Progress is finally visible at The Lake the expansive mixed-use development near River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield, featuring what’s been promoted as the ‘world’s largest surf park’.
The first surf park on the East Coast, and supposedly the largest of its kind in the world,is coming to Chesterfield County, we’ve learned this morning. The 105-acre project, to be known as “The Lake,” would be an entertainment, retail, and tourism magnet, once developed. — ‘World’s largest surf park,’ first on East Coast, coming to Chesterfield County
Background: Since its inception in 2016, The Lake has seen minimal advancement. However, recent efforts signal a change.
Latest Developments
- Commercial Phase: Construction of the initial commercial phase began in January and is expected to wrap up this fall, with businesses opening shortly after, according to BizSense.
- Upcoming Tenants: The development will include a Chipotle and a drive-thru Starbucks within the 20,000 square feet of retail space slated to open this year. Additional tenants remain undisclosed.
Future Attractions
- Water Features: By next summer, a non-surfing water feature offering wakeboarding, an inflatable obstacle course, and standup paddleboarding is set to open.
- Surf Pool: The 6-acre surf pool and other components will be completed over the next five to ten years, based on demand, as stated by developer Brett Burkhart to BizSense.
Big Picture: Flatwater Ventures, the project developer, commenced work on The Lake in 2022, focusing on infrastructure. The comprehensive plan includes an amphitheater, hotel, retail and restaurant space, and approximately 1,200 residential units, comprising both apartments and townhouses.
In early 2022, construction kicked off on The Lake, a major mixed-use development with a surf park in Chesterfield, located on Genito Road near River City Sportsplex. Richmond-based developer Brett Burkhart of Flatwater Ventures shared updates on the project. Phase 1 focused on building roads and utilities, set to be completed by mid-2022. Following this, the focus shifted to commercial spaces, including restaurants, retail, and a 13-acre, human-made lake. Burkhart expected Phase 1 to be open to the public by the end of 2023.
The Lake is next to Chesterfield’s Genito/288 Special Focus Area, a region designated for long-term development. The project, in planning for several years, got the official go-ahead after developers scaled back the retail portion and increased residential units. The total project cost is around $300 million.
The Lake will feature 1,200 residential units (apartments and townhouses starting at $500,000), two hotels, restaurants, breweries, wineries, an amphitheater, and a surf park. The lake will offer wakeboarding, an inflatable obstacle course, standup paddle boarding, and kayaking. It can also host events like wakeboarding tournaments and triathlons. Michael Williams of Liquid Design, who also designed Charlotte’s Whitewater Center, is the architect.
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