$200 Million Cannon Beach Wave Park Planned for McKinney

Developers announced a planned $200 million wave park called Cannon Beach for McKinney on December 13, 2025, offering a new tourism anchor for Collin County. The project is led by the team behind Revel Surf and Swell Manufacturing, based in Mesa, Arizona, and is being presented as a regional attraction that would generate hundreds of jobs and welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, with a targeted opening in mid 2027.

Project materials describe advanced wave generation technology developed by Swell Manufacturing and a facility capable of producing a variety of wave types for beginners and experienced surfers alike. Proponents framed the development as both a recreational amenity and an economic engine for McKinney, citing projected visitor flows and long term revenue streams as justification for the large capital outlay.

For local residents the immediate questions will be practical. Hundreds of jobs would affect the local labor market by increasing demand for hospitality, maintenance, lifeguarding and management roles, which could tighten labor availability in nearby sectors already experiencing competition for workers. Hundreds of thousands of annual visitors would add traffic to McKinney roads, increase occupancy pressures on nearby hotels, and raise demand for local retail and food services during peak months.

From a municipal finance perspective a $200 million private investment can expand the tax base through sales taxes, hotel taxes and property related revenues, but those gains may be accompanied by increased spending needs for public safety, roads and utilities. The timing of construction and operation also matters. With a mid 2027 opening target, planning approvals, permitting and any required infrastructure upgrades will shape the actual economic payoff and when the community sees fiscal benefits.

Longer term, a branded facility using scalable wave technology could turn Collin County into a regional destination, shifting visitor patterns within the Dallas Fort Worth area and contributing to the county's evolving economic mix of suburban growth and destination leisure. City officials and developers will need to reconcile anticipated economic gains with infrastructure capacity and workforce development to ensure the project benefits local residents.