Surf Parks in the Coachella Valley: What Buyers Should Know
Are there surf parks in the Coachella Valley?
Yes. The Palm Springs Surf Club has been operating in Palm Springs since early 2024, anchored by a 4-million-gallon wave pool. DSRT Surf in Palm Desert has announced a summer 2026 Phase 1 opening for its 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove lagoon. Cotino, Disney's master-planned residential community in Rancho Mirage, has a 24-acre swimmable lagoon open to residents now, with public ticketed access targeted for fall 2026. And Thermal Beach Club, a planned 326-home private community in Thermal, is targeting a late 2028 opening.
By Jaimee Linder | June 29, 2026
If you've been following what's happening across the Coachella Valley, you've probably noticed something unexpected: surf parks. In the desert.
It surprises people who picture the valley primarily through the lens of golf and mountain views. But the shift is real, it's accelerating, and for buyers considering a purchase here, it's worth understanding what it means.
What's Actually Opening, and Where
The Palm Springs Surf Club is the original. Built on the site of the former Wet 'N' Wild waterpark, it opened to the public in early 2024 and holds 4 million gallons of water in its wave pool. The facility offers surf sessions organized by skill level, from beginner to expert, with public sessions accommodating up to 12 surfers. Private sessions give groups exclusive access to the full pool with on-demand wave selection, including A-Frames, Rights and Lefts, the Clean Easy Tube, and the Slab. Beyond the surf pool, the property includes a lazy river, waterslides, and two dining options: The Restaurant at Palm Springs Surf Club and Drifters. Adult Swim pool parties run on Saturday evenings through the summer season.
In Palm Desert, DSRT Surf has announced a summer 2026 Phase 1 opening. The 17-acre development is built around a 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon located between the fairways of Desert Willow Golf Resort, capable of producing up to 1,000 waves per hour for up to 70 surfers at a time. Phase 1 includes the surf lagoon and a leisure pool. A 139-key hotel and 57 private luxury villas are planned for a subsequent phase. The project addressed water use concerns through its Turf for Surf program, converting 30 acres of adjacent golf course turf to drought-tolerant landscaping — a net water savings relative to what the lagoon will consume annually.
In Rancho Mirage, Cotino is a 618-acre master-planned community developed under Disney's Storyliving brand, centered on a 24-acre swimmable lagoon using Crystal Lagoons technology. The lagoon is currently open to residents through the Artisan Club, a voluntary membership. Public access is planned through a town center called Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops, targeted to open in fall 2026. Day passes will allow non-residents to access the lagoon beach for a fee. At full buildout, the community is planned for nearly 2,000 homes.
Further out, Thermal Beach Club is a planned private 326-home community in Thermal, CA, built around a 20-acre lake with a surf lagoon at its center. Construction is targeted to begin in summer 2027, with an opening projected for late 2028.
Why This Matters for Buyers
The Coachella Valley has always had a strong resort identity. Golf, spas, mountain scenery, winter sunshine. What's shifting is the amenity mix, and with it, the profile of buyer the valley is starting to attract.
Surf culture has historically required coastal proximity. Wave pools change that equation. A buyer who surfs, or whose family does, no longer has to choose between a desert lifestyle and water access. That's a meaningful expansion of who considers this market seriously.
For communities near Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, the addition of these amenities adds another dimension to an already strong value proposition. Buyers at the luxury tier of the Coachella Valley market are typically evaluating lifestyle holistically, not just square footage and finishes. Resort amenities factor into that calculus, even when the amenity isn't tied directly to a specific community or HOA.
Projects like Cotino, backed by a globally recognized brand with significant marketing reach, will bring national and international attention to the Rancho Mirage market in a way that organic real estate activity rarely produces. That kind of exposure tends to create buyer interest that spreads well beyond the specific development.
What This Doesn't Change
None of this replaces the fundamentals. Location within the valley still matters enormously. Communities like Ironwood Country Club in South Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and the established enclaves of Rancho Mirage carry their value for reasons that predate any surf park: privacy, views, established infrastructure, and the kind of quiet resort lifestyle that has drawn buyers here for decades.
The surf parks and lagoon communities add to the valley's appeal. They don't restructure it. A buyer deciding between a home at Ironwood and a home near a surf lagoon is making a lifestyle choice, not a purely market-driven one. Understanding that distinction matters when evaluating what you're actually buying.
If you're trying to assess how these developments might affect a specific neighborhood or property you're considering, that's a conversation worth having with someone who tracks this market closely. General enthusiasm about new amenities is easy to find. Precision about how they translate to values in a specific area is rarer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Palm Springs Surf Club open to the public?
Yes. The Palm Springs Surf Club is open to the public. General admission includes access to the wave pool area, lazy river, waterslides, and dining. Surf sessions are booked separately by skill level, with public sessions accommodating up to 12 surfers and private sessions offering exclusive pool access for groups.
When is DSRT Surf in Palm Desert opening?
DSRT Surf has announced a summer 2026 Phase 1 opening. The 5.5-acre Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon and leisure pool are the first phase. A 139-key hotel and 57 private luxury villas are planned for a later phase.
What is Cotino in Rancho Mirage?
Cotino is a 618-acre master-planned residential community in Rancho Mirage developed under Disney's Storyliving brand. Its centerpiece is a 24-acre swimmable lagoon using Crystal Lagoons technology. The lagoon is currently open to residents through the Artisan Club membership. Public access via ticketed day passes is expected through a town center called Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops, targeted to open in fall 2026.
What is Thermal Beach Club and when will it open?
Thermal Beach Club is a planned 326-home private luxury residential community in Thermal, CA, centered on a 20-acre lake with a surf lagoon. As of early 2026, construction is targeted to begin in summer 2027, with an opening projected for late 2028.
Do water amenities affect property values in the Coachella Valley?
Proximity to resort-caliber amenities consistently influences buyer demand and, over time, values in luxury markets. Whether the effect translates to a specific home depends on location, community type, and how the amenity is positioned relative to the property. A local market analysis is the most reliable way to assess impact for a specific address.
The Coachella Valley is adding amenities that weren't part of the conversation five years ago. That's a meaningful development for buyers evaluating this market seriously. If you want to talk through what it means for a specific community or property, I'm happy to have that conversation.
Call or text Jaimee: (760) 423-3152
About Jaimee Linder
Jaimee Linder is a REALTOR® with Bennion Deville Fine Homes (CA DRE #02174604) specializing in luxury properties across the Coachella Valley, with particular focus on Ironwood Country Club, South Palm Desert, and Indian Wells. She has lived at Ironwood Country Club for more than 17 years and has worked in this market for over 15 years. Her clients are buyers and sellers who want someone who knows the valley's communities from the inside, not from a map.
