Cactus Surf Park Project in Gilbert Faces Setback as Developer Withdraws

The Cactus Surf Park initiative in Gilbert, Arizona, has encountered another setback as WhiteWater West Industries has withdrawn from the project after seven years of partnership changes. Originally announced in 2019, the surf park has yet to materialize, with no pool constructed and no clear timeline for its completion.

The city of Gilbert and WhiteWater West mutually agreed to terminate their lease for the proposed surf park at Gilbert Regional Park in May 2026. Joanna Guzman, a city spokeswoman, indicated that Gilbert is exploring various options for the site and plans to seek community input for future proposals.

The project began as a $60-million public-private partnership with Strand Resorts, which later sold the project to ACA Arizona, LLC, renaming it Cactus Surf Park. A revised plan introduced in 2023 aimed to reduce water usage by 60 percent, proposing a 25-acre park with a wave pool and water park. Despite the current challenges, there remains potential for new developers to take on the project, as noted by Wave Pool Mag.