Peak Surf Park secures land in Tampa Bay area

Peak Surf Park has secured a 35-acre site within the Two Rivers development in Pasco County, marking a significant milestone in its journey to bring surfing to Florida’s west coast. 

The centerpiece of the resort-style project, envisioned by lifelong surfer and former Tampa advertising executive Tony Miller, is a state-of-the-art surf lagoon utilizing Surf Lakes technology from Australia: A plunger-like device in the center of the lagoon is moved up and down by air pressure, creating waves. The bottom contours of the lagoon are designed to create different breaks for different levels of difficulty.

When Miller first introduced the project in 2022, he was eyeing potential locations in Pasco County – or St. Petersburg. However, in the area’s fast-growing market, he said finding land has been a big challenge, and the parcel in Pasco had “a lot to like about it.”

Tony Miller, founder of Peak Surf Park, estimates the project will cost more than $100 million to bring to life.

“The community is a large one. It’s going to be an area that continues to see a ton of growth with a lot of new families moving in there,” Miller said. “We like the access; it’s right off a brand new State Road 56, which is a divided four-lane road. It’s close to a lot of different markets.”

Peak Surf Park will be part of a broader mixed-use development that includes residential areas, a private golf course designed by David McLay-Kidd and recreational amenities. Two Rivers is a key driver in Pasco County’s growth, with over 7,000 homes planned for the area.

A 2022 feasibility study confirmed enthusiasm for a surf park in the Tampa Bay area, with approximately 90% of respondents expressing their interest level as “high” or “very high,” with existing surfers specifically noting they would be willing to drive up to an hour for consistent waves, which is what the park’s technology promises to bring. Miller also noted that a surf park (versus surfing in the ocean) makes the sport safer and more accessible for potential surfers of all ages and skill levels.

The proposed full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, surf machine and lessons were among the amenities that garnered the most attention in a 2022 feasibility and economic impact study.

“The analogy I’ve been making is that the surfers of today are like the people who would go up climb up to the top of a mountain in the ’30s and ’40s and ski down to the bottom. Only a very small number of people would do that, but once they introduced the chair lift, they created access to the mountain,” Miller explained. “Now you have anyone who’s four years old to 84 years old out snow skiing. We’ll see the same thing happen here with surfing.”

Miller said surf parks are a relatively new but emerging industry, with only a few others currently in existence in the U.S. One example is Waco Surf in Waco, Texas, which has capacity for about 9-12 surfers in the water at one time.

“Our model is going to be unique in the sense that we can get 200 surfers at a time every hour, and they’re all going to catch 10 waves, so it’s a much bigger platform to offer up the surfing experience,” Miller said.

Beyond surfing, Peak Surf Park plans to offer a diverse range of amenities, including a half-mile beach, concert and event venues, bars, restaurants, retail space and fitness amenities. Miller stressed the park’s broad appeal, noting that Peak will be “more than just a surf park.”

While Peak Surf Park’s central feature will be a large surf lagoon, it will be surrounded by half a mile of beach, recreational activities, bars, restaurants, retail shops and event spaces.

“If you’re living in the Two Rivers community, you will have the beach experience five minutes from your doorstep. You don’t have to drive all the way to the shore and fight for parking,” Miller said. “There’s also going to be an action-adventure park where the kids can run around and do ropes courses, skateboarding and a host of other activities, so it’s very much a lifestyle park as much as it is a surf park.”

The 2022 economic impact study by Hotel & Leisure Advisors also estimated 10-year projections indicating Peak could create more than $1.3 billion in annual business output and approximately 700 jobs per year. Tax revenue for the State of Florida and Pasco County is expected to increase by a combined total of nearly $150 million over 10 years as a result.

While the exact cost is still in flux, Miller said Peak Surf Park will be a $100m+ endeavor. To fund pre-construction, Miller recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for accredited investors. Early next year, Miller plans to launch a secondary campaign for retail investors, with plans to open the park in late 2027.

.

Related reading: Momentum builds for surf park in Tampa Bay

.