Wavehouse Ocean City, MD????????????

Make one in NJ too!!! No offense but wouldn't want to travel 2 hours to MD from NJ to "ride" an artificial wave...

 

ive been dreaming for one of those since i was a kid. Hit one up on the Royal Carib. ship this aug. It was a bit more laid back than the 8" "black hole" in the caymans I attempted to ride. That s*** was serious, with a lip that would chew u up and spit u out like a mean toilet. Its defiantly a whole new world on one of those crazy ass machines. It think with enough effort and financial backing (and maybe a little connect w/ the mayor) you could make it happen. Even with the smaller crowds in the off season, there would be ways to keep up your revenues. But, what do i know, I'm just a college kid....

 

Two Words: Hells Yeah!

That would be freaking awesome. Do you have any ideas how boring it can get with a week long lull in swells here in OC? I would be the first one in line, make it happen.

 

that would be the ****. I would love it, I know plenty of people that would use it.

 

i agree the big question is if there is enough population that would use it in the off season...

I'd guess it wouldnt do too well in the off season, but maybe the summer season is enough?

 

i think you would do good buisness all year given the growing surfer population around here, i live about an hour from OC and i would be there all the time if you guys built it!! btw... are we talking a standing wave, or a full on japanese style ocean dome?

 

haha i dont blame you for the liquor licence, what is that like 3/4 of the profit for any buisness in OC ?? .... it might be hard to get though if your talking about drunkards dropping in on shallow standing waves hahaha.

 

There was a thread like this on surfingoc or delsurf a while ago and I think someone found info. on the cost of owning one of these and it was in millions with insurance and everything. So if you can afford it, I say do it up.

 

That I can understand... it is OC afterall, the town rich on booze. BUT, that's all good, I say do whatever you can to cover the cost of the flowrider. Looks pretty fun, I'd give it a go. I've heard from a friend of mine opening a bar that getting a liquor liscense is a little bit tougher around here, but I think being that your providing a place to enhance the "surf culture" of this place, you would be alright. Understand that your going to help out OTHER peoples businesses along with the tourist draw. Not much not to like for the money people of this town.

I do really think you would make enough when the season was on. Think about it, that's what pretty much EVERYONE does down here. Right now this place is shut down, but on season you'd have loads of tourists lined up for a ready made wave, and if they're parents could get all bombed up in the meantime, it's a sure shot... go for it man. And I do think you would get some people in the off season, just not nearly as much. Prob enough to stay open tho. I'd definately be there during flat spells, either riding it or getting loaded watching people eat it. DO IT. Good Luck!!!

 

What was it before Diesel? I'm old and way out of the Nightclub scene in OC.

 

That unfortunate that you can't come up with a viable business plan that doesn't include servicing alcohol. The liability insurance on this is going to be through the roof to begin with. Have you talked to any underwriters to see if they would cover this venture if you served alcohol? Do you know if any of the other standing wave places serve alcohol? How about making it a part of a sports complex with batting cages, laser tag, video games, etc? Something that you could draw kids for birthday parties and that type of thing. You could serve food there and you can make some money with that. Not booze money, mind you, but real money to cover some of the expenses. Maybe the standing wave would be better as a part of an existing water park, like the one at Jolly Rogers. Maybe work out a deal with someone like that to bring in your equipment and rent space from them. You will have the captive audience from the water park guests, some of whom may choose to pluck down the extra money to try out the wave.

Just a few ideas for you.

 

I seem to remember something about Six Flags considering openning a water park, which may have included a wave machine in West OC or somewhere around St. Martins, a couple of years ago. I don't think the #s worked out for them. I would think a location like the old Diesal Niteclub would be to expensive from the Real Estate investment required. I know of a major wavepool in Japan that just closed because profit margins where never met. This would require a serious committment and would be quite risky as far as a business idea. Power to you, but my take would be if it wasn't a really well done park, people would become tired of it quickly.

 

there are already plans for one from the rumors i hear...

 

$2million in liability is not very much coverage if I were you having something like that I would want a lot more. You should have atleast $300,000 to a million just driving a round. Good luck finding insurance if you are serving alcohol, no insurance company in their right mind would give you coverage becuase the likely hood of someone breaking their neck on the wave after a few drinks is extremely high, even if they know what they are doing. Carson's idea about having batting cages, go carts, etc sounds a lot more viable.