The following year he built a larger-scaled model in an abandonded billiards hall in Phoenix.  A fully engineered model was built later in 1967, and in the same year Clairol Inc., came on board to help further develop the wave machine.  Construction of Big Surf began in January of 1969 in Tempe, Arizona.  In September of that year, the surf center opened with a press conference and live surfing demonstration by World Surfing Champion Fred Hemmings Jr.  Now, 43 years later, Big Surf Waterpark is home to America¿s original wave pool and features over a dozen additional rides for all ages! The famed wave pool is the third-largest in the world, holding 2.5 million gallons of water.