Once upon a time, the first American wave pool, built specifically for surfing, was located in the unlikely town of Tempe, Arizona. Big Surf, it was called, and it opened in 1969 with a reported price tag of $2 million. Most famously, it was where the fictional Rick Kane honed his skills in the cult-classic 1987 film, North Shorebefore heading to Hawaii.
Alas, Big Surf wasn’t long for this world. Despite being a forebearer for the synthetic surfing boom to come in the late 2010s, and into today, the pool was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. And later, the property was bought for $49.97 million and torn down.
But fear not, because Arizona is getting another new wave pool with PHX Surf – a new project anchored by Endless Surf technology. And the first (digitally rendered) look at the digs just dropped. Check it out below.
The pool will feature an Endless Surf’s ES 48 surf lagoon, spanning 137,000 square feet. In addition, like many surf parks these days, the PHX Surf development will come with all the bells and whistles – shopping, restaurants, hotels, wellness centers, etc.
“PHX Surf is so much more than a wave pool,” said Bruce Greenfield, Partner at AO, the company developing PHX Surf. “It is a fully realized ecosystem where the surf experience becomes the central axis of hospitality, recreation and community. Our team is working on surf-resort destinations around the world, but PHX Surf stands apart because of the development team’s unique focus on health and wellness. That vision has elevated the project into something truly distinct and inspiring, a place where people can connect, recharge and experience the desert in an entirely new way.”
Related: RIP: Big Surf, America’s First Wavepool
Reportedly, the park is going for a “barefoot luxury” aesthetic. And looking at the renderings, it looks like an oasis in the middle of the scorching Arizona desert – but with waves…perfect waves. And it’s just one of many Endless Surf pools in the works, coming soon, including their biggest project yet dropping in Brazil with construction starting in 2027.
As for choosing to collab with Endless Surf, here’s a snippet from the website:
“PHXSURF is proud to partner with ENDLESSSURF, whose pneumatic wave technology is the most reliable and long-lasting on the market. With the ability to program waves section by section, Endless Surf is capable of piecing together sought-after combo waves to elevate training. And, with core wave types pre-programmed, there’s a wave for every skill level, from beginner to advanced. Endless Surf will ensure repeat sessions never become stale.”
Construction is slated to begin on PHX SURF in March of 2026.
Related: World’s Biggest Endless Surf Wave Pool Coming to Brazil
