America’s first dedicated surf park, the now-defunct NLand facility in Austin Texas, moved further into the past this week as more information emerged on the new Austin wave pool. Construction is underway on the planned private surf community and luxury condominium development located about 15 miles east of downtown Austin, according to developers. The project is led by Discovery Land Company and professional surfer Kelly Slater.
The development is being built on the site of the former NLand Surf Park, which operated from 2016 to 2018. The park, developed in partnership with Wavegarden, was once considered North America’s largest man-made surf lagoon.
History – NLand Surf Park’s Legacy
The former NLand Surf Park was known for its artificial surf lagoon, which spanned 14 acres and could generate waves of varying sizes. T
The 14-acres of artificial surf lagoon at NLand was much loved before it shut. The park attracted surfers from across Texas before closing in 2018. However, the ongoing Kell-ification of the site has been a mystery.
In September 2019, engineering firm Carlson Brigance and Doering Inc. presented plans to redevelop NLand into a surf facility similar to the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California. The WSL acquired Doug Coors’ NLand wave pool through Tumbleweed Opco, a Delaware LLC linked to the Kelly Slater Wave Company. Tumbleweed was formed just 12 days before the 2018 purchase. According to the Austin Business Journal, the project is funded and managed by Discovery Land Co. and Kelly Slater.
Community Features
Plans for the Austin Surf Club include over 140 condominiums, a brewery, restaurant, and clubhouse. The site will also feature a 19-acre reef wave and a 2,220-square-foot surf basin. Developers say the basin is designed to accommodate surfers of all skill levels.
The property’s roads are named Aloha Lane and Outer Reef Circle, aligning with the surf-focused theme.
Restaurant and Brewery Plans
A restaurant known as Outlook Restaurant will be located at 4836 HI 71, Building 1, according to the project’s developers. The site will undergo renovations that include a 1,000-square-foot dining room expansion, a 275-square-foot prep area addition, and a 1,000-square-foot kitchen renovation, for a total of 4,434 square feet. The project is expected to cost $2.4 million, with completion planned for December 2025.
Developers also announced plans to renovate existing buildings to accommodate a 5,700-square-foot brewery. The Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is designing both the restaurant and brewery.
Residential Development and Community Growth
Developers say approximately 20 condominium deeds have been transferred since August. The development has also established a homeowners association to manage the growing community.
In November, developers obtained permits for a private roadway and drainage improvements on the site.
Future Outlook
While a timeline for full project completion has not been announced, developers say the Austin Surf Club will provide a destination for surfers and those seeking a surf-themed lifestyle community in Texas. The project aims to offer a mix of surfing amenities, luxury condominiums, and recreational facilities.
The technology is the only foil-and-track wave technology in operation after the closure of Surf Snowdonia’s Wavegarden plow and the wavemaker at the Xing Feng Extreme Center in China.
During the Wave Pools Beta phase “throughput” wasn’t an issue. But as surf parks gained in popularity, throughput became a deciding factor in which technology developers chose. Most commercial surf pools generate between 150-400 waves per hour for paying clientele. Plow systems are limited in the number of waves they can generate each hour with Kelly’s pumping out between 12 and 18 depending on the setting. These, of course, are premium waves that fetch a premium price for each ride.
