- Atlantic Park, a $350 million surf and entertainment complex in Virginia Beach, officially opened with backing from Pharrell Williams.
- The park has North America’s first Wavegarden Cove lagoon, which can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour across 25 wave types for all skill levels.
- Guests can also enjoy dining, shopping, and a 5,000-capacity performance venue—with more attractions to debut soon in the coming months.
After years of planning and anticipation, Atlantic Park officially debuted last month in Virginia Beach, marking a new chapter for the city’s storied shoreline. Just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, the $350 million mixed-use development, backed by hometown icon Pharrell Williams, couldn’t be more fitting in the city known as the birthplace of East Coast surfing.
Professional surfer Blayr Barton at Atlantic Park Surf.
Wavegarden + Atlantic Park Surf
“The energy of the new surf lagoon and beach club atmosphere builds on the legacy of our city’s deep surf culture,” says Amanda Jarratt, deputy city manager for the City of Virginia Beach. “By combining this modern attraction with chic dining, shopping, and entertainment options, it naturally welcomes visitors back to explore our coastal city in every season.”
Atlantic Park is a one-stop entertainment district anchored by Atlantic Park Surf. You can see six surfboards that were excavated from the site in Atlantic Park Surf lobby, a cheeky nod to its historic past. During construction, the concert venue The Dome was renovated and now has a state-of-the-art performance space that can host up to 5,000 people.
Covering nearly three acres, the surf park has a 2.67-acre Wavegarden Cove lagoon—the first of its kind in North America—that can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour. Surfers can ride more than 25 different wave types, from gentle one-foot swells to seven-foot waves. Each session lasts just under an hour, and participants can receive video highlights of their rides through the park’s built-in media tools, including Flowstate.
Those who prefer to stay on shore can purchase a beach pass and enjoy lounge chairs, cabanas, and a heated wading pool while watching the action from the sidelines.
Currently, guests can enjoy other exciting attractions like the Southern-inspired Milk & Honey Restaurant and Sandbox VR. Atlantic Park will roll out in phases, with additional amenities and venues being introduced in the coming months, including new eateries such as Williams’ award-winning handroll restaurant Nami Nori and a boutique hotel adjacent to the surf lagoon.