How an emerging development could transform Draper into a new surfing destination in the West

DRAPER – A large surf park is now planned as part of an emerging Draper development that includes housing, dining and shopping within close proximity to public transportation.

Last Tuesday, the Draper City Council approved a master plan amendment for the Veranda West project.

The development, which sits in the city’s transit station district zone just west of I-15 off Bangerter Highway, calls for 418 residential units, which include more than 100 townhomes that have already been built, and nearly 300 apartments, a retail village with restaurants and an 8.8-acre surf park.

An initial master plan for the project was adopted in 2019, then slightly amended in 2020. The latest change to the plan expanded the number of apartments and acreage size for retail with the addition of a surf park.

A national draw at edge of Salt Lake Valley

A spokesperson for The Wasatch Group, a real estate development company involved in the project, said the surf park will feature advanced wave technology that can produce “consistent and customizable waves” for surfers of all skill levels.

“Beyond surfing, the destination will offer a comprehensive lifestyle experience that includes wellness and recovery amenities, private cabanas, social gathering spaces, dining, events, and programming designed to bring people together and create memorable experiences both on and off the water,” said Kainoa Clark, chief marketing officer for The Wasatch Group, in a statement to KSL.

While the facility will be accessible to residents, visiting surfers and families, Jackson Sheppard, of Kamaka Responsible Development, told City Council members on Tuesday that the surf park will also serve as a national training center for men’s and women’s Olympic surf teams.

“This is a world-class facility; other Olympic national teams use wave pools just like this,” he said during a presentation before the council.

Although it’ll be a few years before the facility is operational, water is an immediate concern of residents and state leaders due to Utah’s current drought conditions.

Sheppard told the council the surf park’s pool is expected to use between roughly 6- to- 9 million gallons of water per year. Additionally, he noted that it’ll use significantly less water than high-density housing or commercial developments.

“If we put high density on the footprint of the wave pool and the uses that we’re proposing, it would use 28 million gallons per year — we’re estimating that would be about 490 units, so that’s four times more water than the proposed surf park,” he explained. “If we did a commercial development on the same acreage, it’d be 109 million gallons per year, about 12 times more water than the surf park.”

It’ll also use a closed-loop system and will be the “most sustainable pool on the market,” according to the developers.

“The system is also designed to capture rainfall and snowmelt, helping offset water lost through evaporation. This approach allows the project to deliver significant recreational, wellness, tourism, and economic benefits while using water responsibly,” Clark said.

The new Draper surf park will have a wave pool similar to others including one in Fresno, California, and another that is currently being constructed in Palm Springs.

Noise mitigation will also be implemented, developers assured.

The project as a whole sits on the north side of Bangerter Highway, just off of 600 West. Traffic improvements — including a new signal on 600 West — will have to be made to accommodate transportation in the area, a traffic impact study commissioned by developers found.

The project is also expected to create 100-150 local jobs and contribute approximately $23 million annually to the local economy, according to Sheppard.

Why Draper?

An even larger project — one of the biggest in the state — is also underway in Salt Lake Valley’s southern edge: “The Point.”

With close access to Utah and Salt Lake counties, plans for the massive development include retail, entertainment, innovation, educational, office, residential spaces and a recently announced University of Utah medical campus.

Developers involved in the nearby Veranda West project, where the new surf park and wave pool will eventually sit, said Draper seemed like the ideal spot given its geographical location, freeway access and growing population.

“The location allows us to serve local residents while also attracting visitors, athletes, and enthusiasts from across the region and beyond,” Clark said.

Developers also noted a shared vision with city leaders of creating “a world-class destination.”

Draper Mayor Troy Walker said the project looks to fit well with the intended zoning use for the area to accommodate housing needs with a mixture of amenities to appeal to current and future residents.

“We envisioned it would have density, and it would have office; it would have retail. We didn’t, of course, envision it would have a surf pool, because that was not something anybody (would’ve) thought about. But, I think it’s a pretty unique opportunity to have an amenity that I think will be, you know, as much of an attraction as anything,” he told KSL.

While the future facility may have the potential to put Draper on the map as a destination for world-class surfing, Walker noted that the project is a private development, and no tax incentives are being promised to developers.

Clark said construction on the surf park is anticipated to begin this fall, with a target opening date sometime in 2028.