The Central Valley town of Lemoore is more than 100 miles from the nearest beach, but it offers waves that attract the best surfers in the world. At Surf Ranch, the brainchild of surfing champion Kelly Slater, you can experience cutting-edge wave technology at what many surf insiders consider the ultimate water park.
While Surf Ranch appeals mostly to elite-level surfers and team-building groups, it also offers entry points for casual surfing enthusiasts. The Kings County park hosts occasional spectator-friendly competitions, and its “dial-a-wave” technology can accommodate intermediate and even beginning surfers for a one-of-a-kind experience.
How Surf Ranch Was Born
Slater’s Surf Ranch boasts of having the longest open-barrel high performance human-made wave in the world. That’s not surprising, since Slater himself has his own list of superlatives. He’s considered the GOAT among pro surfers, having captured the World Surf League Championship 11 times.
Around 2006, the surfing star started brainstorming with a University of Southern California engineering professor about how to create a pool that would mimic the world’s best surfing waves. Slater was inspired in part by Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, near San Clemente, where epic waves are created by tidal forces interacting with the ocean floor’s unique angles and terrain. Such a wave pool, Slater has said, is not meant to be a replacement for real ocean waves, but rather a supplement. He put together a team of scientists to develop the technology and found a home for it in a former waterski park in the Central Valley’s Kings County.
The wave pool’s power comes from a patented hydrofoil generator—a machine that, from the surface, looks like a giant plow moving down a straight track along the edge of the 2,300-foot-long pool. The hydrofoil displaces water to create a wave that breaks without losing any of its size. As a result, a surfer can ride a smooth wave—up to 8 feet high—for nearly a full minute without any “surface chop” to disrupt the ride. To date, it’s the only wave technology that has been certified by the World Surf League, meaning the waves are appropriate for WSL elite competition.
Surf Ranch now hosts the Surf Ranch Pro, a WSL event that typically occurs in May, just past the halfway point of the elite surfer season. The U.S. Olympic surfing team uses it for training, too.
“Right now, in my eyes it’s still the best wave pool out there,” Brett Simpson, head coach of the Olympic team, told a Central Valley news outlet in 2023. “It’s the longest, it’s got the most power, it’s the most challenging. As a beginner, you get a lot of ride time, but at an expert level you have a lot of room to make mistakes.”
Experiencing Surf Ranch
While experts will want to take on the WSL-certified waves, known as “CT” (Championship Tour) waves, the pool can create waves with lower height and less intense power that amateurs can ride. At the far end of the pool, the Shore Rollers are ideal for beginners just learning the fundamentals of paddling, balancing on the board, and catching waves. The intermediate Waikiki Wave offers whitewater waves that can reach up to waist-high and extend the length of the pool, providing the longest possible ride. The Hero Wave, meanwhile, is just a notch below the CT level.
Surfers can bring their own boards or choose a loaner from the Surf Ranch’s Boardroom. The visitor’s guide page offers tips on what kind of wetsuit to bring for different seasons and pointers on navigating the wave, including all-purpose tips like how to safely wipe out.
Up to six surfers are allowed in the pool for sessions lasting from one hour to the entire day. A Surf Team Manager will help your group get started, based on their skill and experience, and coaches and guides offer assistance in the water. They’ll even record your performance on video to help you learn from mistakes.
There’s a clubhouse and locker room for suiting up, as well as a patio area with a fire pit and hot tub with views of The Wave. While you’re there, you can borrow gear for playing away from the pool including Electra bicycles, Super 73 E-bikes, and skateboards.
Planning Your Trip
Lemoore is located about 45 minutes from the nearest commercial airport, Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT). You can stay overnight at Surf Ranch in one of the six bookable Airstreams or three lakeside cabins, all equipped with linens and towels. Or, stay at nearby Lemoore lodging, including a Best Western and the Tachi Palace Casino and Resort, owned by the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe.
Your session fee can also cover meals prepared on site with locally sourced ingredients and tailored to your group’s requests. During downtime, enjoy locally roasted coffee, cold-pressed juices, seasonal craft cocktails, and beer and wine.
To experience more of the Central Valley, consider adding a trip to nearby Fresno County or Visalia—the latter an excellent launching pad for visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. If it’s winter or early spring during your visit, check out the popping colors along the Fresno Blossom Trail (and if it’s summer, the fruit stands of the Fresno Fruit Trail). Any time of year, consider the foodie-friendly California Heartland road trip or the music-filled Highway 99 Road Trip that includes a stop for enjoying the Bakersfield Sound.