No date set for Palm Springs Surf Club wave pool to reopen
The wave pool at the Palm Springs Surf Club is closed for the foreseeable future, News Channel 3 has learned.
News Channel 3 asked park contacts several times for several weeks looking for additional clarity about the situation. Brian Alper responded to emails, writing both "The wave pool will reopen. Can’t provide further details at this time," and "We’ll be making a public statement once we have all the details available regarding the timeline to reopen the wave pool."
The 21-acre park opened in January with promises to feature a state-of-the-art pool that churns out waves ranging from two to seven feet, catering to surfers of all abilities.
A worker at the park asked about the surfing opportunities confirmed that the waves were "not the quality we want," but could not provide a timeline of reopening. On the facility's website, reservation requests are met with the message, "Sorry, there is no online availability."
The water park was formerly known as "Wet n' Wild." It had been under construction and renovation for over three years. The city approved Palm Springs Surf Club to renovate the park in October of 2019.
Developers said it cost about $80 million to overhaul the old Wet n' Wild Park into the PSSC. In addition to offering waves, developers promised the park will feature a lazy river, lounge pools, waterslides, and restaurants.
Ahead of the January opening, in a statement to News Channel 3, developers shared excitement for the project, saying "redefining the surf pool landscape with its advanced pneumatic wave technology, pioneered by industry veteran Tom Lochtefeld, the founder of Surfloch Wave Systems. This innovative technology offers on-demand, customizable waves designed by expert surfers to cater to varying skill levels, ensuring a memorable surfing experience for all."
You can see coverage from the opening of the facility in the videos below.
The website for the Palm Springs Surf Club promises "a destination like no other ... featuring a state-of-the-art wave technology catering to surfers of all levels."
The PSSC is located at 1500 S Gene Autry Trail, just south of Dinah Shore Drive.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of this developing story.
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