Beach Street Development is the It Girl of the surf park development world at the moment. After a very successful rollout of Atlantic Surf Park in Virginia Beach, the company is poised to unveil the second jewel in its crown of projects, DSRT SURF (SURF HTX is next).
Today, the newswires lit up with a vague DSRT SURF opening date, summer 2026. Yes we know wave pools have to navigate a labyrinth of metaphorical minotaurs before the actual opening day, so perhaps naming a season as your opening date is a prudent move.
Beach Street also announced a very important hire. Michael Gerano will serve as vice president and general manager, overseeing operations for DSRT SURF. The company said Gerano brings more than 20 years of hospitality and operational leadership experience with experience building teams, guest operations and resort operations. Gerano has been a Palm Desert resident for the past decade.
“Michael is exactly the kind of leader we need at this stage,” said Blake Hess, Chief Operating Officer of Beach Street. “He understands how to bring together operations, culture, and guest experience in a way that creates something truly special. As we scale Beach Street and prepare to open DSRT SURF, his leadership will be instrumental.”
Gerano will oversee operations, guest experience, team development and organizational growth for DSRT SURF. The company said the role includes the development of an operating platform for future surf lagoon destinations.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Beach Street and DSRT SURF at such a pivotal moment,” said Gerano. “This is more than a single destination, it’s the beginning of a new category in hospitality. I’m looking forward to building a team and culture that delivers unforgettable experiences and sets the standard for what these projects can become.”
The development will also include 57 private residences, a surf academy, a lounge pool, pickleball courts, a skate park, food and beverage offerings, and a surf water conservation program. Phase two is planned to include a 144-key hotel and additional amenities.
DSRT SURF is a 17-acre surf resort development in Palm Desert that includes a 5.5-acre 52-module Wavegarden Cove lagoon designed to produce right and left-breaking waves for up to 70 surfers at once.
The surf lagoon will be a net-zero water user through DSRT Surf’s “Turf for Surf” program, which converted 30 acres of adjacent golf course turf into drought-tolerant and native landscaping. This landscape conversion is expected to save 34.8 million gallons of water annually, more than the surf lagoon’s projected annual use of 23.8 million gallons, resulting in a net savings of 11 million gallons of water each year. The project’s sustainability efforts center on water conservation, native landscaping, and long-term resource stewardship.
The resort is located between the acclaimed golf courses at Desert Willow Golf Resort, placing DSRT Surf at the center of one of Southern California’s most well-known outdoor destinations.
City leaders in Palm Desert have embraced the project as a major addition to the region’s tourism and recreation landscape, positioning the city as a new destination for surf culture in the desert.
“We’re proud to welcome DSRT Surf to Palm Desert,” said Palm Desert Mayor Evan Trubee. “It’s the kind of project that reflects who we are as a city, open to new ideas and always looking for ways to create unique experiences for the people who live here and the folks who come to visit.”
