WaveGarden Myrtle Beach Approved With July 2030 Opening Deadline

The City of Myrtle Beach has approved an incentive agreement worth up to $20 million with WaveGarden Myrtle Beach for a $170 million surf park and hospitality destination, the city confirmed in council meeting updates published September 23, 2026. The approval, reported the same day by WYFF, covers a WaveGarden surf lagoon of at least 5.5 acres plus a 150 room hotel and dining and retail space next to Broadway at the Beach.

The decision that changes is when and where to plan a surf focused beach trip, because the project now carries a fixed construction deadline of September 1, 2027 and a required opening by July 1, 2030. Travelers weighing Myrtle Beach against other surf destinations can pencil in a new 5.5 acre lagoon beside an established entertainment district, and compare it with the current lineup in our guide to the 15 things to do in Myrtle Beach, ranked.

What the Council Approved

Under the structure the city published in its council meeting updates, substantial private investment and construction come first and the city incentive arrives last. No city incentive money goes out upfront, and revenue from other authorized sources would reduce the amount required from city funds. The final funding structure still depends in part on approval from Horry County to add the future property to a multi county business park agreement.

WYFF reports that the development group, WaveGarden Myrtle Beach, combines four partners named as Highgate, South Street Partners, Twin Point Capital and W.M. Jordan in its account of the approval. The project pairs the surf lagoon with a 150 room hotel, food and beverage space, retail, sports tourism uses and additional hospitality space. City documents describe the lagoon as at least 5.5 acres and the food and drink space as at least 20,000 square feet.

Where the Surf Park Will Sit

The planned address is the corner of Highway 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North, directly beside Broadway at the Beach. That placement matters for trip planning because the entertainment district already concentrates restaurants, shops, attractions and hotels within walking distance. A surf lagoon there would plug into existing parking, transit stops and evening activity instead of asking visitors to drive to an isolated venue.

The district setting also explains the hotel component. A 150 room property on site would let surf visitors stay beside the lagoon while other travelers use nearby hotels they already know. Families splitting time between the beach, Broadway at the Beach and a future surf session would keep one base for the whole trip rather than relocating midweek.

Construction and Opening Deadlines

The firm dates arrived with changes made after the council first reading approval. Construction must begin by September 1, 2027, and the development must open by July 1, 2030. Those two dates convert a long discussed surf park idea into a calendar travelers and nearby businesses can actually use.

Two funding gates still sit ahead. Horry County must agree to add the future WaveGarden property to the multi county business park agreement, and other authorized funding sources must come through. The city says its investment is structured as the last money in, so private dollars and visible construction precede any city payment.

Spending and Visitor Projections

The city says an independent economic and fiscal impact analysis estimates the completed development would draw about 364,000 visitors each year. That same analysis projects $58.1 million in annual spending at the park plus another $12.7 million spent elsewhere in the area. Council materials also project about 44,800 occupied hotel room nights each year and $3.2 million in annual city revenue.

Protections stay attached after opening day. Once the development opens, the operator must keep the project running for at least five years. If it fails to operate as required during that period, part of the city investment must be repaid on a prorated basis tied to how long it operated. Those repayment requirements also survive a later sale, transfer, foreclosure or other change of ownership.

Trip Planning Before the 2030 Opening

Nothing here changes a 2026 or 2027 booking today. No lagoon exists, no surf sessions are for sale, and no hotel reservations are open. Current Myrtle Beach trips should follow the usual logic of season, rates and beach access, with the surf park treated as a reason to return later rather than a reason to delay this year.

The practical move is to file two dates and one place. Remember September 1, 2027 for construction, July 1, 2030 for opening, and the Highway 17 Bypass corner beside Broadway at the Beach. When construction visibly starts, revisit hotel choices near that corner so surf days and nonsurf days share one base.