Calgary's first and only indoor beach is now officially open (PHOTOS)

Sep 24 2018, 10:46 pm

Calgary’s newest sandbox is now open for business.

The Beach YYC, Calgary’s (and Alberta’s) first and only indoor beach, officially opened its doors on Sunday, September 23 for a few games of beach volleyball and ultimate frisbee.

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The 13,000-sq-ft facility houses 800 tonnes of sand, is home to a picnic table area for spectators and a licensed cafe, and stays at a nice 18 to 19°C all year long.

There are also ceiling heaters that can be turned on to combat the -30°C temperatures of a Calgary winter, and insulation under the sand to keep your bare feet from getting too cool.

“We wanted to create a new place that could offer a little bit of the summer, all year,” The Beach YYC’s website reads.

“Somewhere to kick off your shoes and dig your feet in the sand, and then pick a sport and play that in the sand as well.”

The entire building can be rented out for parties, and there are drop-in and registered volleyball games available to join throughout the week.

While it might not be quite the same as a day at the beach without a body of water to enjoy, Elliot Weinstein, the owner of The Beach YYC, said in an email to Daily Hive that adding a pool is a definite possibility.

“We don’t actually want to get the sand too wet, so we will need to try it out once or so and see how it goes.”

Volleyball players can sign up for The Beach YYC’s league schedule on Dash Platform, and the company is working with local athletes to allow for cheap or free training possibilities.

There will also be free drop-in all throughout the opening week, beginning today (Monday) from 6 to 10 pm, and their grand opening will take place on October 1.

Here are a few photos of the first days of The Beach YYC!

 

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The Beach YYC

Hours: Volleyball league schedules available here, regular drop-in hours on Tuesday and Friday nights after 10 pm, though may differ for opening week
Where: 3030-2600 Portland Street SE, Calgary

DH Calgary StaffDH Calgary Staff

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