Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, has been working alongside Beach Street Development, Architects Orange, The Altum Group, Coffman Engineers, and Wavegarden on the DSRT Surf Resort in California for nearly 5 years, and is celebrating the project’s recent final planning approval.
DSRT Surf Resort, which is expected to open in 2023, will be the world’s first fully-integrated inland surfing resort. The project will add a new surfing and outdoor attraction to the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert.
The 18-acre site will include a 92 key surf destination hotel, with pools, hot tubs, a restaurant and bar, and 83 privately-owned residential villas, featuring views of and access to a 5.5-acre surf lagoon.
The innovative new surf centre will provide world-class facilities, with waves for everyone from beginners to pros thanks to the Wavegarden Cove surf technology. Visitors can enjoy a surf academy, retail and rentals, alongside a pump track, putting greens, pickleball and an upscale spa facility.
Making surfing more accessible
“We are thrilled with the recent unanimous approval by City Council and Planning Commission, moving the project past final entitlement,” says Allen Clawson, principal at Cloward H2O.
“Surf parks have the ability to bring the sport to any location, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Modern surf wave technology produces the perfect wave several times per minute, consistently pumping waves in the same location each time.
“DSRT Surf provides an accessible, safe, and predictable means for the practice of the sport allowing surfers to perfect their turns and air or just enjoy time on the water without worrying about dangers such as rocks, reefs, riptides, or sharks.”
Costing over $200 million, DSRT Surf aims to bring new economic opportunities to the area by providing a year-round destination. It is expected to create more than 400 jobs in Palm Desert.
One notable part of the project is a unique “Turf for Surf” program, which will offset water used by the surf lagoon by converting portions of the adjoining golf course with desert landscaping. This is key for a location that is challenged by drought conditions, and a project that will need around 54 million gallons of water a year. This amount is more than offset by water use reduction to the golf courses.
“It may seem counter-intuitive, but water use by the surf lagoon is considerably less than what is needed for an equivalent area of irrigated golf course. It is also less water per area than developing into residential condos. In fact, the entire impact of this development is equivalent to 38 single-family residences,” says Clawson.
Cloward H2O says it is honoured to have an integral role in the design and engineering of the DSRT Surf project and is looking forward to seeing the destination take shape as the construction phase is now set to begin.
The company is also working on the new Montgomery Whitewater Center project, a new outdoor recreation facility set to open in summer 2023.