The Kelly Slater Wave Co. Buys NLand Surf Park - Stab Mag

Live Now — 1-Week Premium Peek — Episode 2 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

349 Views

The Kelly Slater Wave Co. Buys NLand Surf Park

The World Surf League puts its paws into the thriving Texas wave pool market. 

news // Jan 6, 2019
Words by Stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Ahhh, the ol’ NLand surf park. A very poor man’s Wave Ranch that recently shut-up shop for the winter.  

NLand employed a similar trolley system to Kelly’s Wave Ranch, but failed to produce the same ‘perfect’ tubes and sections rifling down the line. Think of it as a really shit day at Malibu, except there’s more learners out and you have to pay to surf the place. 

A few days ago, however, Tumbleweed Opco (a recently unveiled subsidiary of Kelly Slater Wave Co.) bought the land and facilities of the NLand park in Austin. A package valued to be worth $4,806,149 as reported by ATX Real Estate News

The facility previously owned by Doug Coors and was handed over to the WSL in writing on the 21st of December. 

With the WSL now placing their foot in the door of the Texan surf market, it’s safe to assume they’ll be upgrading the wave to compete with the Barefoot Ranch in Waco a few hours down the road. Although Waco is also closed for the winter period (amidst serious water quality concerns), their facility far outshone the meagre walls of NLand and exclusivity of Kelly’s Lemoorian pond. It’s arguably the best consumer-based pool developed yet and undoubtedly home to the best man-made air section we’ve seen yet. 

NLand park in Austin will be closed for the foreseeable future. And the next time we lay eyes or boards upon it, it’ll be vastly different to its current bland incarnation. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025

German University Surf Contest Derails After Local Pushes Competitor Off Wave

The story behind the shove, and why wave-rental politics turned physical in Seignosse.

Jun 22, 2025

An Accidental 90-Minute Chat With Caity Simmers

A Stab Interview on life, individuality, and chimpanzee research initiatives.

Jun 21, 2025

No Tears In Saquarema

Can anyone other than Italo, Filipe or Yago win the Vivo Rio Pro?

Jun 20, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 19, 2025

Why Is One Of The World’s Longest Lefts Being Bulldozed?

Pavones residents displaced as excavators move in.

Jun 19, 2025

The Seven Surfing Conspiracies

Inside surfing’s shadow government: what they don’t want you to know.

Jun 18, 2025

Mongrels Flood The Mondrian, Doped Youth Resurfaces in Versace

An autopsy of the Solento Surf Film Festival — and a breakdown of the biggest…

Jun 18, 2025

The Billion Dollar Hole Behind Lakey Peak: Should Surfers Be Worried?

A massive gold mine is being excavated behind the Indonesian surf village, fueled by foreign…

Jun 17, 2025

Record-Smashing Surf Coach Eyes Off His Next Victim: Sydney Olympic Park

Blakey Johnson’s July plans: survive 108+ hours in the cool, recirculated waters of URBNSURF. 

Jun 17, 2025

Watch: Milk & Honey, Presented By YETI & Sun Bum

A surf film starring Stephanie Gilmore, Caity Simmers, Coco Ho, and Frankie Harrer.

Jun 17, 2025

Stab Interview: WSL Tour President Graham Stapelberg On The Changes And Challenge(r)s Of The Post-Cut Era

Maxing Pipe, Triple Crown realities, Jordy Smith, sponsors up the yin-yang, and more.

Jun 16, 2025

Was That The Best Day Of Performance Surfing In 2025?

Kerrupt flips, double airs, and a cornucopia of 9 point waves.

Jun 15, 2025

Watch: Albee Layer Drops His Second Stab Edit Of The Year In 4 Months

And we dare say "Less Than Easy" is even better than the former.

Jun 13, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 1

Our first loser goes home in this "king of the hill" showdown.

Jun 12, 2025

How To Convince A Bunch Of Small Town Floridians That They Need A Wavepool

Warren Smith is creatively diversifying the tourism portfolio of his hometown.

Jun 12, 2025

Italo And Filipe Lost, But Surfing Won Today

No shortage of excellence on Day Two at Lowers.

Jun 11, 2025
Advertisement