North American debut of Wavegarden Cove surfing facility takes place at Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach
North America's First Wavegarden Cove Opens at Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is home to North America's first Wavegarden Cove, a state-of-the-art surf lagoon that offers a versatile wave menu and consistent surfing conditions year-round. The $350 million Atlantic Park complex, where the lagoon is the centerpiece, is a mixed-use development featuring live music venues, shopping, dining, residential units, and boutique lodging.
The Wavegarden Cove, with 46 modules, can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour. It provides a variety of wave profiles, from soft and long rollers for beginners to powerful ones for experienced surfers, catering to surfers of all skill levels. The facility operates year-round, on a session basis, with seasonally adjusted hours.
Pharrell Williams, a global artist and Virginia Beach native, led the project. He aims to highlight the city's music and cultural scene with the development. The collaboration between Williams, Beach Street Development, and other partners reflects a shared vision of creating a space that blends surfing with entertainment, dining, and cultural experiences.
The surf lagoon is energy and water efficient, using the lowest consumption in the market. This environmentally conscious operation is a significant benefit, setting a new standard for surf parks and marking a significant milestone in the evolution of artificial wave technology in the United States.
Atlantic Park offers more than just surfing. Visitors can unwind before or after their sessions at the premium beach club setting that encircles the lagoon, with cabanas and lounge chairs. Non-surfers can also buy daily beach passes to take advantage of the beach club's facilities.
The success of Atlantic Park is expected to pave the way for future developments in other regions. Wavegarden currently has 12 surf parks in operation worldwide, with two more coming soon to Palm Desert, California and Houston, Texas.
During the commissioning phase, surfers from across the United States have tested the waves at Atlantic Park, including professionals Michael Dunphy, Cam Richards, Mason Barnes, Blayr Barton, Jacob Szekely, Camden Hoover, and 13-year-old Bella Faircloth. Fernando Odriozola, Wavegarden's CCO, states that Virginia Beach is the perfect location for the first Wavegarden Cove due to its strong surf community and high visitation volume.
The major element of the destination is the redeveloped cultural and live music venue known as The Dome. Atlantic Park opens on 16 August, offering a comprehensive entertainment and lifestyle destination that combines surfing with music, dining, and retail, enhancing visitor experience beyond surfing.
[1] Atlantic Park Press Release, 2022. [2] Wavegarden Press Release, 2022. [3] Pharrell Williams Interview, Rolling Stone, 2022. [4] Wavegarden Cove Technical Specifications, Wavegarden.com, 2022.
- Virginia Beach, renowned for its music and cultural scene, is now home to a new destination that caters to local and visiting surfers: North America's first Wavegarden Cove, a technologically advanced surf lagoon.
- The $350 million Atlantic Park complex, situated at Virginia Beach, is an eco-friendly mixed-use development, offering a blend of entertainment, shopping, dining, residential units, boutique lodging, and surfing opportunities.
- With 46 modules, the Wavegarden Cove can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour, catering to surfers of all skill levels, including professionals like Michael Dunphy and Bella Faircloth.
- The Wavegarden Cove, led by Pharrell Williams, aims to elevate Virginia Beach's cultural lifestyle by combining surfing with music, dining, and retail experiences.
- Apart from surfing, visitors can relax at the premium beach club setting, surrounded by the lagoon, featuring cabanas, lounge chairs, and beach passes for non-surfers.
- The success of Atlantic Park is poised to set a new standard for surf parks in the United States and inspire future developments in other regions, as Wavegarden plans to open two more parks in Palm Desert, California, and Houston, Texas.
