Growth Market: New development featuring “largest in United States” 6 acre surf park set to break ground in central Virginia!

Broad appeal, attracting spectators!

David Lee Scales and I had a recent chat about the viability of surf tanks in the time of the Chinese Flu. He was bearish, thinking the financing would dry up and hordes of jobless citizens would be too busy murdering each other over corn husks and dying to care about the freshwater barrel experience. I was bullish, thinking that air travel will be more costly over the coming years and nations less likely to desire tourists thereby creating “local” surf vacations to Waco, Palm Springs and Chesterfield County there in the middle of Virginia.

But let’s read about the just unveiled Chesterfield County development, two hours from the Atlantic, that is to include the largest surf park in these United States.

Since the project, which the developers are calling “The Lake,” was zoned in March 2017, (local real estate developer Brett) Burkhart has scrapped plans for a whitewater rafting course modeled after the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, he decided to create a surf park with customizable wave technology that can accommodate both beginner and professional surfers. At 6 acres, the Chesterfield surf park will be three times bigger than a similar facility, BSR Surf Resort in Waco, Texas, that opened in 2018.

The development will feature a PerfectSwell wave pool manufactured by California-based American Wave Machines, which gives the operator push-button control over the size and type of waves being generated.

Burkhart thinks that potentially could position Chesterfield to host surfing competitions, while also providing a recreational venue for people to surf or boogie board without having to make the two-hour trek to Virginia Beach.

“The business model is comparable to whitewater, but after realizing the broad appeal and its ability to attract spectators, I was convinced this could be something unique and successful in Central Virginia,” Burkhart said in a recent interview.

First, the abandoned super core whitewater rafting course sounds very fun. No? I am already a big fan of the manmade lazy river experience. You know, the meandering chlorine snake-shaped pools carrying children and adults along at a leisurely pace. Make that river un-lazy and even funner. No? Especially if the adults are allowed to ride with “Yards of Ale” like they are in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Second, what is your opinion on the viability of wave tanks for 2021 and beyond? Bullish or bearish?

Third, what will Kelly Slater do to steal limelight from “largest in the United States” claim?

More as the story develops.