Hurricane • If frolicking in the sun, surf and sand is the epitome of carefree living, the developers of southern Utah’s first watersports residential community in Hurricane Valley apparently didn’t get the memo.
Jason Christensen, president of Immaculate Homes, who is developing the $25 million-plus Southern Shores resort community with his wife, Brittany, and Cody Larkin, admits he doesn’t always sleep well. After all, there’s so much to worry about and too much to do to rest easy.
Take surfing slang, for example. Before talking about hanging 10, hanging loose or busting out with surfing phrases like “those are some sick barrels out there,” denizens of the surfing development need to learn how to surf. In other words, they need to walk the walk before they can talk the talk. After all, no one wants to be labeled a “kook” — surf-speak for a beginner or bad surfer.
That’s why Southern Shores developers will employ a professional wakeboarder with lots of surfing experience to train residents how to use the resort’s UNIT Surf Pool, the revolutionary 52-foot-wide standing wave that is one of the most advanced in the world.
“We’ll train him how to train other people,” Christensen said. “We’ll make sure once everybody knows how to do something, they can train their own [guests or family members]. We are bringing some people out for a couple of weeks to help us learn how to do that.”
Another concern is legal liability. No one wants to see anyone falling in the drink and drowning.
To that end, the only access to the main lake will be through lakefront homes on the property, which will have fenced backyards and gates that residents or their guests must punch in a code to gain access to the water. Since there are inherent risks that come with water sports of any kind, everyone will be required to sign a waiver for insurance purposes.
Christensen said the fact that Southern Shores is a private development rather than a public resort helps reduce the risk. Residents can invite extended family and friends to enjoy Southern Shores’ amenities, but they can’t do so in absentia. They must be there in person to host and supervise their guests. Homeowners will also not be allowed to rent out their homes or turn them into Airbnbs.
Even with those safeguards, he acknowledges, the insurance for the resort is not cheap.
“We’ve got to insure [almost] everything,” he said.
Cleanliness is another issue. Developers are counting on fish and the aeration from boats churning up and down the main lake to keep the water clean. They will also put some dye and other chemicals in the lake to prevent sunlight from reaching the bottom and photosynthesis from occurring, which could lead to the growth of algae and turn the water from blue to a murky green.
Excrement from geese, ducks and other waterfowl winging their way is another worry.
“We’re not going to shoot them if they come over, but we’re not going to provide a food source for them,” Christensen said.
Ownership of a lot at Southern Shores buys residents entry to the resort’s three lakes and surfing and wakeboarding amenities, but it doesn’t give them unfettered access. To prevent overcrowding, there will eventually be rules put in place that limit how often, and for how long, people can use the recreation facilities.
While those rules are fluid right now, once the homes and homeowners association are in place, Christensen envisions residents making reservations online to use the lakes or UNIT Surf Pool. He estimates about 20 people will be able to use the surf pool in an hour. As for the main boat lake, he envisions it can accommodate 2 boats — one on each side of the island that bisects the lake — every 30 minutes. That equates to about 80 boats over about a 10-hour day.
Chillin’ at Southern Shores will be easier at some times than others, especially since water sports there won’t go on hiatus during the winter. Christensen said there will be enough water in the lakes to prevent them from freezing over. Nonetheless, no cold-water or weather garb is required.
“I don’t care whether or not they wear a wetsuit, but I would,” Christensen quipped.
The UNIT Surf Pool is expected to be operational for demonstration purposes only in a few weeks. Later this month, crews are expected to start filling the main and smaller cable lakes with water and construction on the lakefront homes is expected to begin within the next year.
Christensen expects it will take up to 10 years to fully develop the resort.
Jose Mendoza, a Mesa, Ariz., resident who enjoys paddle boarding at Fire Lake Reservoir when visiting friends in St. George, is in no hurry.
“Just how long it takes to finish Southern Shores is irrelevant to me,” he said. “It’s out of my price range. The only way I’m getting in through those gates is if I befriend someone who lives there.”
Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
