Pharrell’s $350 Million Wave Pool Is Opening Soon

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Jan 15, 2025 12:52 PM ET

Pharrell Williams wears a lot of hats – literally and figuratively. He’s a musician, producer, writer of earworm, award-winning songs for animated films, a fashion designer for major brands like Adidas and Louis Vuitton, a recurring TV show host, and an enthusiast of obscure, oversized headgear.

And now, adding to that extensive, genre-bending list of titles, the Virginia Beach, VA native can insert the distinction of “wave pool developer” with the upcoming Atlantic Surf Park to his résumé.

In a new announcement from Wavegarden – who will be powering the surfing portion of the development, amidst a mega compound featuring shops, housing, entertainment venues, and more – the $350 million Atlantic Surf Park project will be ready to be unveiled to the public this summer.

The announcement reads:

“Opening in early Summer 2025, Atlantic Park (@atlanticparkvb) in Virginia Beach will introduce the USA’s first Wavegarden Cove and a $350 million mixed-use entertainment complex, in partnership with Virginia Beach native @pharrell. Set to transform the 10.35-acre site of the former Virginia Beach Dome, the park will include a compact 2.67-acre (approximately 10,800 m²) Wavegarden Cove (46 modules), a live entertainment venue, modern offices, residences, and unique shopping and dining options, establishing a year-round coastal destination.”

Despite many Wavegarden Cove operations already pumping out waves across the globe – from Europe to Brazil to Australia to Asia – this will be the first one on United States soil. And it will be followed by another one in the soon-to-be synthetic surfing hub of Palm Desert, CA. That one (dubbed DSRT Surf) is slated to open in summer of 2026.

As for Atlantic Park, here’s Wavegarden’s CCO Fernando Odriozola:

“Our goal has always been to provide surfers around the world with the most authentic and best waves possible. Our team has worked tirelessly to perfect our technology and we can’t wait for surfers of all skill levels to experience it firsthand in Virginia Beach.”

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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