Big Surf facts for kids
Big Surf is a fun waterpark located in Tempe, Arizona. It opened way back in 1969. This park was special because it had the very first wave pool in the United States! Imagine surfing on man-made waves in the middle of Arizona!
The Story of Big Surf
Big Surf has a cool history. It opened in the summer of 1969. This makes it one of the oldest waterparks with a wave pool in the U.S. The wave pool was designed by Phil Dexter. It was even recognized as an important engineering landmark in 2013. This was because it was the "first inland surfing facility in North America." That's a big deal for a waterpark!
When Big Surf first opened, a world champion surfer named Fred Hemmings helped out. He even rode the first wave ever made there! For a while, the park had surfing shows and competitions. People could also use the waves for surfing. Later, for safety reasons, these big events happened less often. Now, you can still surf there before the park opens or in the early evening.
Over the years, Big Surf has added more cool rides. They also changed their original sand beach to a concrete bottom. In 2009, the park celebrated its 40th birthday! There was a time when people thought Big Surf might close. But luckily, it reopened in 2010 under new management.
More Fun at Big Surf
Big Surf isn't just about waves! Many interesting things have happened there.
The famous band Pink Floyd even performed a concert here in 1972. This was part of their "Dark Side of the Moon Tour."
From 1977 to 1980, a popular teen disco called The Rock Hop was held at Big Surf. It was a fun place for young people to dance on Friday nights.
In 1979, the park added exciting waterslides. These slides gave visitors even more ways to splash and play!
