Some 160 muddy acres in Del Valle will soon become the first inland surf park in North America.
"We will have head-high barrels for the surfers out there that last up to 35 seconds,” NLand Surf Park founder Doug Coors said. “It's going to be quite amazing."
Coors – of Coors Beer family fame and fortune – says he picked Austin to launch this park because the city craves innovation. Austin’s residents were also a plus.
"It's also filled with 300 days of sunshine, and it's filled with people who love sports and physical activity,” Coors said. “It couldn't be a better city."
Even though Austin’s in a drought, refilling a pool the size of nine football fields at the complex won’t be a problem.
"We can sustain this lagoon only using rain water,” Coors said.
The plan is to turn the 160-acre site in Del Valle into a massive rain-capture and cleaning zone.
"Even in the very worst year of rainfall out in that area of town … we would have twice the amount of water we need to run the park,” Coors said.
The Coors family won’t say how much the surf park will cost, but they aren't asking for a single cent of taxpayer money.
"We are taking a big risk on this, and we didn't think it was fair for the city or county to take a risk on this, so it's our risk to take,” NLand Surf Park Chief Financial Officer Casey Gebhard said.
The park will be located east of the airport, and a day pass will probably around $100.
"We plan to be profitable, and part of that is so that we can grow and grow around the U.S. and promote it throughout the world," Coors said.
When it opens in spring 2016, the park will employ about 60 people full time.