DLNews Recreation:

On January 1st, 2024, the Palm Springs Surf Club will begin a new era of desert surfing. Situated near Downtown Palm Springs on 21 acres, it will introduce cutting-edge wave pools, lazy rivers, waterslide attractions, and much more for an anticipated cost of $80-plus million. Interestingly enough, the $80 million-plus attraction stands on the site of Wet N' Wild (formerly Knott's Soak City), an iconic waterpark that closed earlier in 2018.

While some have raised objections to this project in light of California's ongoing drought, many believe it can help strengthen local economies and give residents a place to go when temperatures turn colder. Along with surfing, attractions will include bars and restaurants and water activities that appeal to families as part of its offerings.

Pono Partners LLC has acquired the previously owned Wet 'N Wild waterpark property at 1500 S Gene Autry Trail to build an attraction called "The Surf Club" which will use Surf Loch technology to create waves suitable for surfers of all skill levels. Palm Springs Surf Club will feature a revolutionary surf pool designed by RDC Design Build that uses 3 million gallons of fresh filtered water to produce waves in different sizes and shapes and even feature two-meter barreling waves! The facility will host professional athletes, celebrities, and locals looking for fun ways to surf.

First glimpses of this new attraction have already surfaced online, featuring edits by surf virtuosos Mason and Coco Ho, Hawaii-native Kalani Robb, and more. A release date has been set; with it, hope is high that the club will become even more popular and bring greater recognition to the Palm Springs area as a premier surfing destination.

As opposed to many large surf lagoon projects across California, Palm Springs' Surf Club has yet to receive significant public opposition because it is built at an existing waterpark instead of new land. However, the project has received several requests to conduct additional environmental studies, and several residents have voiced their concerns over water usage. Munoz has addressed these concerns at planning commission meetings by noting the attraction's distance from local neighborhoods and that it will use less water than Wet 'N Wild did. Though it will not require extensive environmental studies, Munoz continues to address questions regarding noise impacts, traffic disruptions, and other concerns related to his project.