Surf Park Real Estate Conference

Bisnow presents a national deep dive into Surf Parks as an emerging experiential & lifestyle-driven real estate asset class

From man-made surfing lagoons to full-scale surf-anchored mixed-use and hospitality destinations, developers and investors are riding a new wave of opportunity.

As demand grows for immersive, wellness-driven and adventure-based environments, surf parks are evolving into year-round community hubs and tourism engines. Surf Parks blend recreation, hospitality, retail, entertainment and placemaking into one footprint.

This event will explore how surf park projects are being financed, designed, engineered, constructed and operated, and panelists will share how next-generation wave technology, sustainability strategies and guest experience programming are shaping the future nationwide.

Why You Won't Want To Miss This Conference:

What You'll Learn About Surf-Park Destinations:

• How surf parks are maturing from niche attractions into a recognized experiential real estate asset class, and where institutional and private capital is starting to allocate
• What demand indicators developers and investors are using, including tourism draw, local population density, surfer participation rates and year-round visitation projections
• How surf-anchored developments are being integrated into mixed-use, resort and master-planned communities as the primary traffic-driving amenity
• How surf parks function as placemaking anchors and community hubs that serve both tourists and local users
• Real-world funding and entitlement hurdles surf park developers face, and the approval, zoning and community buy-in strategies that are working
• How to evaluate and compare major wave-generating technologies based on throughput, wave variety, energy usage, maintenance needs and guest experience outcomes
• Key site selection criteria, including acreage requirements, utility loads, water sourcing, access, adjacency uses and ideal co-tenancy mixes
• Construction and engineering realities behind man-made surf lagoons, including geotechnical needs, basin construction, lining systems and mechanical infrastructure
• Delivery methods and risk-sharing approaches contractors are using to manage cost, schedule and performance in large-scale aquatic builds
• Operational models for surf parks, from private club formats to ticketed public venues to resort-operated amenities, and how each impacts revenue predictability
• Guest experience and programming design: How operators keep parks active year-round, and focus on community
• Liability, safety and insurance frameworks specific to wave lagoons and aquatic adventure venues
• Sustainability and environmental strategies, including closed-loop water systems, water recycling, energy efficiency and net-zero-use targets
• Where technology and next-generation wave systems are heading, and how developers are future-proofing projects against rapid innovation in surf infrastructure

How You'll Do More Business From Attending This Real Estate Event: By attending this event, you’ll connect directly with developers, investors, operators and technology providers actively pursuing surf park and surf-anchored mixed-use projects across the country. You’ll identify new capital partners, specialty consultants and construction/design teams with experience in experiential and recreational assets. The event is designed to help you uncover live deal opportunities, understand financing and entitlement pathways, and position your firm within a fast-growing lifestyle and hospitality-driven asset class. You’ll leave with actionable relationships and market insight that can translate into new partnerships, projects and revenue streams!

Why You Should Attend This Session: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

Who You'll Network With At This Discussion: Owners, Operators, Developers, Investors, Architects, Construction, Designers, Engineers, Brokers, Lawyers, Financial Institutions, Lenders, Consultants, Suppliers, & Economic development leaders. 

Good Reads: 

New Data Shows That Surf Park Demand Is Quietly Evolving (Published by Jess Ponting, Surf Park Central on 2/9/26)

Notable Projects, Assets & Deals: 

SurfLoch: SurfLoch is the pioneering pneumatic wave technology company founded by Tom Lochtefeld, whose work in engineered surf spans four decades. Tom is a WWA Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the 2023 Surf Park Summit Leadership Award - recognition of a career that has fundamentally shaped the wave technology industry. SurfLoch offers a full technology suite, featuring a flagship competition-grade pool to a compact-footprint for boutique developments.  All SurfLoch systems are powered by proprietary dual-force pneumatic actuators built on Siemens control architecture and delivering repeatable, high-performance waves with no moving parts in the water.  To ensure maximum wave performance and continued operational run-time, SurfLoch supports its equipment package with WaveWare™, a proprietary software platform for wave programming, performance monitoring, and facility management. SurfLoch redefines surf pool applications to include private residential, resort, and mixed-use developments desiring a lifestyle anchor and project differentiator. Current contracts are ongoing in Europe, North America, South America, Central America, and Australia.

Snug Harbor Surf Park: Creating a revolutionary facility where surfing will be accessible, enjoyable and achievable for anyone, ensuring that Newport Beach not only cultivates world-class surfers, but also celebrates a healthier and more active lifestyle.

MVE Architects: Snug Harbor: The Snug Harbor Surf park, proposed for a 15.3-acre site in Newport Beach, aims to transform the central portion of the Newport Beach Golf Course into a premier surfing destination. Central to the development is a 7-acre surf lagoon, complemented by viewing platforms, seating areas, three warming pools, and a spa. The facility will feature a three story clubhouse housing a reception area, surf academy, fitness facility, yoga center, administration offices, retail store, restaurant, and coffee bar/ snack shack. Additionally, a two-story athlete accommodation building will provide 20 units, each equipped with a bed, bathroom, closet, and patio overlooking the surf lagoon. By offering consistent, high-quality waves, the park aims to attract local surfers and visitors, enhancing Newport Beach’s reputation as a premier surfing destination.

AO: DSRT Surf: Nestled within Palm Desert’s expansive 17-acre terrain, DSRT Surf emerges as a groundbreaking resort uniting desert allure with Californian surf ethos. Situated in Coachella Valley amid a golf course, it promises optimized waves, a resort hotel, luxury villas, and diverse recreation, reshaping surf culture in Inland Empire. At its heart lies a sprawling 5-acre surf lagoon, boasting ocean-like waves for pros and gentle sections for novices, overlooked by a vibrant five-story, 92-key hotel with a dynamic surf center and upscale amenities. Luxurious villas flank the lagoon, echoing coastal living with open designs and pedestrian-friendly walkways. Activities abound, from pickleball to yoga, fostering an oasis blending adventure and tranquility. Architecturally, modern elements blend with mid-century nods, while sustainability initiatives like the Surf for Turf program repurpose water, honoring the Coachella Valley’s resilient flora and celebrating surf culture. DSRT Surf epitomizes luxury desert hospitality, championing sophisticated, sustainable design and immersive experiences ///// Alchemy Surf Park: Set in California’s central valley, Alchemy Surf Resort spans 25 acres, centered around a 5-acre Wavegarden surf lagoon that delivers customizable waves for surfers of all skill levels. The resort seamlessly blends adventure and relaxation, featuring 30 modern bungalows, a 120-key hotel with stunning lagoon views, a beach club, fitness facilities, a standing wave pool, and pickleball courts. Guests can enjoy public and member-exclusive amenities, including lounges, locker rooms, and surfboard storage, while event spaces host everything from weddings to surf competitions. Community-focused initiatives like para-surfing programs and high school surf teams foster inclusivity, and a future Action Sports Hub will add high-energy activities like skateboarding and BMX biking. With construction beginning in late 2025 and a Memorial Day 2027 opening, Alchemy Surf Resort promises to be a vibrant destination where recreation, wellness, and community come together in perfect harmony ///// PHX Surf: PHX Surf is a 40-acre surf-anchored resort destination in Maricopa, Arizona, bringing ocean-quality waves and a lifestyle-focused recreation experience to the Sonoran Desert. Designed by AO, the development is centered around a 137,000-square-foot Endless Surf lagoon capable of producing consistent waves for surfers of all skill levels, supporting recreational surfing, training programs, and competitions. The project is envisioned as a “barefoot luxury” desert oasis that blends surf culture with resort hospitality and wellness. Surrounding the lagoon, the program includes a resort center, surf academy and operations facilities, lagoon-front dining and retail, spa and fitness amenities, and outdoor gathering spaces designed to create an active waterfront environment. A collection of approximately 100 resort bungalows are integrated throughout the site, forming a distinctive hospitality village that complements the surf experience. Future phases are planned to expand the destination with additional recreation and entertainment offerings, establishing PHX Surf as a regional hub for sport, leisure, and community.

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our event producer, Samantha D'Angelo at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com. 

Don't miss the US Open of Surfing: Saturday, July 25 - Sunday, August 2, 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA (Surf City USA). The US Open of Surfing is the world's largest surf competition. This event has been hosted in Huntington Beach every year since 1959, largely because of the location's consistent waves and wide-open beaches. In 1964, it became known as the United States Surfing Championships and in 1982 was called OP Pro for its sponsor, Ocean Pacific. Since 1994, the event has been named the US Open of Surfing. The event attracts the top athletes from around the globe in surfing. 

Interested in Sponsorship?

Contact avery.warren@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

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