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🌊 MYRTLE BEACH SURF PARK: AFTER YEARS OF “COMING SOON,” THE WAVES MAY FINALLY BE COMING

Myrtle Beach may finally be getting something it has been promising for years — a surf park that actually exists outside of artist renderings.

Myrtle Beach City Council has given first-reading approval to a proposed $150 million surf park and hospitality development at the former Palace Theater site near Broadway at the Beach. The project would feature a nearly six-acre artificial surf lagoon, a 150-room hotel, plus about 20,000 square feet of restaurants, retail and tourism space.

And because apparently building a giant wave pool wasn't expensive enough, the city is considering up to $20 million in incentives for the project.

The proposed public assistance would not be handed over on Day One. Under the proposal, funding would not be provided until the project reaches at least 80% completion.

THE SURF PARK THAT HAS BEEN SURFING THE “COMING SOON” LIST

Here's where things get interesting.

Plans for a Myrtle Beach surf park have been floating around for roughly a decade, with different locations, price tags and timelines along the way.

The latest version is being referred to as Wavegarden Myrtle Beach, or WGMB. Current plans call for the surf lagoon to be part of a larger development at Broadway at the Beach.

Earlier versions of the project carried different names and different plans, including SurfWorks, with previous proposals involving a larger site and an expected opening as early as 2026 or 2027.

Now the latest timeline has moved again — with the current proposal reportedly targeting 2030 for the surf lagoon.

Yep... 2030.

At this rate, Myrtle Beach may need a surf park just to ride the waves of changing construction schedules.

$150 MILLION WAVE POOL

The development is expected to cost approximately $150 million and would transform the former Palace Theater property near Broadway at the Beach.

The concept is considerably more than just a place to grab a surfboard.

Plans include:

🌊 Nearly 6-acre artificial surf lagoon 🏨 150-room hotel 🍔 Restaurants 🛍️ Retail space 🏖️ Tourism-related businesses 🏄 Surfing opportunities for beginners and experienced riders

The project would use artificial wave technology designed to create consistent, rideable waves — meaning surfers won't have to sit around waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate.

BUT HERE COMES THE TAXPAYER QUESTION...

The $20 million incentive is already generating questions.

One recent report notes that the city has not yet publicly identified the company that would receive the incentive package, with additional details expected before the second reading.

The City Council approved the first reading 6-1. The ordinance still has to receive a second reading before it becomes effective.

So Myrtle Beach could soon have a giant artificial ocean, a hotel, restaurants and retail — assuming this version of the project survives the long, winding road that previous versions traveled.

For now, the surf park remains proposed.

But after years of promises, plans and changing addresses, Myrtle Beach residents might be forgiven for waiting until they actually see a wave before grabbing the surfboard.

Because in Myrtle Beach, apparently even the surf park has been waiting for the right wave.

Original Facebook source: Open post

Source note: Star News TV · Sep 12, 2026 11:27 AM.