The world’s noisiest pool slab ever. Photo: PSSC
Even before it opened, Palm Springs Surf Club struggled with setbacks. First, the facility was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. When it finally did open in 2024, the pool was rendered non-operational within a matter of weeks. After fixing those mechanical issues, the pool broke again just a few months later. Lately, though, it seemed like things finally settled for what was once heralded as the “heaviest pool slab ever” by Snapt creator Logan Dulien. However, as The Palm Springs Post reports, it appears that the pool is now facing a new threat: noise complaints from neighbors.
Since late 2023, the surf club has generated 66 noise complaints from 16 nearby residences. As the Post reports, those complaints mostly originate from the nearby Tahquitz Creek neighborhood, around 900 feet away. PSSC has been cited six times, with four of those citations resulting in fines that have been paid in full.
The city of Palm Springs has a noise limit of 70 decibels from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in industrial zones, which code enforcement data obtained by the Post says PSSC exceeded. The noise complaints stem from two sources: the pool’s pneumatic wave-making machines themselves, as well as music from special events.
As a result, PSSC will undergo a city commission review on July 22. In that review, the Palm Springs Planning Commission will hear testimony from the PSSC owner and operator, as well as the public, during a regular meeting at City Hall. The purpose of the meeting will be to determine whether the surf park has satisfied conditions from its original 2019 approval and whether the facility will require additional oversight measures to curb the noise.
