There’s been a rush of announcements for new wave pools recently. A few have garnered the lion’s share of media attention even though they are very scant on details (Hello Oceanside.) Others, like the Pharrell Williams pool in Virginia, cleared a legislative hurdle recently. And some, like the Kobe-Reyes pool in Japan, have totally slipped through the cracks.

What we’ve listed are the latest wave pool projects to emerge in recent weeks as well as some that have been hiding in the media shadows.

We’re kinda geeky about this stuff. And we’d like to think we offer the best interactive wave pool map anywhere. Take a minute and check it out. You can scroll the globe and find the latest wave pool plans: surf-able, under construction, or still in the pipe dream stages.

Check the WavePoolMag Surf Planner for more…

From “The Dome” to “The Wave,” Pharrell Williams wants a wave pool in Virginia Beach

In 2017 the world discovered wave pool plans for Virginia Beach. Backed by the community’s most famous resident, Pharrell Williams, The Wave will re-vamp a lot that once held VahBeach’s famous mid-century Dome building. Plans call for a mixed-use space just blocks from the ocean with music venue and shops all centered around a Wavegarden Cove.

The project is described as “A homegrown, visionary mixed-use development designed to deliver the excitement and energy of our local experience and capture the heartbeat of the Virginia Beach community.”

It appears the project is deeply personal for 10-time Grammy award winner Pharrell Williams.

“In a way. this project started when I was a kid,” said Williams. “When I was riding to work with my grandmother, I was always intrigued by the futuristic facade of the Dome building. It made my young imagination run wild. Today I have the opportunity to bring the Dome back to life in a way that’s so inspiring. We call this vision of the future, The Wave.”

The video promotion, released in 2018 calls for an opening date sometime in 2020. However, the latest assessment just last month is that if all planning and zoning go forward, we’ll be tucking into the Cove at Virginia Beach closer to 2023.

•    The Lowdown: The Wave is another in a long line of projects in the planning stages. This Cove facility will be the centerpiece of the Pharrell Williams-backed development aiming to enhance Virginia Beach as an activity destination. Music venues will feature prominently in the development.
•    WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
•    Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public. 
•    Type of wave(s): The Cove produces everything from gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs via their top-secret machinery.
•    Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove Technology
•    Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of wave: 30-100 yards/meters depending on the size of the Cove pool 
•    Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
•    Price Breakdown: None yet. Will most likely follow a waterpark admission fee schedule.
•    Waves per hour: 11-900 waves per hour
•    Check here for more information on Wavegarden’s Cove technology

Groundswell Development group sights on Carolina pools

Ambitious projects from Groundswell are planned for Charlotte North Carolina, Rock Hill South Carolina and Charleston South Carolina.

“The overall plan is to use surfing as an anchor for commercial mixed-use development,” said Michael Schumpert, Director of GroundSwell. “There are other mixed-use centers being developed with a surf pool as an anchor, but GroundSwell is different in that it won’t be a tourist trap, but rather a community.”

Schumpert added that the project when done, won’t have a stuffy golf country club atmosphere or the frenzied pace of a water park.

“It will favor a sports facility and training atmosphere but will have significant influences on the idea of sports and surfing as a means towards personal achievement. Health and holistic wellness will have a significant presence.”

While the project plans to utilize Wavegarden’s Cove technology and its custom-fit modular capabilities, they have not yet signed on the dotted line with the Basque company.

 • The Lowdown: This Cove facility will be the centerpiece of a sports-themed development focused on active-living and sports leisure. They plan to train athletes as well as become an anchor for community projects.
 • WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
 • Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public.
 • Type of wave(s): The cove produces everything from gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs via their top-secret machinery.
 • Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove Technology
 • Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of wave: 30-100 yards/meters depending on the size of the Cove pool
 • Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
 • Price Breakdown: None yet.
 • Waves per hour: 11-900 waves per hour
 • Check here for more information on Wavegarden’s Cove technology

Surfland in Garopaba Brazil seeks to revamp the timeshare ownership model

An innovative neo-timeshare project in Garopaba, Surfland will feature a Wavegarden Cove wave pool as their centerpiece. Sandwiched between Florianopolis and Imbituba, the development will host a skatepark designed by Pedro Barros, swimming pools, tennis courts, beach tennis, surf museum, restaurants, jogging track, gym, yoga, meditation space and spa.

Those signing on the dotted line are guaranteed two weeks a year for as long as they own their property share.

Buy-ins for the apartments start at $22,000US. The company requires three $1,090 payments followed by 57 installment payments at $325. Or, you can probably buy in all at once. They also offer buy-ins for the larger $29,500 units (sleeps 5). According to artist renderings, there will be a little over 100 units on offer. Check this link for the full animated explanation (in Portuguese).

•    The Lowdown: This location is another in a long line of projects in the planning stages. This Cove facility will be the centerpiece of a condo development focused on active-living and sports leisure.
•    WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
•    Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public. 
•    Type of wave(s): The cove produces everything from gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs via their top-secret machinery.
•    Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove Technology
•    Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of wave: 30-100 yards/meters depending on the size of the Cove pool 
•    Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
•    Price Breakdown: None yet, but it’s private. So you need to buy into the project (or have a friend with keys) to access it.
•    Waves per hour: 11-900 waves per hour
•    Check here for more information on Wavegarden’s Cove technology

Sao Paulo area pool leads Brazilian wave pool race

Fazenda da Grama Brazil will host South America’s first Wavegarden Cove. The ambitious real estate project by KSM developers is located near Sao Paulo and includes an artificial beach. Dubbed Praia de Grama, the real estate project will come complete with condos, restaurants, spas and more. But the centerpiece will be a state of the art Wavegarden Cove.

“Our vision extends beyond just providing great waves”, said Oscar Segall, KSM’s founder. “It is a real beach environment where family and friends can gather to share memorable moments and simply enjoy life”.

The wave will be accessible solely to residents and their guests of the Fazenda da Grama condominium development

•    The Lowdown: This Cove facility will be the centerpiece of a condo development focused on active-living and sports leisure. This location is another in a long line of projects in the planning stages, but central to the coming Brazilian wave pool storm. 
•    WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
•    Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public. 
•    Type of wave(s): The cove produces everything from gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs via their top-secret machinery.
•    Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove Technology
•    Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of wave: 30-100 yards/meters depending on the size of the Cove pool 
•    Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
•    Price Breakdown: None yet, but it’s private. So you need to buy a condo to access it.
•    Waves per hour: 11-900 waves per hour
•    Check here for more information on Wavegarden’s Cove technology

Kobe Japan’s most consistent wave is in the woods

This wave pool has been around for a while now. While it’s not part of the current wave pool 2.0 craze it does satiate the froth for a host of Japanese surfers. The pool is an older “flush” type of wave generator (like at Big Surf) that produces a small, soft peak that peels both left and right.

•    The Lowdown: Twenty minutes by car from Kobe Japan is Kobe-Reyes, a Big Surf Arizona type wave that is rarely pushed above waist-high. It’s currently the only surf-specific wave pool in Japan and does a booming business despite the lack of solid surf. 
•    WavePool Construction Progress: Completed. Open to public
•    Accessibility: Open to the paying public, this will be one of several surf pools in the UK
•    Type of wave(s): Central hub wave making tower
•    Wave Generating Technology: Surf Lakes
•    Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-3 ft, Lefts and rights in a reservoir lake suitable for beginners and longboarders or those small wave A-Listers.
•    Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: N/A
•    Price Breakdown: $92US for 100 minutes of shared pool time. 
•    Pool Structure: Manmade Lake with chlorinated water
•    Waves per hour: Unknown.
•    Apparel: Trunks and bikinis in summer when the pool hours are expanded.  Wetsuits in limited hours of transition season. The company recommends wearing reef shoes.

More info on their website

Better than a sunken reef: Bournemouth eyes ambitious Surf Lakes facility

The UK’s first Surf Lakes project will be just off the English Channel. Along with adventure attractions, plans call for a mix of guest stays in a funky environment. A modern 145-bedroom hotel will be offset with tree houses, woodland lodges, glamping pods and ‘Hobbit’ huts.

From selling pitches to splitting peaks will take roughly three years with an opening date hoped for late 2022. The cost is estimated at £35million and the entire development looks to attract over 500,000 visitors annually. With the backing of the area council, which depends on tourism dollars, the project has a good jump on the legal and zoning wranglings which can often kill these projects.

•    The Lowdown: Full-size commercial facility using Surf Lakes technology, planned for English seaside resort. The Surf Lakes system uses a round hub to push out waves from the center of a lake. The waves fanning out break on a series of reefs and points. Locking into Surf Lakes tech is contingent on new control rod fabrication and installation at the Surf Lakes test facility in Yeppoon
•    WavePool Construction Progress: Planning Stages
•    Accessibility: Open to the paying public, this will be one of several surf pools in the UK
•    Type of wave(s): Central hub wave making tower
•    Wave Generating Technology: Surf Lakes
•    Wave's Technical Information: Wave height: 2-6 ft, Lefts and rights along a series of reefs, points, ledges at possibly 2400 waves per hour. Inventors of the '5 Waves' concept, which produces 5 different breaks at one location
•    Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: N/A
•    Pool Structure: Manmade Lake with chlorinated water
•    Waves per hour: 2400
•    Atmosphere: This project, dubbed The Lagoon, will resemble Snowdonia Adventure Parc with lots of non-surf attractions like rock-climbing walls and big slides.
•    Apparel: Year-round wetsuits are necessary in this part of the world

Oceanside heavy on excitement for mystery wave pool, but scant on details

The former space of a popular swap meet will become San Diego’s first wave pool. The project will include housing, businesses and 20 acres of open space, according to sources.

The Zephyr development company responsible for the project has not identified a wave pool technology yet. Although many have suggested Wavegarden Cove tech will be used.

This could be in part because it’s the most likely technology at the moment that can be scaled up or down in size to fit a project’s needs. But this wave pool world changes fast, and new techs are out there waiting to be proven. So stay tuned…