NLand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NLand Surf Park |
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| Location | Del Valle, TX |
| Owner | World Surf League |
| Opened | 7 October 2016 |
| Closed | 12 November 2018 |
| Status | {{{status}}} |
NLand Surf Park was a special place near Austin, Texas, where you could go surfing without being near the ocean! It was located close to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
This park offered many ways to surf. You could take lessons, join group sessions, or just surf on your own. It was great for everyone, from first-time surfers to advanced pros. Besides the huge surf lagoon, NLand also had a surf shop, a restaurant called Blue Prairie, and a craft brewery.
NLand's surf lagoon was the biggest man-made surfing lagoon in North America. The park's founder, Doug Coors, worked with a Spanish company called Wavegarden. Together, they designed and built the lagoon. It could make waves up to six feet high, and also gentler waves for beginners. Surfers could ride a wave for up to 35 seconds. Plus, a new wave came along every two minutes!
In January 2019, the World Surf League bought NLand.
Contents
History of NLand Surf Park
Building NLand Surf Park started in 2014 and finished in 2016. The park faced some delays before it could open. There were discussions with local officials about how the park would be regulated. Eventually, an agreement was reached. NLand Surf Park officially opened to the public on October 7, 2016.
Soon after opening, the park had to close for a short time. This was because of some damage under the lagoon. The water was drained to fix the problem. Six months later, on May 12, 2017, the park reopened its doors.
In January 2019, NLand was sold to the World Surf League. They plan to reopen it as a surfing spot in the future.
The Surf Lagoon
The NLand lagoon was split into two halves by a pier. Each half had different zones for different wave heights.
- The east side had small, foamy waves. These were perfect for beginners and were called the "Bay Wave."
- The west side offered bigger, four-foot waves. These were for intermediate surfers and were known as the "Inside Wave."
- The areas closest to the pier on both sides had the tallest waves. These waves were five to six feet high and were for advanced surfers. They were called the "Reef Wave."
A special machine called a hydrofoil was under the pier. It pushed over 11 million gallons of water to create the waves. This technology was similar to the motor used on a ski lift. The lagoon's unique shape, called bathymetry, was designed by engineers from NLand and Wavegarden. This design helped make the best waves for surfing.
Caring for the Environment
Water Collection
NLand's team and founder, Doug Coors, found a smart way to get the millions of gallons of water needed for the lagoon. They dug trenches and channels to collect rainwater on the property. This system helped NLand use water sustainably. It meant they didn't have to use up other important water sources. Rainwater from the park went into a wet pond. Plants and aquatic life helped clean the water there. Then, it moved to a deep reservoir and went through a special filter system.
Food Service
The Blue Prairie restaurant at NLand used plates, cups, and utensils that could be composted. This helped reduce waste. Also, the restaurant got its ingredients from local farms and ranches near Austin.
