The excitement is palpable. Industry vets Beach Street have announced an opening date for Atlantic Park, the first wave pool to open in the USA since Palm Springs in 2024. WavePoolMag has been following this development since 2019, when it was initially called The Wave. So, just shy of the official opening, a little hyperbole is expected.
However, media outlets brimming with AI content are shouting “The Best Wave Pool in America” before the actual opening day. Not cool. That’s not fair to Palm Springs, Mesa or Waco. But such is digital media circa 2025 — headlines first, actual content last.
So here is what we know about the $350 million Atlantic Park wave pool in Virginia Beach which will open on August 16th, 2025.
Beach Street and Pharrell
Blake Hess, Doug Sheres and crew run Beach Street Developers. They are behind DSRT Surf and HTX Surf. While the company is developing those two projects, they are running the surf element here in Virginia. Blake Hess worked at NLand back in the day and then at the Surf Ranch, where he elevated the guest experience to what we see today in Lemoore. (you can listen to a podcast with Blake here.)
The project is a public-private partnership with the City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Beach Development Authority, Venture Realty Group, Pharrell Williams and others. OVG 360 and Live Nation will operate a live music venue within the site.
According to new price listings on Atlantic Park’s website and our 2025 wave pool price guide, rates are as follows for one-hour sessions:
Progressive $123
Intermediate $133
Advanced $142
Expert $151
Pro $161
Wavegarden’s First Pool in the USA
While the company has lit up Europe and South America with projects, this is the first one in the USA. It is a 46-module Cove, on par with URBNSURF facilities in Melbourne and Sydney. As it’s a newer edition of Cove technology, expect more flexibility and more wave programming capabilities, including 25 wave types on the menu.
Ahead of opening, a select group of leading American surfers tested the new wave menu during its commissioning phase. Surfers got to provide real-time feedback on each wave, enabling engineers to adjust power, height, speed and shape instantly.
East Coast professionals Michael Dunphy, Mason Barnes, Blayr Barton and Cam Richards praised the surf park. “The issue of inconsistent conditions that we surfers on the East Coast constantly face has just been solved,” said Richards.
The venue features shopping, dining, residential units and boutique lodging. A centerpiece is the redeveloped Dome, a storied facility with a rich history that will feature live music.
“Our entire team is proud and excited to open up this first-of-a-kind development to the Virginia Beach community and to the thousands who will make the journey to surf here,” said Blake Hess of Beach Street.
For more, check out the wave pool’s website.
