For years, the idea of surfing in the Arizona desert was way more of a punchline and more like an inevitable development trend. But here we are, the fantasy of Rick Kane and Hollywood have become a reality … just not if you live in Gilbert, Arizona.
The proposed Cactus Surf Park, a 25-acre development adjacent to Gilbert Regional Park, has effectively stalled after its developer, Canadian-based White Water West Industries, walked away from the project, according to a new report from the Gilbert Sun News. The project dates back to 2019, when the Town of Gilbert approved a 50-year lease with The Strand @ Gilbert. The proposed $60 million attraction was supposed to feature a surf lagoon, water park, sandy beach and a collection of family-oriented amenities. Its original opening date was August 2020.
That, obviously, never happened. The project subsequently changed ownership and names. In September 2021, ACA Arizona purchased the development and renamed it Cactus Surf Park. The town then approved a revised timeline, with the project eventually targeting a 2025 opening.
As wave pools in the desert go, water became a central issue. The redesigned project was supposed to use roughly 60 percent less water than the original proposal, bringing projected annual consumption down to about 100 acre-feet. Rather than drawing on Arizona’s Colorado River allocation, Cactus Surf Park planned to purchase recovered water credits delivered through Gilbert’s potable water system.
The final concept featured a surf lagoon, standalone flow-riding pool, sand beach, inflatable water attractions, cabanas, restaurants, lessons, paddleboarding and kayaking. The Town of Gilbert promoted the project as a major family entertainment destination and expected it to generate significant economic activity.
By June 2024, five years after the original announcement, the project was still in the design-review process. The town said the developer was working on an updated design and expanding the project’s amenities and retail component. The developer’s website had apparently disappeared, while the planned opening date had already slipped multiple times.
In the end, it’s another reminder that wave pools may be booming globally, but building them is anything but easy. Land, financing, water, technology, permitting and operating costs all have to line up. In Gilbert, they never did.
Related: I Tested California’s Newest Manmade Wave: Is DSRT Surf Worth the Hype?
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