Atlantic Park Surf to open Saturday

Virginia Beach-based Atlantic Park Surf, the first Wavegarden Cove Surf Lagoon on the East Coast, is set to open to the public on Saturday.

The lagoon is the centerpiece of the $350 million Atlantic Park project developed by Virginia Beach-raised music and fashion superstar Pharrell Williams and Venture Realty Group, which also includes The Dome music venue and plans for multiuse real estate.

“Catching a wave in a surf park I have been dreaming about for 25 years was surreal — a dream come true,” said local surfer Joe LaMontagne, co-creator of Atlantic Park Surf Club, a nonprofit surf club promoting community engagement and wave access. He had a chance to ride the first wave at the lagoon during its testing period.

Wavegarden Cove powers the 2.67-acre lagoon. This energy-efficient wave-generation technology system can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour and more than 20 types of waves, ranging from one to seven feet in height and tailored to beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert surfers.

The lagoon was first mentioned in 2018 as a project spearheaded by Williams, utilizing Spanish wave-making technology that had not been previously used in the United States. However, a California surf park has since opened.

Atlantic Park sits on a 10-acre site between 18th and 20th streets that formerly housed an earlier version of The Dome. The Oceanfront development is a public-private partnership among the Virginia Beach government, the Virginia Beach Development Authority, Venture Realty Group, Pharrell Williams, W.M. Jordan Co., Bishard Development and Priority Title/H20 Investments, which LaMontagne founded.

The development is expected to include 100,000 square feet of restaurants and retail, 10,000 square feet of office space, 20 surf bungalows and about 30 apartments.

Before the lagoon’s opening, a handful of surfers from across the U.S. tested the lagoon’s waves. These included former winners of the East Coast Surfing Championships and Virginia Beach’s Michael Dunphy and Blayr Barton.

“Virginia Beach is the perfect location to open our first Wavegarden Cove,” said Fernando Odriozola, Wavegarden’s chief commercial officer. “With a strong surf community and high visitation, the only thing missing was consistent waves. With Atlantic Park Surf, that’s now covered, and we’re excited to see the city and broader community thrive.”

Atlantic Park Surf will offer 55-minute sessions year-round, with hours varying according to the season. According to the release, each surfer will have the chance to catch an average of 12 waves per session and the capacity for each session ranges from 20 to 40 waves, depending on the wave profile.

Surfing rates range from $91 to $161 per session, depending on the wave profile and season. Atlantic Park Surf will also be offering a limited surf club membership.

“I know Atlantic Park will inspire more kids from the 757 to dream and do great things in the surfing industry,” LaMontagne said in a statement.

The site offers a beach club environment, featuring lounge chairs and cabanas, providing surfers with a place to relax and enjoy before or after their session. The company says non-surfers can purchase a daily beach pass to access amenities while watching the surf.

Additional components of Atlantic Park include The Dome, which opened in May, and several first-to-market retailers and restaurants that will continue opening into the fall.

The new Dome employs 209 people and has capacity for about 3,500 attendees, and OVG 360 and Live Nation operate and program The Dome.

Atlantic Park Living, a 309-apartment community managed by Drucker + Falk, has begun pre-leasing.