Surfing News

Texas surf park opens for summer 2025 with new water slide

Surfers of all levels can book sessions.

Photo courtesy of Waco Surf

Texans who can't wait to catch a wave can count down to May 10, opening day for Waco Surf, the Central Texas water park which will debut its 2025 summer season with some new water features as well as food & drink.

Waco has become a surprising destination for surfers around the world thanks to the park's two-and-a-half-acre Surf Lagoon. It's been featured in Texas Monthly, Outside, Southern Living, and more publications for its ocean-like waves. PerfectSwell, the company that makes the wave tech, explains that its unique air pressure system mimics waves that occur naturally around the world and can replicate point break, beach break, and reef break surf.

Wedge Slides at Waco Surf Younger kids will now be able to try a smaller version of this slide that launches riders at the bottom. Photo courtesy of Waco Surf

Visitors can try surfing at the Surf Lagoon and wakeboarding on rails and ramps at the Waco Surf Cable Park, with lessons available for both. The water park is almost ready to receive the less sporty types, families, or surfers who are ready for a break on the extra-long lazy river. Tickets to the water park are sold separately.

What's new
This year, there will be new mini slides designed for young guests in the shallow wading pool. Called Lil’ Wedgies, they're named after the park's larger Wedge Water Slides that launch riders off at the end like a ski jump.

There are also new dining options at all of Waco Surf's food and beverage concepts:

The Surfside Shack will have steak and egg burritos, chicken quinoa bowls, and spinach salads
the Wedge Grill has a new line of specialty hot dogs
The Saloon willl be open on the weekends with hand-dipped chicken burgers and fries
the Star Bar and the Dive Bar both have new seasonal cocktails

Waco Surf lazy river Floaters on the lazy river pass the wave lagoon.Photo courtesy of Waco Surf

Some visitors have even been drawn in for live music, which continues every Sunday at 2 pm starting May 11. Artists for the Rockstar Energy Drink-sponsored series haven't been announced yet, but artists as big as Young the Giant and Shakey Graves have appeared on a prior lineup for Waco Surf's music festival, so anything could happen.

Waco Surf is open daily at 5347 Old Mexia Rd. in Waco. Surf session pricing varies by date and skill level. Water Park day passes start at $39 for adults and are $14 for children or $99 for a family with two children from 6-16 years old.

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Hot Dog News

Hot dog king Portillo's to open new format restaurant at DFW Airport

Portillo's

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Travelers taking flight will soon be able to get a hot dog: Portillo’s, the fast-casual chain from Chicago, is opening the first-ever Portillo’s airport location in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The new location is one of two — along with another in The Villages, Florida — that will feature a new small, dine-in only format. It won't have the traditional drive-thru. Because there is no drive-thru at the airport, see. See what I'm saying.

According to a representative from the company, the shop will open in 2026.

Unlike traditional Portillo’s locations, the airport restaurant will feature a smaller, walk-up accessible footprint with multiple ordering touchpoints – including at the register, self-order kiosks, and order ahead for pick-up.

There will also be a variety of seating options accommodating more than 50 guests as well as a grab-and-go area — useful for travelers taking food on the plane, to their gate, or for leisurely meals during layovers or the unfortunate flight cancellation.

Portillo's partner for the DFW Airport location is PhaseNext Hospitality, whose president and CEO Roz Mallet says she is "thrilled to partner with Portillo's on this first airport location."

“As a fan of the culture, food, and history of Chicago, I have also been a longtime fan of Portillo’s,” Mallet says.

Guests can expect signature Portillo’s items like Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, and Portillo’s "famous" chocolate cake.

Hot dogs come in regular, chili cheese, Polish sausage, and Maxwell Street Polish sausage which has mustard and grilled onions.

Their Italian beef sandwich features thinly sliced roast beef served on French bread, which is then dipped in hot gravy. You can order it dipped with sweet or hot peppers and mozzarella.

Portillo's first entered the Dallas market with a location at the Grandscape development in The Colony in January 2023. They have seven other locations in DFW, in Allen, Arlington, Denton, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, and Mansfield.

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