The surf lagoon at Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park opened in August 2025, and its first full summer of business is underway.

The surf lagoon sits at the geographic epicenter of the surf industry in Virginia Beach.

“It definitely is going to increase people’s skill levels,” said Tony Pellino, owner of VB Surf Sessions. “Out in the ocean you get so many different variables and you’re lucky to get a similar wave twice.”

VB Surf Sessions operates a small surf shop on Mediterranean Avenue and 21st street. The company also hosts surf camps throughout the summer. The business is one of several surf schools in Virginia Beach that teach beginners and more experienced surfers in ocean conditions. VB Surf Sessions has provided surf camps and lessons for the past 16 years.

The surf lagoon is the centerpiece of a new round of development at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront: Atlantic Park. According to the Virginia Beach City Website, the $325 million project includes the surf lagoon, apartments, commercial office space, restaurants and a 5,000-person capacity live music venue: The Dome by Rutter Mills. Pharrell Williams, a Virginia Beach native, was the primary source of funding for the development.

The wave technology at the lagoon is provided by Wavegarden, a company headquartered in northern Spain that specializes in wave generating systems. According to the Wavegarden website, the Atlantic Park surf lagoon is one of 11 operating Wavegarden locations; it is the only operating Wavegarden location in North America.