It May Be Time To Wave Goodbye To Big Surf Waterpark

TEMPE, AZ —Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe has been closed the last two years and reportedly has been on the market since last fall.

Now, the future of the venue appears in doubt after Big Surf's owners began selling off the venue's assets in a recent online auction.

According to the Phoenix New Times, representatives from Big Surf declined to specify why the park's owners, Texas-based LLC Inland Oceans, never reopened the business and are selling the property and liquidating its assets.

The auction closed on Wednesday and included items like a Tiki totem, boogie boards, swimming tubes, picnic tables and office equipment.

The park debuted in 1969 and featured the first wave pool in the U.S.

Big Surf initially closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, the water attractions remained closed, though the park hosted two concerts, drive-in movies and flea markets.

According to AZFamily.com, the park's owners put out a release last spring that said they were "very confident" the venue would reopen in 2022.

However, a concert called "Punk in Drublic Arizona" scheduled for March 19 at the venue, now is listed as being held at the Scarizona Festival Grounds in Mesa.