On the remaining leg of our journey, we went through Decorah, Iowa, home of the Decorah Eagles.  We have been here before but still wanted to take a quick look.

We didn’t see Mom or Dad but you could see eaglet activity in the nest.

As we traveled though the small towns, all were dressed in red, white, and blue for Memorial Day events.

You remember the last year when we were in Clear Lake, Iowa we stopped to see the site of the plane crash in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper were killed in 1959.  This time we got to see the Surf Ballroom, the place of their final performance.

The ballroom opened in 1948 after the original Surf Ballroom located across the street( circa 1933) burned in 1947.  Both have offered music and dancing from the Big Band era to present day.

The Surf Ballroom was fashioned after a south seas beach club.  The maple dance floor, 6,300 square feet, was built to resemble an outdoor patio.  The ceilings were dark as a midnight sky.  The promenade and booth seating area( for up to 894 people) look as if they are located under a  awning cabana roof with painted murals acting as an outdoor view.

Most things are unchanged at the Surf:  the stage, the booths, dance floor, coat check, and phone booth; all are the original.  Tributes to all who have played the Surf are displayed.

But none more so than the three who made their final performance on this stage.

You can feel the history of rock and roll.

Indeed he does as a major influence on other popular music artists that began to emerge in the 60s including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Elton John.

What do you mean ‘We ain’t nothing but a hound dog.’  Happy Trails ~ Indy and Lucy

 Coming to you from the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa