The groundbreaking ceremony for DSRT Surf Resort, held May 23 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif., marked the beginning of construction for the state’s first man-made surf lagoon open to the public.
Estimated to open in 2026, DSRT Surf will deliver a world-class, dynamic surf environment, featuring Wavegarden’s state-of-the-art Cove technology—allowing “perfect waves” to be created “at the push of a button.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local and regional officials, stakeholders, industry pioneers, and surfing professionals.
“Today marks an exciting moment for the Southern California surfing community and for the city of Palm Desert,” says John Luff, managing member of Beach Street Development and Operations, the developer and operator of DSRT Surf. “Today’s groundbreaking ceremony culminates years of development and starts the next chapter in bringing this unique and iconic vision to life, expanding the Southern California surfing landscape.”
According to reports, the surf lagoon will spread across 5.5 acres. It will be part of a 17-acre, full-scale resort with a 92-room hotel, 83 residential units, a spa, golf courses, event spaces, bars, restaurants, and more.
The park is being designed using sustainable practices, underscoring DSRT’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. “With their Turf for Surf program and the removal of more than one million square feet of turf, [DSRT] will be offsetting more than the water they are using for this project,” says Eric Ceja, director of economic development for the City of Palm Desert. In addition, much of the lagoon’s water filtration and spill will be reclaimed through dry wells, recharging the aquifer and further reducing the project’s water use.
The surf lagoon will be powered by Wavegarden technology, allowing more than 70 surfers to participate simultaneously on both advanced and beginner waves. “We would like to acknowledge the hard work and contributions of everyone in reaching this important milestone,” says Fernando Odrioziola, CCO for Wavegarden.
“We are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of DSRT Surf and participate in this major milestone,” says Bruce Greenfield, a partner at AO architecture firm, which designed the project. “The entire team has collaborated to create a unique, 360-degree experience that redefines surf culture in the Inland Empire, and we can’t wait to see it come to life.”
