert of Willow Golf Resort.
The complex, which will eventually include a 139 KEY hotel and 57 luxury villas, is the latest incorporation into a growing number of surf resorts throughout the country and the world that does not require proximity to a coast. It is possible that surf pools do not have the romance and drama of the open ocean, but fans say they can provide beginners and experienced consistent waves to work in skills and introduce sport to people who lack easily accessing natural waves.
A representation shows visitors who drive waves with a machine in a surf pool of 5.5 acres.
(Development of Beach Street)
And at least in Palm Desert, it also helps the weather is significantly more predictable than in a coastal complex where a surf trip could be ruined by a week of rain.
“We often say that if you could choose a place in the world to do this, this is absolutely the best place in the world,” said Doug Sheres, partner of Beach Street Development, the company behind DSRT Surf in an innovative ceremony in 2024. “Literally here in Desert Willow, surrounded by the Greens, surrounded by the lake, surrounded by the mountains, and 350 days of Sun Shine year” “.” When surrounded “” surrounded “surrounded” surrounded “one year.”
The project, which was delayed by Covid and a complex permissions process, has been in process since 2018 and was approved by the City of Palm Desert in 2019 despite the concerns of some residents about the use of water and questions about the wisdom of building a surf park in the middle of the desert.
The wave pool has 7 million gallons of water and, due to evaporation, filtration and maintenance, it is expected to pass through approximately 25 million gallons of water per year. However, as part of his agreement with Palm Desert, Beach Street Development has committed to replace 1 million square feet of grass grass in the Desert Willow Golf Resort with native plantations, a movement that is projected will save 35 million gallons of water a year without affecting the game in the courses.
“Through this initiative, our surf pool will not use any incremental water above or beyond what is currently being used in Desert Willow,” the developers wrote on the DSRT Surf website.
In addition to the wave pool, DSRT Surf will also offer pickleball courts, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, yoga classes, a restaurant and a skating bowl.
The opening of DSRT Surf occurs only two years after the reopening of Palm Springs Surf Club to 10 miles along the way. That club is built on the site of an old water park and has a 1.5 acres wave pool, a slow river and water slides. It has not always been popular among guests and neighbors: their group of waves was plagued by mechanical problems in their first months, and their machines and events have generated dozens of noise complaints, although management has said that noise reduction solutions are in process.
The huge surf lagoon of DSRT Surf will be greater than four soccer fields and accommodate 70 surfers at the same time. Although prices have not yet been established for surf sessions of one hour of one hour, Sheres said they are committed to making surfing in the desert affordable for the local community.
“We consider this very available for all income and demography levels,” he said in an interview. “It's open to all.”
