The transformation of the Coachella Valley into perhaps the world’s most unlikely surfing capital is taking a big step forward with the opening of DSRT SURF in Palm Desert.
The artificial wave surfing facility,
which was built on vacant land adjacent to the Desert Willow Golf Resort and consists of a large pool outfitted with technology that produces customizable waves for surfing, was set to welcome its first surfers on Saturday, Sept. 26 .
The new surfing destination, which was years in the making, opened its online reservation calendar on Thursday, Sept. 24, ahead of the start of surfing. However, the website noted that this would be a “soft opening,” with a “full opening” coming in November, although it does not elaborate on what that means in practice.
A map of the facility posted on DSRT SURF's website shows it is dominated by the 5.5-acre surfing lagoon at its center. The lagoon is divided into left and right sections that each then consist of both a “reef” for more experienced surfers and a “bay” for novices. Up to 35 people can surf on each side of the pool at once, although the number permitted depends on the type of waves being produced at the time.
The facility also includes a (non-surfing) pool with a jacuzzi, pickleball courts and a locker room area. Other amenities are still in the works, including a restaurant, a water slide, a skate park and pump track, a "surf simulator" and massage offerings. There are also plans for a hotel and condos surrounding the central surf facility, which will come later.
New park follows Palm Springs Surf Club
DSRT SURF is the second artificial surfing attraction to open in the Coachella Valley, following the opening of the Palm Springs Surf Club in 2024. That facility, which is located off Gene Autry Trail on the former Wet N’ Wild water park property (previously Knott’s Soak City), combines a 2-acre surfing pool with a lazy river, water slides, a pool for lounging and restaurant and bar areas.
The Palm Springs Surf Club got a burst of publicity this week when reality TV star Kim Kardashian posted on her Instagram page a video clip of her surfing that was reportedly shot there.
A private artificial surfing facility, Thermal Beach Club, was greenlit by Riverside County in 2020 but has not been built, although a county spokesperson recently told the county the developer is still intending to move forward with the project. The Desert Sun reported in January that construction could begin next summer, with that facility opening by the end of 2028.
A fourth surfing wave basin was proposed for La Quinta’s Coral Mountain Desert Club development before being nixed by La Quinta’s city council. The developers of Coral Mountain Desert Club later announced that residents of the development would get access to the Thermal Beach Club instead.
How much will it cost to hit the waves at DSRT SURF?
Potentially quite a bit more than a trip to the beach, that’s for sure.
Hourlong sessions currently range from $60 to nearly $400, with the exact cost of a surf sesh varying considerably based on the type of waves (which is dictated by experience level), how many surfers will be in the pool at the same time and the date and time.
The cheapest way to surf at the facility, especially if you are a local, is by booking a $100 “learn to surf” lessons (the price is $60 for Coachella Valley residents). Those sessions combine 30 minutes of instruction on land with an hour of time in the water. Beginners, or those who simply want a laid-back session, can also book an hour on those novice waves sans instruction for $65.
The price of an hour of surfing in the reef sections of the pool depends on the type of waves the surfer opts for, which vary in speed and intensity.
On the more affordable, though not exactly cheap, side of the spectrum is a morning "easy longboard" wave session which the website describes as targeted for beginners and those seeking a more relaxed surfing session. The listed price for an easy longboard session is $250 per hour on weekends with a maximum of 13 surfers sharing each “reef” side of the pool at once.
Prices gradually increase from there with the intensity of the waves, with the most expensive session currently listed on the website being a 2 p.m. “chamber barrel” session. “Chamber barrels” are steep and fast waves meant for advanced surfers that produce a “tube effect” in which the surfer can ride within the wave.
Those hourlong sessions are currently going for $390 per person on weekends, but another chamber barrel session is being offered daily at 8 p.m. at a $20 discount. Weekday sessions also seem to run about $20 per hour cheaper than their weekday equivalents, although the website states that pricing is variable.
The facility’s website includes a page containing videos and descriptions of each of the 11 wave types available during a standard session. The descriptions are full of the kind colorful surfer lingo impenetrable to outsiders — something you might have heard but not understood while watching the Nickelodeon cartoon "Rocket Power" years ago.
"Rippable and fun," proclaims the narrator in one. "Good for both snaps and carves," he says in another. In a third: "Perform deep bottom turns and snap the lid hard."
DSRT SURF also advertises that its pool has “about 50 different wave choices,” most of which can only be experienced by buying out the full pool (prices for this are not listed online and require getting a quote from the facility).
Surfboard rentals, meanwhile, range from $75-$150 depending on the type of board (surfers can also bring their own boards). DSRT SURF does provide free helmets for surfers to use and "strongly recommends" they do so.
Can you visit DSRT SURF without surfing?
The website also states that beach passes will be available for those who want to visit without actually surfing, although it does not list a price for that or say whether such passes are currently available. But the website does say that guests of surfers will pay a $20 admission fee.
In comparison, hour-long public surf sessions currently start at $212 at the Palm Springs Surf Club, while a private session for up to 12 surfers can be booked for $2,650.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development, business and, sometimes, music festivals in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: DSRT SURF wave park opening in Palm Desert. How much it will cost
