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NLand
Surf Ranch Austin
Formerly NLand Surf ParkAverage Reviews
Description
NLand Surf Park opened in 2016, making it the first of the new generation of wave pools in the US. It produced waves for almost 3 years, until December 2018, when it was purchased by the WSL (who also owns Kelly Slater Wave Co). It’s been closed ever since, but the team at WSL is planning an upgrade.
The WSL team submitted plans to the city of Austin in August 2019 to convert the NLand facility to a Surf Ranch using Kelly Slater Wave Co. technology.
As seen in the land plan above, the KSWC pool is longer but skinnier than the NLand pool. The KSWC pool is 1900 feet long and the NLand pool is 1090 feet long. The wave pool at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore is 2300 feet long.
The plans also appear to show a one-sided KSWC wave pool, just like the Surf Ranch in Lemore. The WSL has not described the waves that will be produced at the Surf Ranch in Austin, but given what we’ve seen in Lemoore, we’re confident they will produce high-performance waves that measure around 6 feet high on the face of the wave.
The city did not completely approve the plans yet, but progress has been made on various fronts.
NLand
Prior to closing, NLand produced waves using Wavegarden Lagoon technology, which pulls a foil back and fourth through the center of the pool and generates a right and left on either side. They primary wave, called the “Reef Wave”, ran adjacent to the pier and foil and offered 4′-5′ faces. On the east side of the pool, the wave reforms into the “Bay Wave” which was a whitewater straight-hander for beginners. On the west side of the pool, the reform called the “Inside Wave” was thigh-waist high and offered an easy but fun open faced Waikiki style wave. The length of ride on the primary wave was 30-35 seconds, and the waves were produced every 2-3 minutes.
The shape of the primary NLand wave varied with the bottom contours providing a variety of sections. NLand wasn’t know for barrel or air sections, but with the perfect wind direction in the perfect spot, getting a quick, shallow barrel was possible. Small airs were landed on occasion as well. It was called “rippable” and “fun” by most reputable surfers, but Albee Layer and Torrey Meister also thought it was a bit “hard” to learn. They went on to say that the wave started off “soft” but got better toward the end of the ride.
A one-hour surf cost between $60 and $90 and included a soft top board. Premium rentals from a pretty impressive quiver, including models from Lost and Channel Islands, were $25 for the day.
The WSL is currently considering options for the site, but given its current configuration, suspicions point to another wave similar to the Surf Ranch.
Environmental Innovation
Doug Coors was passionate about creating waves for all levels and protecting the environment as he did so. His team created an innovative solution to address the needs for millions of gallons of water in the pool. NLand uses a catchment system to collect rain on the property to minimize water requirements from of-site supplies. Water from the park is kept clean by channeling it to a wet pond where its bio-filtered by plants and aquatic life. Then it moves on to a deep reservoir and on to a more traditional filtration system.
On-site Experience
Plenty of parking and big Texas smiles greeted you upon arrival. The staff immediately made you feel welcome and pointed you in the right direction.
First time guests were asked to arrive an hour before their first on hour “heat” for orientation. Returning guests needed to arrive 30 minutes early. All surfers were required to be at their “launch pad” 15 minutes before their session began.
Guests could store their gear in lockers were available for $6-9 a day.
Before and between heats, patrons could watch from the pier that runs through the middle of the pool, grab a bite at the restaurant, snacks at a juice bar or beers at the NLand Brewing Company. Outside food and beverages were not allowed. The tacos, according to Scott Bass (the surf industry vet), were “delicious” and fairly priced. The menu also offered a variety of other healthy options.
When your heat came up, a board caddy helped you pick the right board from a wide variety of options ranging from Lost thrusters to 10′ foam boards to boogie boards. Good boards cost $25 a day to rent. Wetsuits were also rented at $15 a day.
A “Loopster” continually circled the pool to transport guests around the park.
History
Doug Coors, an engineer, surfer and beer heir, reportedly spent 20 years dreaming of and creating this wave.
Construction began in 2014 and was completed in 2016. Lawsuits in mid 2016 citing regulatory concerns caused delays before NLand reached an agreement with state and local officials.
When they opened their doors in October 2016, they attracted incredible amounts of attention from the press and the public. Surfers who dreamed of riding man-made waves on demand finally had their chance, so they flocked to Austin. However, shortly thereafter some damage to the pool liner caused flooding for nearby neighbors and the park to close while the pool was drained for repairs. The park reopened in May 2017.
The park was visited and filmed by various professional surf teams,
Deed records show that a company called Tumbleweed Opco LLC bought the property for an undisclosed price on December 28, 2018. Tumbleweed Opco is in the care of Kelly Slater Wave Co., according to Surfer.com. KSWC is owned by WSL, so now the WSL owns NLand. And while we don’t have the purchase price, appraisals show the value of land and buildings at almost $4.8 million in 2018.
Sources: Surfer, Wavepoolmag, Inertia, Wikipedia, flcoastalandocean.org