Surf Parks and Wave Pools in the Coachella Valley: What Buyers, Residents, and Seasonal Visitors Need to Know Right Now

Why the Desert Is Becoming a Surf Destination

The Coachella Valley has quietly become one of the most active inland surf markets in the United States. Several large-scale wave pool projects are either already open or in active development across Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and beyond. For residents who live here year-round, seasonal visitors who return each winter, and buyers considering a property purchase, understanding which venues are open, which are coming soon, and how to stay ahead of announcements matters more than ever.

Palm Springs Surf Club: Already Open, Expanding the Experience

The Palm Springs Surf Club is the valley's original wave-pool venue and is now in its third full operating season. The waterpark side of the property, including water slides, a lazy river, and resort-style amenities, is confirmed open for the 2026 season. The wave pool offers customizable surf sessions for beginners through advanced riders, and the venue also houses a full restaurant with California-inspired cuisine. Early sessions and special events sell out quickly, so booking in advance is practical for anyone planning a visit.

DSRT Surf Opens in Palm Desert, Reduces Prices Following Public Backlash

Updated October 15, 2026

After missing its original late July 2026 opening target, DSRT Surf officially welcomed the public on September 26, 2026, with a phased opening of its Surf Lagoon and Surf Center. Located on a 17.8-acre site within Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, the facility features a 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove lagoon equipped with 52 wave-generating modules, capable of producing up to 1,000 waves per hour. The lagoon offers more than 60 customizable wave settings for beginners through professional surfers.

Operating Hours: DSRT Surf is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with surf sessions beginning hourly. Advance reservations are available through the facility's online booking platform.

Admission and Surfing Fees: The initial pricing generated considerable public backlash, particularly among surfers who criticized session costs ranging from approximately $250 to $370 or more. Within days of opening, DSRT Surf responded by substantially reducing its rates. Expert barrel sessions originally priced at $370 dropped to approximately $270, while certain beginner sessions decreased from $250 to as low as $130. By October 12, management reported broader price reductions of 30% to 40% across its revised wave menu.

DSRT Surf Vice President and General Manager Michael Gerano acknowledged the criticism, stating that the company had initially priced its sessions too aggressively and made adjustments in response to customer feedback.

For first-time surfers, a separate Learn-to-Surf Experience has been advertised at $100 for the general public and $75 for Coachella Valley residents. This package includes 30 minutes of instruction on land followed by a 60-minute guided surfing session. Pricing varies by wave type, session and booking date, so visitors should confirm current rates before reserving.

Additional Amenities and Future Development: The larger resort project includes pickleball courts, swimming pools, viewing decks and cabanas, with plans for a restaurant, bar, skatepark, 139-room hotel and 57 luxury villas. Although surfing operations have begun, the destination remains in a phased opening, with additional amenities and the hotel and residential components scheduled for future development.

Water Conservation: The developers have implemented a "Turf for Surf" initiative, converting portions of surrounding golf-course landscaping to drought-tolerant vegetation. The project team maintains that its water-management approach is designed to offset lagoon water consumption, although these environmental benefits remain developer-reported claims.

DSRT Surf is now the Coachella Valley's second operating surf destination, joining Palm Springs Surf Club. Its opening introduces additional recreational and tourism opportunities to Palm Desert, while the rapid pricing adjustments demonstrate how strongly consumer feedback can influence the emerging inland surfing market.

Official Website: https://www.dsrtsurf.com

Reservations and Current Pricing: https://book.dsrtsurf.com

Thermal Beach Club and Coral Mountain: A Combined Project in the Eastern Valley

Two long-planned private developments, Thermal Beach Club and Coral Mountain Desert Club, announced in January 2026 that they are combining forces. Thermal Beach Club had originally planned a 3.8-acre Endless Surf lagoon as the anchor amenity for a 326-home residential community. The combined project is now in the eastern Coachella Valley and continues to move through planning stages. Because this project is tied to a private residential community rather than a public resort, access will be linked to home ownership or club membership. Buyers interested in this type of amenity-driven property should verify current project status directly before making any decisions.

Cotino in Rancho Mirage: Disney's Lagoon Community

Cotino, the first Storyliving by Disney master-planned community, sits on 618 acres in Rancho Mirage and is designed around a 24-acre swimmable lagoon called Cotino Bay. As of mid-2026, roughly 30 families are living inside the gates with the resident-side lagoon and amenities already active. The public-facing Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops area is anticipated to open in fall 2026, giving visitors fee-based access to the lagoon. This distinction is worth noting: the private resident experience and the public day-pass experience are separate. Cotino does not permit short-term rentals, which shapes its buyer profile considerably.

How to Stay First in Line for News, Deals, and Session Openings

Each venue manages its own announcements on different channels, so staying informed requires a deliberate approach. Here is a practical checklist for both local residents and seasonal visitors:

Email lists: Sign up directly on each venue's website. Palm Springs Surf Club and DSRT Surf both use their own sites to announce seasonal opening dates, new wave settings, and membership deals before those announcements reach social media.
Social media follow lists: Maintain a dedicated follow list for each venue on Instagram and keep notifications on. Flash session releases and pop-up discounts are often announced there first.
Wave Pool Mag and Surf Park Central: Both publications cover the Coachella Valley scene in detail and publish updates when construction milestones hit or opening timelines shift.
Coachella Valley Surf Club (CVSC): This local nonprofit is dedicated to surf education and community in the valley. Membership keeps you connected to local session news and community events before they fill up.
Property-level alerts: If you are considering a purchase in a community with a private lagoon or surf amenity, knowing the exact amenity access rules before closing is non-negotiable. Not every community with a lagoon on the map has that lagoon available to all residents on the same terms.

What This Means for Buyers and Property Owners

Lifestyle infrastructure like surf parks, lagoons, and resort-style water amenities shifts how buyers evaluate neighborhoods. Proximity to a venue like DSRT Surf in Palm Desert or the Cotino lagoon in Rancho Mirage adds a recreational dimension to a property search that did not exist in the valley five years ago. Seasonal visitors who have rented for years may find that the combination of consistent desert sunshine and expanding surf access makes year-round or part-time ownership worth a closer look. Jim Hardy, Property Advisor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (DRE #02045778), stays current on how these amenity developments intersect with neighborhood values across the valley and can help you think through how any of these projects connects to the property you are considering.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Palm Springs Surf Club currently open to the public?

Yes. The Palm Springs Surf Club has confirmed its waterpark, wave pool, and restaurant are open for the 2026 season. Surf sessions are bookable by skill level, from beginner rollers to advanced slab settings. Because sessions sell out, checking availability and booking directly through the club's website before your visit is the practical approach.

When is DSRT Surf in Palm Desert expected to open?

DSRT Surf is targeted a late July 2026 opening. But City of Palm Desert has required some unforeseen adjustments and has delayed opening. The facility, located next to the Desert Willow Golf Resort, will feature a 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove lagoon, a 139-room hotel, 57 luxury villas, and additional amenities including pickleball courts and a restaurant. Opening timelines for large construction projects can shift, so monitoring the developer's own website at dsrtsurf.com is the most reliable way to catch the confirmed date the moment it is announced.

How does living near a surf park or lagoon community affect a Coachella Valley property purchase?

Each project is structured differently. Some, like DSRT Surf, are publicly accessible resorts where proximity simply adds recreational convenience. Others, like the Thermal Beach Club or Cotino, tie lagoon access directly to home ownership or club membership with separate fees and rules. Before buying into any community marketed around a water amenity, verifying the specific access terms, HOA structure, and construction timeline is essential. Jim Hardy at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, DRE #02045778, can help you read those details clearly so there are no surprises after closing.