The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa

When you are in Albert Lea you definitely have to go to The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Here at this venue Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played their last gig on 2 February 1959.The Surf is about an hour drive from Albert Lea. This picture was taken in front of the Surf Ballroom. From left to right: Antoon, Tony Barrett and David Jo (Eddie's Song).

 

The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa

The Surf Ballroom is full of memorabilia ...

The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa

The stage of the Surf Ballroom. Because of preparations for a Beatles tribute (!) the stage lights are lit ...

 

The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa

Antoon, Tony and Terry Cole (who knew Eddie as a kid and was very kind to show us around Albert Lea) with the memorial statue in front of the Surf Ballroom ...

Crash site Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in Clear Lake, Iowa

This is the field where the red Beechcraft Bonanza four-seater carrying Buddy, Ritchie, Big Bopper and pilot Peterson crashed. The memorial is on the right. Nothing is changed in the landscape since that fateful day in February 1959 ...

Crash site Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in Clear Lake, Iowa

Close-up of the memorial. You can see that a lot of fans visit the site ...

Crash site Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in Clear Lake, Iowa

Tony and Antoon at the memorial ...

Crash site Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in Clear Lake, Iowa

The Beechcraft Bonanza came from this direction ... 

Crash site Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in Clear Lake, Iowa

... and was supposed to fly on in this direction ...

Map with route from Surf Ballroom to crash site

This map will get you from the Surf Ballroom to the crash site ...

Cruise Line Up and Social at Freeborn Co. Fairgrounds

Saturday 12 June 2004

 Cruise Line Up and Social at Freeborn Co. Fairgrounds, Albert Lea, Minnesota

The weather was beautiful when all the cars gathered for the line-up on the fairgrounds ...

Cruise Line Up and Social at Freeborn Co. Fairgrounds, Albert Lea, Minnesota 

The Cochran family were seated in the first cars ...

Cruise Line Up and Social at Freeborn Co. Fairgrounds, Albert Lea, Minnesota 

It started to rain at four o clock and within minutes all hell broke lose!

Cruise Line Up and Social at Freeborn Co. Fairgrounds, Albert Lea, Minnesota 

The cruise was cancelled by the sheriff - thunderstorm warning - just our luck ...

Albert Lea Tribune, Albert Lea, Minnesota

The pictures of the cruise line up are kindly provided by the Albert Lea Tribune ...