The latest episode of The Building Texas Show, published May 27, 2026 and hosted by Justin McKenzie, features Waco Surf co-owners David Taylor and Luke Schock detailing how they transformed a struggling Central Texas wave pool into a year-round sold-out destination. Their next move is Desperado, a 400-acre surf-anchored ranch community that aims to redefine Texas surf culture.
The episode traces the full arc of the business, from a 2018 pilot of American Wave Machines technology at the original Barefoot Ski Ranch under Stuart Parsons, to Taylor and Schock's 2021 acquisition, to today's expansion plans. The customer base has flipped from 99% professional surfers to 99% Texas families, with 99% of surfers at the park having never touched an ocean wave. This shift underscores the broad appeal of the attraction.
The Desperado masterplan includes a second surf pool, a 13-hole golf course, a hot springs resort, pickleball, and dirt-only roads. Taylor and Schock explain why they refused to copy the private, gated model used by other surf communities opening worldwide. As Schock puts it: "It's a community for people that want high access but not high walls. That's because we believe that the magic happens when you're sitting on the beach talking to the guy that, you know, it's his bucket list to come there."
Taylor adds that the migration of Waco itself has been just as dramatic, recounting how Tony Hawk quietly shows up at the local skate park at 7 a.m., films himself, and draws 200 people within fifteen minutes. The pair also dig into Waco history, including the 1952 tornado that derailed the city's run at becoming the financial hub of Texas and pushed that growth toward Fort Worth. They cite the Hippodrome on Austin Avenue, where Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin once performed, as evidence of the city's pre-tornado vibrancy, and point to today's Baylor graduates staying to open restaurants and buy real estate alongside the Magnolia-driven Chip and Joanna Gaines effect.
Deposits on Desperado homes, Taylor notes, are overwhelmingly from Texas-based families, with one exception: a Hawaii native whose family lives in New York and wants a centrally located meeting place. Waco's position between Dallas, Austin, and Houston makes it a strategic hub for a new Texas surf culture, appealing to families and individuals seeking high access without high walls.
The implications of this announcement are significant for the region's tourism and real estate sectors. Waco Surf's success demonstrates the viability of inland surf parks as major attractions, potentially inspiring similar developments in other central locations. The Desperado community model, emphasizing inclusivity over exclusivity, could influence how future surf-anchored communities are designed. For the reader, this means more accessible recreational opportunities and potential investment in a growing market. The broader industry may see a shift toward mixed-use developments that combine surf, recreation, and residential living, catering to a diverse demographic.
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, profiles founders, operators, and developers shaping the future of Texas. Each episode digs into how real businesses get built across the state, from hospitality and tourism to real estate and community development. This episode with David Taylor and Luke Schock of Waco Surf and Desperado is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
