Surf’s Up (Again) In North Texas With $200M Adventure-Themed Mixed-Use Development
Despite being the country's largest landlocked metro, Dallas-Fort Worth is working on becoming a destination for surfers.
A $200M mixed-use development set to break ground next year in McKinney will be anchored by a surf and adventure park with a resort-style hotel, the latest entrant on a growing list of surfing-themed attractions in the Metroplex.
The Cannon Beach: Surf and Adventure Park resort will feature a 4-acre surf lagoon, a rooftop pool, event and wedding venues, and water-focused attractions such as a sandy beach, cliff diving and a wave pool. The 35-acre project will also offer dining, retail and entertainment spaces that developers hope will include a skateboard park, a movie theater, a bowling alley and more indoor recreation.
In addition to being a tourism draw, Cannon Beach will also offer 100K SF of office space that McKinney Mayor George Fuller said would be fit for anything from global corporations to startup companies.
“We cannot be more excited to bring a beach paradise to McKinney, whose leadership shares our unparalleled vision for a world-class, family-friendly destination that will quite literally bring the ocean to its backyard,” developer Cole Cannon said in a statement.
Experienced and novice Metroplex surfers can also catch a wave at Sapphire Bay's Surf Village in Rowlett, visit Lake Texoma or grab a bite and hit the water at experiential dining establishments Goodsurf in Dallas or Fireside Surf in The Colony. In addition to surfing, Goodsurf also offers pickleball courts, while Fireside Surf is part of the Grandscape development, home to fellow experiential retailers Cosm and Andretti Indoor Karting.
The initial phase of the McKinney project at the northeast corner of State Highway 121 and Stacy Road could open before the end of 2026. Cannon Development Group opened its first Cannon Beach development earlier this month in Mesa, Arizona. That 37-acre mixed-use development is anchored by Revel Surf park and features a four-story hotel, office space and coworking options.
The McKinney project is expected to attract 300,000 visitors a year and inject more than $2B into the area economy over its first 20 years, according to the McKinney EDC announcement. The development will also create 700 local jobs.
“This project is truly transformative, answering our community’s call for more family-focused activities while positioning McKinney as a premier destination for one-of-a-kind recreational experiences,” Fuller said in a statement. “Cannon Beach perfectly reflects our city’s unique spirit, seamlessly combining innovative attractions with purposeful urban planning to drive economic growth.”
The city of McKinney is partnering on the development with Cannon Development Group as well as the McKinney EDC and the McKinney Community Development Corp. Incentive agreements for land acquisition, infrastructure assistance and tax rebates are expected to be considered early next year with the project’s site plan, according to the McKinney EDC release.
The Metroplex has become a major testing ground for experiential concepts of all types.
In addition to Cosm and its 87-foot diameter, 12K LED dome screen that was an instant hit with sports fans, Netflix House Dallas is slated to offer a “fan fever dream” when it opens at Galleria Dallas next year. Earlier this year, Plano hosted the world premiere of Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, the first-ever interactive and immersive adventure for fans of the best-selling video game. The Minecraft Experience is scheduled to remain in Plano into early January before moving to its next location.
