A rendering of one of The Desperados 3D printed homes. Photo: Waco Surf
Waco Surf has long been a destination for those seeking artificial waves, but soon it will also provide homes for those frothing inland surfers. The company recently announced The Desperado, a residential community built on 450 acres adjacent to Waco Surf.
The Desperado will be able to boast three artificial waves: two surf lagoons and a standing wave. One of the lagoons and the standing wave are already part of the existing Waco facility, while another lagoon is being built within the new complex and slated to open in summer of 2027, according to a press release from Waco Surf. The complex will also sport the requisite non-surf amenities, such as a golf course, 25-acre lake for fishing, pickleball courts, pump track, playgrounds, climbing areas, RV camping, a Nordic spa, clubhouses, restaurants, and work and meeting spaces.
The Desperado will add another surf lagoon to Waco Surf. Photo: Waco Surf
As to the actual housing part of the community, the complex will include 88 homes – 44 standalone homes and 44 duplex townhomes. Pricing for the homes starts at a cool $1.6 mill. The structures will be 3D printed in concrete, by the same company that created House Zero in Austin.
“Spreading the joy of surfing has always been the soul of Waco Surf, watching someone ride a wave for the first time and seeing that look on their face, especially a kid’s, is why we do all of this,” said Waco Surf owner and co-president David Taylor. “The Desperado is the natural next step. We wanted to create a place where families can actually live inside that feeling, not just visit it. A community where your kids grow up around the water, around the outdoors, around people who share that same love for life. That’s what we’re building.”
Certainly all PR speak for now so it’ll be interesting to see how the development is received. Zion Shores is a similar housing development planned around a wave in Utah. Wavegarden has two operational pools in Brazil: Praia da Grama near São Paulo and Surfland in Garopaba. Another pool, “Beyond the Club,” in São Paulo proper is currently in its soft-opening phase. Fazenda Vista Verde will be the fourth pool opened in Brazil in 2027. All are private and based around residential developments.
