World’s First Wave Pool Returns to its Roots

May 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Big Surf in the 1970s

Did you know the Valley is home to the world’s first wave pool? “Waikiki Beach” at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe has welcomed desert beach bums for more than four decades. Today, it remains the third largest wave pool worldwide, containing some 2.5 million gallons of water.

The wave pool is the brainchild of Phoenix construction engineer Phillip Dexter. Fascinated by surfers he saw on TV during the 60s, Dexter envisioned a surfing destination right here in the Valley of the Sun. Ironically, Dexter wasn’t a good surfer himself. Prior to embarking on this project, he had only seen the ocean a handful of times. First when deployed on a pocket carrier during World War II, the second in 1965 when serving a small stint as a construction engineer in California.

Filed Under: Dose of History, Recreation, Valley of the Sun Tagged With: , , , ,

Early Political Shenanigans: How Phoenix Became the Capital of Arizona

October 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Politics

Territorial citizens took great delight applying social acupuncture to local politicos. It’s been said with dubious pride that Arizona had some of the finest legislators money could buy. Old timers around Jerome used to say that every time the subject of a bullion tax would come up before the legislature Henry Allen, superintendent of the United Verde Mine, would go over to the local bank, make a sizable withdrawal and announce to everyone within earshot that he was “off to Phoenix to buy some mules and jackasses.” A few days later, he would return, without livestock but by some coincidence the bill for the bullion tax would die quietly in some committee soon after.

Filed Under: Culture, Dose of History, Small Town Scene, Valley of the Sun Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Roof Rocks Help Cool Hot House

July 19, 2009 By 2 Comments

Rocks on the roof? Who to call but the estimable Max Underwood, professor of architecture at Arizona State University, a specialist in Valley architecture, and hail-fellow-well-met.

Underwood says your native friend is correct. Rocks on the roof can be traced to the Native Americans who lived here long before anyone dreamed of professional hockey and were adopted by homesteaders.

Filed Under: Odd Observations, Valley of the Sun, Weather Talk Tagged With: , ,