Did you know that Big Surf Waterpark opened on October 24, 1969? In 1965, four years before the “surf center” opened, it was just an idea thought of by a man named Phil Dexter.  Dexter took that idea and in 1966 built the first model of his wave machine…in his backyard!

Big Surf served as more than just a surf center.  It was a popular destination for numerous concerts from musicians like: Pink Floyd, Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beach Boys, Chicago, Sting, Rod Stewart and many, many more.  The concert tradition was revived in 2011 with two Sound Wave Electronic Dance Music festivals.  Big Surf was also featured in three motion pictures: Just One of the Guys (1985), Another Day In Paradise (2016) and Storm of the Century (1999).