When WavePoolMag toured the Cannon Beach development in Mesa, Arizona, Revel CEO Adam Saks spoke of the unique integration of amenities and services to serve both the local daytripper as well as the weekend vacationer.
On-site, Adam gestured beyond the deep end of the SwellMFG pool and pointed to where the hotel was going up. At the time, it just looked like a surf park in a strip mall location with new, empty storefronts.
“What Cannon Beach is going to be in a couple of years, with everything that we’re bringing to this corner and the fact that very little of that exists in Southeast Mesa shows that entertainment is about everything in one place. That’s what the world has become,” said Adam in a Podcast with WavePoolMag.
So this week, when the company announced they had broken ground on the surf park in McKinney, Texas, wave pool enthusiasts around the world greeted the boatload of architectural renders with joy and anticipation.
Here’s What We Know
Construction on Cannon Beach, a $200 million surf and adventure resort, began on Dec. 15 in McKinney. The 35-acre development is located at the northeast corner of Stacy Road and State Highway 121.
The resort will include a three-acre surf lagoon, a lazy river, mineral hot springs, a hotel, and a variety of recreational and entertainment amenities. Plans call for a skate park, movie theater, bowling alley, health club, and indoor recreation spaces.
“We are proud to bring the intersection of lifestyle and adrenaline to McKinney,” said Cole Cannon, developer of the project. “In partnership with the City, we’re creating a place where families build indelible memories, visitors explore, and businesses thrive, all centered around a surf experience you won’t find anywhere else in the state.”
The project is a joint initiative between the City of McKinney, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, and the McKinney Community Development Corporation. Development agreements were signed in May 2025 and include infrastructure support, tax reimbursements, and land acquisition. The first phase could open in mid-2027.
“This groundbreaking marks an important moment for our city’s future,” said Mayor Bill Cox. “The project brings new energy to McKinney, supporting growth that provides residents with more activities to enjoy while opening new avenues for local businesses to serve visitors and benefit from the increased activity this destination will attract.”
Cannon Beach is expected to create more than 700 jobs and attract 400,000 visitors annually. Officials estimate the development could generate more than $2 billion in economic impact over two decades.
“Our community continues to attract projects that open new doors for local workers and strengthen McKinney’s economy,” said Brian Loughmiller, chairman of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation. “This development will help draw investment and support a strong business environment, and the MEDC is proud to play a role in bringing it to our city.”
George Fuller, chairman of the McKinney Community Development Corporation, said the resort would enhance local amenities. “Families in McKinney, and visitors to our city, will soon have a place that adds more ways to relax and enjoy time together,” Fuller said. “We are proud to support projects like Cannon Beach that enrich everyday life, and this project builds on the sense of connection that makes our community special.”
The McKinney site follows the opening of a similar Cannon Beach development in Mesa, Arizona.
