Billed as a “California Lifestyle Community Development,” Ocean Kamp is a 92-acre mixed-use project off SR-76 at Foussat Road on the former Valley Drive-In and swap meet site in Oceanside, is slated to start vertical construction in spring 2026. Plans center on a roughly 3.5-acre programmable surf lagoon, a 300-room hotel, 134,000 square feet of commercial and office space, trails and active-lifestyle amenities, and up to 667 all-electric homes. Site preparation has been underway in phases, including importing fill to raise the property by about 10–12 feet to clear flood-plain constraints and set utilities for the next stage.
According to developer Jon Corn, president of N4FL Worldwide, mass grading is nearly complete and utility and roadway designs are underway. The wave pool alone is projected to cost around $45 million, with construction planned for 2025 and an opening in early 2026. Corn confirmed the project is leaning toward pneumatic technology to power its artificial surf, the same type used by Surf Loch, Endless Surf, and PerfectSwell.
According to developer Jon Corn, president of N4FL Worldwide, mass grading is nearly complete and utility and roadway designs are underway. The wave pool alone is projected to cost around $45 million, with construction planned for 2025 and an opening in early 2026. Corn confirmed the project is leaning toward pneumatic technology to power its artificial surf, the same type used by Surf Loch, Endless Surf, and PerfectSwell.
The project has faced years of delays tied to environmental lawsuits, archaeological discoveries, and extensive site prep. Grading began in 2019 and has included raising the property 10–12 feet at a cost of nearly $10 million to lift it above the floodplain. Developers have also been required to work with the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians to properly handle Native American artifacts discovered during excavation.
The vision for Ocean Kamp is ambitious: a wave pool producing customizable waves year-round for both casual surfers and elite athletes, surrounded by residential units, a hotel, retail shops, office space, and recreational amenities like biking, yoga, and rock climbing. Developers say it will create jobs, housing, and tourism revenue, positioning Oceanside as a surf destination in its own right.
But the plan has also drawn strong opposition. The nonprofit Preserve Calavera has criticized the lagoon as water-intensive, traffic-generating, and environmentally disruptive to nearby wildlife corridors and air quality, particularly given its proximity to the municipal airport. Opponents have called the wave pool “a giant toilet flush” and questioned the need for artificial waves just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.
City leaders, on the other hand, have largely embraced the project, citing parallels to Oceanside’s Frontwave Arena and El Corazon sports complex as civic draws that bring in regional visitors and bolster the local economy. The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, North County Economic Development Council, and other groups have endorsed Ocean Kamp, arguing it will create long-term jobs and housing opportunities while giving the city a new tourism magnet.
City leaders, on the other hand, have largely embraced the project, citing parallels to Oceanside’s Frontwave Arena and El Corazon sports complex as civic draws that bring in regional visitors and bolster the local economy. The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, North County Economic Development Council, and other groups have endorsed Ocean Kamp, arguing it will create long-term jobs and housing opportunities while giving the city a new tourism magnet.
Corn has said that while some see irony in building an artificial wave pool in a city famous for its surf, the consistency and year-round usability of the lagoon is the point. “Our shared excitement with the community for its opening is powering us forward,” he told WavePoolMag, adding that Ocean Kamp has been “years in the making” and will ultimately serve locals and visitors while “fully embodying SoCal’s world-renowned surf culture.”
If the current timeline holds, Oceanside residents could be catching perfect machine-made waves by early 2026, with the broader resort community rolling out in phases as the decade progresses.
If the current timeline holds, Oceanside residents could be catching perfect machine-made waves by early 2026, with the broader resort community rolling out in phases as the decade progresses.
Originally published on October 2, 2025.
