Desert Waves Near Opening

PALM DESERT — A long-planned surf destination in the heart of the Coachella Valley has moved significantly closer to opening after its massive wave lagoon successfully hosted professional surfers during a recent round of testing.

DSRT Surf, a 17-acre recreation and resort development near Desert Willow Golf Resort, is now targeting a late-summer 2026 public opening. Although earlier reports suggested the attraction could debut in July, the company has not announced a firm opening date or released public reservations.

The latest milestone came when surfers including Rob Machado, Griffin Colapinto, Jacob “Zeke” Szekely and Skip McCullough tested the facility’s Wavegarden-powered lagoon. Former World Tour surfer and DSRT Surf partner Josh Kerr helped guide the session as riders sampled waves designed for carving, barrel riding and aerial maneuvers.

Szekely offered an enthusiastic assessment after the session, calling it the “best wave pool in the world.” While the comment was promotional in nature, the successful testing showed that the project’s central attraction is functioning as developers prepare for its public debut.

At 5.5 acres, DSRT Surf describes the lagoon as the largest of its kind in North America. Its 52-module Wavegarden Cove system is designed to generate as many as 1,000 waves per hour, offering different settings for first-time surfers, developing riders and experienced athletes. The lagoon is expected to accommodate up to approximately 70 surfers at one time.

The first phase is expected to include the surf lagoon and a separate leisure pool. Future plans call for a 139-room boutique hotel, 57 private villas, restaurants, yoga programs and pickleball courts, although those resort and residential components are scheduled for a later phase.

Water use has remained an important issue for large recreational projects in the desert. DSRT Surf says its “Turf for Surf” program converted 30 acres of nearby golf-course grass to drought-tolerant and native landscaping. According to figures released by the city and project representatives, the conversion is expected to conserve about 34.8 million gallons annually, exceeding the lagoon’s projected annual consumption by approximately 11 million gallons.

The project also adds another major surf attraction to the Coachella Valley, joining the Palm Springs Surf Club and strengthening the region’s emerging identity as an inland surfing destination.

For now, DSRT Surf continues to collect email registrations for announcements rather than sell public sessions. Until a specific opening date and booking schedule are released, the most accurate description is that the attraction is operational for testing and preparing for a late-summer launch.