Waco Surf announced plans for The Desperado, a 450-acre residential community adjacent to its existing surf facility in Waco, Texas.
The development will include 88 homes consisting of 44 standalone houses and 44 duplex townhomes. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, with initial home completions expected in summer 2027. Homes are currently available for purchase.
The community will feature two surf lagoons and a standing wave system known as the Shredmill. One lagoon and the standing wave are already operational at Waco Surf and will be accessible to residents. A second lagoon is planned within The Desperado and is expected to open alongside the first homes.
Standalone homes will offer three- to five-bedroom layouts ranging from approximately 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Duplex townhomes will include two- and three-bedroom configurations ranging from approximately 1,600 to 1,800 square feet. Pricing starts at $1.6 million.
The homes will be constructed using 3D printing technology by ICON and designed by FIRMAH Architecture. The project incorporates architectural elements such as curved walls and open interior layouts.
Amenities will include a 25-acre lake, a 13-hole golf course, fishing lakes, pickleball and sport courts, a pump track, playgrounds, a Nordic spa, restaurants, clubhouses, and workspaces. The site will preserve approximately 100 acres of existing forest.
Transportation within the community will prioritize golf carts, bicycles, and walking paths instead of paved roads.
The developers stated a goal of achieving water neutrality by 2027 through water capture systems integrated into the property’s lakes and ponds.
“Spreading the joy of surfing has always been the soul of Waco Surf, watching someone ride a wave for the first time and seeing that look on their face, especially a kid’s, is why we do all of this,” said David Taylor, owner and co-president of Waco Surf. “The Desperado is the natural next step. We wanted to create a place where families can actually live inside that feeling, not just visit it. A community where your kids grow up around the water, around the outdoors, around people who share that same love for life. That’s what we’re building.”
Luke Schock, owner and co-president of Waco Surf said the residential development takes advantage of the natural areas surrounding the wave pool.
“We designed The Desperado around this idea of living in flow,” said Schock. “The architecture, the land, the surf, the trails through the old-growth forest – it all fits together to give you a life where you can move between these completely different experiences in the same day. High energy, quiet and restorative, everything in between. That’s not something you find anywhere else. There is no community like this in Texas or the world, and we built it to stay that way.”
A Founders Club membership program is available, offering early access to amenities and purchase incentives for prospective buyers. Sales and marketing are being handled by Legacy International Resort Properties. Additional information is available through Waco Surf.
