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Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA

Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Theatre & EventsHistory BuffIconicRainy-Day Pick

Surf Ballroom

460 North Shore Dr · Clear Lake, IA

Why you should go…

The Surf reopened in 1948 after a fire, rebuilt across the street from the 1933 original, and a 1990s renovation restored its 1948 look, with ocean murals, bamboo and rattan furniture and fake palm trees beside the stage. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson gave their last performances here on February 2, 1959. A self-guided tour covers artifact exhibits and the 6,300-square-foot dance floor, and the ballroom still hosts concerts.

  • #music history
  • #historic ballroom
  • #buddy holly
  • #concert venue
  • #rock and roll museum

Good to know

General theatre & events guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Curtain time is firm

    Latecomers are commonly held at the back until a scene break, so build in a buffer.

  • Study the seating chart

    Price and sightline vary a lot within the same house. A few rows back can be the better seat.

  • Rush and lottery seats exist

    Many venues release same-day tickets at a discount if you are flexible about where you sit.

  • Arrive with time to spare

    Parking, bag check, and finding your row all take longer than you think on a full house.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Surf Ballroom, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    SPAM Museum

    Free

    Learn the story of SPAM through interactive galleries, pop culture displays and free samples handed out by museum staff.

    42 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Jolly Green Giant Statue

    Free

    Pose between the legs of a giant fiberglass Jolly Green Giant standing in a small park just off Interstate 90 in Blue Earth.

    50 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Grotto of the Redemption

    Free

    Walk through nine hand-built grottos encrusted with minerals, gems and fossils that depict the life of Christ.

    55 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Niagara Cave

    Under $25

    A 200-foot-deep limestone cave near Harmony with an underground stream and 60-foot waterfall.

    72 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    Historic

    Historic Mayowood

    Under $25

    One-hour guided tours of the 38-room 1910 mansion Dr. Charles H. Mayo built outside Rochester, furnished with original family pieces and run by the county history center.

    73 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    Guthrie Theater

    $25–$50

    World-class theater on the riverfront, wander its cantilevered Endless Bridge for free Mississippi views.

    127 mi awayMore like this