Louis Vuitton Creative Director Pharrell Williams Is Architecting A $330 Million Wave Pool Development In Virginia Beach

Wave pools. Heaps of them being proposed/developed, less than 20 of them are currently open to the public. 

However, with several noteworthy projects near their opening dates that figure is expected to change soon. 

Just this week, Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore and a bunch of other CT surfers caught a private jet down to the Boa Vista complex to get some reps in giving us plebeians a pang of hope.

Then we remembered it will only be open to residents. Fuck. 

In light of all the buzz – let’s take a closer look at some of these upcoming ventures – deep dive over at Wavepoolmag for more info.

Atlantic Park – Virginia Beach, VA

Situated in the heart of downtown Virginia Beach the Atlantic Park development is the wavepool being given love from resident superstar Pharrell Williams – Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director and a 10-time Grammy award winner. (Side note: How the f*ck does he have time for this?)

Using Wavegarden tech “The Wave,” will be the centerpiece of this $330 million project, surrounded by retail stores, a 3,500-seat live performance venue, and various attractions. The opening is scheduled for the summer of 2025. 

“In a way, this project started when I was a kid,” said Williams. “When I was riding to work with my grandmother, I was always intrigued by the futuristic facade of the Dome building. It made my young imagination run wild. Today I have the opportunity to bring the Dome back to life in a way that’s so inspiring. We call this vision of the future, The Wave.”

Surf Abu Dhabi

Kelly Slater’s Wave Co is bringing its wave technology to the UAE with the Surf Abu Dhabi project. Located on Al Hudayriat Island, the 51-million square meter (12,600 acres) residential development “will likely be the site of the WSL Finals in years to come” a World Champ told Stab recently.

SurfTown MUC, Munich Germany

Using Endless Surf tech, SurfTown MUC, is set to become Europe’s largest surf pool. This project in Munich aims to create a sustainable surf park with a focus on renewable energy and water-saving measures. Harnessing locally abundant groundwater to fill and replenish the pool, and a photovoltaic system on-site to foot 90% of its energy bill it’s greener than a leprechaun’s neon-colored vomit on St. Patrick’s Day. The estimated opening date for the public to surf the pool is Spring 2024.

URBNSURF Sydney

The sister pool of URBNSURF Melbourne is another Wavegarden tech licensee that will have additional amenities such as a skate park, bar, and an Applejack restaurant. While construction delays have occurred, the 3.2-hectare site is expected to open in Autumn 2024 and can squeeze up to 1000 visitors a day. URBNSURF Melbourne session prices start at $89AUS for intermediates and go up to $144AUS for expert sessions. Prices for the Sydney pool are expected to be comparable. 

Cannon Beach – Mesa, AZ

Cannon Beach, situated in Mesa, Arizona, the wave pool will be powered by Swell Mfg and UNIT Surf. Hitherto unseen tech. Visitors can expect a lagoon, cliff diving area, a pump track and retail and dining options. Doors are expected to open by the end of 2023.  

Palm Springs Surf Club – Palm Springs, CA

The Palm Springs Surf Club is set to transform the former Wet n’ Wild water park location. Utilizing Surf Loch wave technology, the park aims to provide a year-round surfing experience in the California desert. As the commissioning of the wave pool progresses, the club is actively recruiting staff. It will likely be operational and open to the public by the end of 2023. They’re crossing-fingers to pour water by August.

Surf Lakes Yeppoon – Mulara, Australia

No real updates here other than Surf Lakes is in the middle of transforming its former test site into a public wave pool. Their unique plunger system is the most striking of all the wave-generating models, hence earning it the ‘Mad Max’ nickname. Goal is to open by 2024. 

Crest Surf Clubs – Long Island, NY. Slated to be open by 2024, Crest Surf Club claims to be the “only private member wave pool in the world” – whatever that means – and will be powered by tech newcomer Premier Surf. Little is known about the quality or number of waves in a session. Development costs are expected to float around the $35 million mark.