Big Surf gone? Tempe waterpark sells off items for auction

No more Big Surf? Tempe waterpark may be closed for good

Online auction house SAM Auctions had been hosting a liquidation auction selling off a large amount of assets from the park, including swimming tubes, slides, boogie boards, bike racks and more, prompting speculation that the longtime waterpark has closed its doors for good. FOX 10's Bailey Miller reports.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizonans who planned to spend their summer days cooling off at Tempe's Big Surf Waterpark may be out of luck.

Online auction house SAM Auctions has hosted a liquidation auction selling off a large amount of assets from the park, including swimming tubes, slides, boogie boards, bike racks and more. The auction opened in late January and closed on Feb. 16.

The park was only open for some drive-in movies in 2020 and was shut down in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Now, it's not clear what will happen to the waterpark off Loop 202 and McClintock. Big Surf could be closed for good.

The Big Surf website still shows a press release from April 21, 2021 stating that the waterpark team is "very confident in our decision to reopen in 2022 for our 53rd season. We look forward to seeing everyone then."

There is still no word on what will be happening to the park, as well as the land it sits on.

Phoenix area residents react

As news spread of Big Surf's potential closure, people from the community say they are saddened to hear the news.

"It is a great place," said David Schwartz, who bought items at the auction. "Anytime you have a place like this that goes out of business, it is a definite loss to the community."

Throughout the day on Feb. 17, people have been stopping at Big Surf to pick up their auction items.

"I bid on about 10 to 15 different items," said Schwartz. "I am in the business of buying and selling, but I ended up with plumbing supplies."