Palm Desert Man-Made Surfing Lagoon Will Open in 2026

Crowded surf line ups and unpredictable wave conditions got you down? This news about a man-made surfing facility slated to open in SoCal in 2026 might be right up your alley.

The company DSRT Surf broke ground in Palm Desert this May on the facility, which will feature 52 wave-making modules and four distinct surfing areas within a 5.5-acre lagoon. This matches the size of the Praia Da Grama Wavegarden in Brazil, making it one of the largest such facilities globally, second only to a larger installation in Korea.

The facility will offer a range of surf conditions including right and left breaking wabes, barrels, walls, and turn sections for experienced surfers, and gentle inside sections for beginners and people looking for a mellower ride. According to the website, it will be open during the day and night. They haven’t yet released the prices for surfing.

Here’s a video from the Wavegarden in Brazil to get a sense of the kind of waves the Palm Desert facility will dish up:

The Palm Desert site will offer a mix of public and private sessions and a variety of amenities, including yoga, a pump track, skate bowls, a fitness center, massage services, leisure pools, food and drink options, and concerts. These features aim to cater to SoCal’s large surf community.

Water usage, a critical concern in the arid environment of Palm Desert, has been addressed by planning to use approximately the same amount of water annually as a single hole of golf. Mitigation efforts have been implemented to conserve more water than the lagoon requires.

The project has attracted several notable surfer ambassadors, including ex-professional surfer and businessman Josh Kerr and former world champion CJ Hobgood, who have been involved in advising and supporting the development.