Surf’s Up in Palm Desert: DSRT Surf Opens Its Long-Awaited Desert Wave Lagoon

PALM DESERT — After years of planning, construction and anticipation, surfing has officially arrived in the middle of the Coachella Valley.

DSRT Surf opened to the public Saturday, September 26, bringing a massive 5.5-acre surf lagoon to Palm Desert, just steps from Desert Willow Golf Resort. The attraction combines high-tech, ocean-style waves with the desert’s mountain backdrop, creating one of the most unusual recreation destinations in Southern California.

The opening marks the culmination of a project that has been in development for years and was delayed along the way by the pandemic, permitting and construction challenges. Now, surfers can ride waves more than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

At the center of the project is a Wavegarden Cove system capable of creating a wide range of waves for everyone from first-time surfers to experienced riders. The technology can produce as many as 1,000 waves per hour, with different sections of the lagoon operating simultaneously for different skill levels. 

The facility is launching with a phased soft opening. Initially, the Surf Lagoon and Surf Center are available, with additional amenities and experiences expected to be added in the weeks and months ahead. DSRT Surf is scheduled to operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with surf sessions beginning hourly. 

For newcomers, the resort offers a Learn-to-Surf Experience that includes 30 minutes of instruction on land followed by a one-hour guided session in the lagoon. At launch, the program is priced at $100 for the general public and $75 for Coachella Valley residents. 

More advanced surfers have a menu of specialized waves designed for carving, turns and barrels. DSRT Surf says its advanced waves can reach shoulder-to-head height, while beginner settings feature gentler one- to two-foot waves. Boards, wetsuits and other surf equipment are also available for rent. DSRT SURF

Surfing — Without the Ocean

DSRT Surf is located at 105 Wave Drive in Palm Desert, between the golf courses at Desert Willow. Developers have promoted the setting as part of the attraction: predictable desert weather, mountain views and the ability to surf during the day or after sunset without driving to the coast. DSRT SURF

The lagoon is being billed as the largest Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon in North America and can accommodate as many as 70 surfers at one time. 

The project will eventually become considerably more than a surf park.

Future plans call for a 139-room luxury hotel, 57 private villas, restaurants, yoga, pickleball and additional resort amenities. Those hotel and residential components are planned as a later phase following the opening of the lagoon. 

Addressing the Desert Water Question

Putting millions of gallons of water into a surf lagoon in one of California's driest regions has inevitably raised questions about water use.

Developers say they are addressing those concerns through a program called “Turf for Surf.”

Approximately 30 acres of nearby golf course turf have been converted to drought-tolerant and native landscaping. Palm Desert officials said the conversion is expected to save about 34.8 million gallons of water annually, compared with approximately 23.8 million gallons projected to be used annually by the surf lagoon.

That would create an estimated net water savings of roughly 11 million gallons per year, according to the city and project developers. 

Another Attraction for the Coachella Valley

The opening adds another recreation option to a region already known internationally for golf, resorts, music festivals and warm-weather tourism.

It also gives the valley two major surfing attractions. Palm Springs Surf Club operates approximately 10 miles away at the former Wet 'n' Wild water park property in Palm Springs. 

DSRT Surf's debut comes shortly before another major event: the facility is scheduled to welcome competitors and visitors for the ISA World Para Surfing Championship in November. 

For Palm Desert, the transformation is striking. A community long associated with fairways, tennis courts and swimming pools can now add something few would have imagined a generation ago:  world-class surfing — in the middle of the desert.

Photo: Dsrt Surf