On a recent sweltering summer night, the blazing guitars and thunderous drums of Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) cranked up the heat even higher for 2,000-plus BTO concert-goers inside the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.
The sold-out crowd of mostly seniors were happily standing, sweating and grooving to songs more than 50 years old, especially erupting for the encore of the night, “Takin’ Care of Business.”
The Surf stages dozens of these concerts throughout the year. Some shows feature more current rock and country artists, but plenty of them include bands and performers from the classic-rock era that folks of a certain age especially enjoy, rockers such as Robert Plant, The Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Santana and more.
Having attended several shows there myself, including that raucous BTO concert, I strongly recommend a visit to the Surf Ballroom and Museum if you’re a fan of rock music and its history.
Here are four cool things about the Surf:

History: The day the music died
After their performance at the Surf’s “Winter Dance Party” on February 2nd, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), three hugely popular rock ‘n roll stars at the time, were killed when their small, chartered plane crashed, about five miles north of Clear Lake, shortly after taking off from nearby Mason City Airport.
That plane crash eventually would inspire the lyric, “the day the music died,” in Don McLean’s 1972 song “American Pie.” It was a tragic ending for three talented musicians and, looking back, it also seemed like an end of an era, as music and America were dramatically changing as the 1960s dawned. As the Surf’s website states, the crash “symbolized the end of a period in both rock and roll and American history. The innocence, it seems, was forever lost.” As the website further states, it was this fateful show that made the most lasting mark on the Surf.
Starting in 1979, the Surf has honored those performers’ legacy with its February Winter Dance Party, which always includes a variety of national acts.
In addition, an intriguing music museum was developed inside the ballroom that traces the various musical styles and performers featured at the Surf since the original ballroom opened in 1933. Those styles range from big band and jazz in the Surf’s early days to rock and country in more recent times. A fire destroyed the original building in 1947, but a new ballroom, which is the building that still stands today, opened in 1948.
The museum is a nostalgic array of signed guitars and other instruments, hundreds of autographed photos of musicians who have played the Surf since the 1930s, original concert posters, 45 rpm records, and dozens of other artifacts and pieces of rock ‘n roll history.

Venue: A great live music room
Beyond the ballroom’s history, it’s simply a great place to see and hear live music. From its intimate size—with a capacity of just over 2,000—and its original hardwood dance floor in front of the classic, velvet-curtained stage, to a respectable sound system and several fully stocked bars, the ballroom delivers a fun, satisfying concert experience.
The building’s interior reflects the ballroom’s quirky name—after all, where’s the “surf” in Iowa? The Surf got its name and motif from the desire of the original owners to create a ballroom resembling an ocean beach club, according to the Surf’s website. So, for instance, you’ll see murals depicting pounding surf and swaying palm trees, and find bamboo and rattan furnishings. Plus, the museum is integrated into the ballroom itself, as a part of the interior, rather than set off in another wing of the building, so you can peruse those rock artifacts in between musical acts or sets.
In 2011, the Surf was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2021 was designated as a National Historic Landmark, recognizing the Surf’s enduring role in the history of American music.
Seniors and those with disabilities should take note: Most of the tickets for shows at the Surf are sold as “standing general admission,” meaning the audience stands (or dances) on the large dance floor in front of the stage for the entire show, similar to how concerts work at First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. There aren’t many seats besides a scattering of booths that can be purchased as an upgrade ahead of time. So, use your judgement when planning to see a show there.
Beyond the venue itself, you’ll find plenty of nearby bars and restaurants for your pre-concert dinner and post-concert cocktails. Before the BTO show, I had dinner at the Surf Galley, which is just across the parking lot from the ballroom. Try the Mahi Mahi Florentine.
Concerts: Keeping the music alive
The Surf will forever be tied to Don McLean’s classic line about “the day the music died,” but the ballroom’s management has done a laudable job of making sure the music lives on at the Surf, with a robust calendar of concerts all year, generally offering several shows per month depending on the season.
In addition to its annual Winter Dance Party and Summer Concert Series, the Surf brings in a variety of bands and individuals every year, from current country and rock performers to classic rock acts. A small sampling of past concerts: Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Three Dog Night, Johnny Rivers, The Beach Boys, Parliament/Funkadelic, Los Lobos and many more.
There’s also a reverence for the Surf’s history among musicians who play there. When Robert Plant played the ballroom in 2019, he performed “Bluebirds Over the Mountain,” a song by Ritchie Valens, as a salute to Valens’ and the Surf’s legacy.
Location: An easy two-hour drive
Finally, the Surf is a fast, easy two hours from the Twin Cities. Just drive south on I-35 into Iowa and take the Highway 18 exit at Clear Lake. Head west until you hit Buddy Holly Place and take a left.
If you’re energetic, you can do a down-and-back trip on the same night. Or there are plenty of places to stay overnight in and around Clear Lake.
The route along I-35 also offers some fun stops along the way, including the giant Cabela’s store outside Owatonna, and Diamond Jo Casino, just south of the Minnesota-Iowa border, which includes a sports book betting option that is currently unavailable in Minnesota.
Whichever way you go—down-and-back or overnight—plan for some great music, notable history and a fun time. Surf’s up!
Angelo Gentile is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer. He recently wrote about tribute bands for Minnesota Good Age.