A Five Acre Surf Lagoon Could Be Coming to Placer County

Surfing usually begins with a trip to the ocean. For people in the Sacramento area, that means setting aside time, checking the forecast and hoping the waves cooperate. But western Placer County could offer another option: a resort where visitors can catch a wave far from the coast. The project is called Alchemy Surf Resort, and the Placer County Planning Commission has approved its plans.

The centerpiece would be a five acre artificial surfing lagoon, roughly the size of four football fields. Plans also include a 100 room hotel, bungalows and a 28,390 square foot surf center. Inland Surf Company proposed the project for Placer One, a developing community near Roseville.

One distinction matters. The county approved plans for the resort; the resort has not opened. The company hopes to begin construction in spring 2027. The county announcement does not provide an opening date, admission prices or booking rules. It is too early to plan a surf session, even if the idea is striking in a region where surfing usually means a drive to the Pacific.

The lagoon would be only one part of the site. County plans also describe a standing wave pool, beach and activity areas, an outdoor skate plaza, a children's playground, spas and cold plunges. An action sports center would feature trampolines, climbing walls and indoor skate facilities. Food, drinks and places to gather are planned nearby.

The resort team says it intends to use Wavegarden Cove technology to make several kinds of traveling waves. The idea is to offer sessions for different skill levels, from a first attempt on a board to practice for experienced surfers. The separate standing wave would offer a different experience: water would flow toward the rider, allowing them to stay in one area. This describes the planned equipment, not a lagoon that has already been built. Still, it explains the project's appeal. At the ocean, nature sets the conditions. Here, organizers hope to select the kind of wave offered during a session.

There are people behind the idea, too. According to the resort team, Chris and Andrea Gallardo, the founders of Inland Surf Company, created the project. Chris has a background in professional snowboarding and a passion for surfing. Together, the couple want to combine water sports, other active pursuits and a place families can visit. Speaking to CBS Sacramento, the founders said they hope to welcome guests of different ages and abilities. How well the resort serves each group will become clear only after it opens.

Why might this matter to someone living near Roseville? Trying surfing often calls for a separate trip to the coast. If this lagoon is built, it could offer a chance to get on a board much closer to home. It might also provide a short getaway for people who want a day by the water without driving to the ocean. Whether that experience will be affordable depends on prices that have not yet been announced.

Local families may have another question: could they visit without booking a hotel room? The county describes the proposed facilities, but its announcement does not say which activities will be open to day visitors, whether memberships will be offered or how far ahead surf sessions must be reserved. For now, it is best to see the resort as an approved plan for a future destination, not as an attraction ready to accept guests.

The chosen site is part of Placer One, a much larger development in western Placer County. Homes, schools, parks, open space, businesses and a town center are planned for the area. The county also points to the future Sacramento State Placer Center. Alchemy Surf Resort is intended to be part of a neighborhood that will take years to grow, rather than a lagoon standing alone on an empty site.

The scale of Placer One shows why this story goes beyond a new recreational attraction. According to the county, the overall development covers about 2,200 acres, including roughly 300 acres set aside for the future university center. The surf resort could draw visitors from other cities as well as people living in the new community. That is a possibility, not an established visitor count. The county's approval announcement does not provide an attendance forecast.

The project team also hopes some visitors will stay overnight. Its website describes 22 bungalows, a cafe, a restaurant and event spaces. The county confirms that bungalows and a hotel are in the plans, but does not give a bungalow count. Details published by the company may still change. The combination of lodging, food and sports suggests a place designed for both a family outing and a longer visit from outside the area.

The founders also discuss jobs and tourism. In the CBS Sacramento report, the estimate was about 200 full time and part time jobs. The project website cites a forecast of more than 450,000 visitors a year once the resort reaches steady operations. These are projections, not results. Actual attendance would depend on the construction schedule, prices, the quality of the experience and whether guests want to return.

A large artificial lagoon raises practical questions. How much water will it need? How will the water be maintained? How much energy will the equipment use? The county's announcement does not provide enough detail to answer them. It would be premature to promise environmental benefits or declare an environmental cost on the basis of that announcement alone. Neighbors will need specific technical information and operating plans when they become available.

The timeline calls for the same care. Large projects move from approval to site preparation, construction and, eventually, opening. The county says Inland Surf Company aims to break ground in spring 2027. The team's website points to summer 2027 and estimates 18 to 24 months of construction. Those timelines differ, and neither is a confirmed opening date. Questions about when people can actually visit will have to wait.

For a potential guest, the most useful details may be simpler than the technology behind the waves. Will there be beginner sessions? Can visitors rent boards? Could a family enjoy the beach without paying for a surf lesson? Will day passes be available? Prices and complete admission rules have not been published. Those answers will determine whether the resort becomes a regular weekend option or a special occasion trip.