Pharrell Williams’ Most Recent Project is Making Major Progress
By Kelsey Thomas / Photos courtesy of Venture Realty Group
Construction for Atlantic Park, the most recent project spearheaded by pop cultural icon and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams, is underway. A hub for surfers, visitors and longtime residents, Atlantic Park will be the world’s first and only human-made wave park that is this close to an actual ocean and will also be a premier dining, shopping and entertainment destination.
Currently in the development phase with the project backed by Venture Realty Group, W.M. Jordan Construction, Bishard Development, Priority Title/H20 Investments and Pharrell Williams himself, Atlantic Park is expected to be an incredible draw. Guests can ride a wave all year long in the same place that they can shop, dine and enjoy events. Supplied by the world’s leading surf technology, Wavegarden, the park will welcome everyone from elite competitors, surfing amateurs and spectators. The park is also a nod to East Coast surfing and celebrates the local surfing culture here in Virginia Beach.
In terms of shopping and dining, people can expect locally and regionally owned, best in class, and new to market businesses, allowing visitors to experience the best of both worlds. But that’s not all.
Included at the park will be The Dome, an indoor and outdoor facility that will host civic, entertainment and community functions as well as a public plaza that will be open on non-event days. The plaza, which will be lined with various shops and restaurants, may also play host to various arts fairs, markets, free performances and more.
The addition of The Dome has brought forth tons of excitement, as it is an ode to Virginia Beach’s original Dome that was built in 1957 and was the site for hundreds of iconic concerts like The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles and Jimi Hendrix before being demolished in 1994. The reimagined Dome will seat up to 3,500 in its live entertainment venue, and will be bringing the concert scene back to the oceanfront in a major way.
Despite it being a more than $350 million project overall, the park’s year-round operations will bring major benefits to the oceanfront and Virginia Beach’s economy as a whole.
Atlantic Park and The Dome are expected to be complete next year with an opening predicted for Spring 2025. Learn more at AtlanticParkVB.com.
