El Segundo is set to become home to a massive artificial surf park. Unlike other California surf parks located inland, this new facility will be near the ocean, adding to El Segundo’s growing sports hub. This summer, the owner of Palm Springs Surf Club purchased 10 acres on a former aerospace campus in El Segundo, close to sports enterprises like Topgolf and the Los Angeles Chargers’ training facility.
A company tied to billionaire Vinny Smith’s Toba Capital paid $54 million for the site, according to Colin O’Byrne, president of Inland Pacific Cos., the development partner of Toba Capital. The surf park will feature a 2.2-acre lagoon holding about 5 million gallons of water. O’Byrne hopes to secure city approval to start the $175 million project in about six months.
El Segundo, known for its surf culture since the 1950s, will benefit from this new addition. City Councilman Drew Boyles remarked, “This wave pool is going to be incredible.” The park aims to make surfing more accessible, much like how Topgolf has introduced more people to golf.
The trend of artificial surf parks is growing, with several projects underway in California. The industry, valued at $4 billion, is expected to grow by 20% annually. Developers are betting on these parks to attract both seasoned surfers and newcomers by offering a controlled, safe environment for surfing.
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