RAGBRAI riders visit Buddy Holly's last stop

Clear Lake — ’50s music was slamming while spandex was jamming to the tunes of Buddy Holly at the Surf Ballroom on Wednesday.

RAGBRAI riders boogied on the dance floor with their decorated helmets and sweat-drenched shirts, as they visited the last place Buddy Holly played before he died in a plane crash near Clear Lake in 1959.

For some riders, it was a surprise to find the historic location in a town in Iowa.

“It just kind of happened,” said Troy Turley, 49, of Kearney Mo. “It’s awesome. It’s a good memorial.”

Riders lounged in the beach-themed environment and reminisced.

“I like this era of music,” said Chris Getchell, 52, of Marine on St. Croix, MN. “I never thought I’d see it again, so we had to stop by.”

And for others who aren’t Buddy Holly fans, the chance to visit an old ballroom is interesting enough in itself.

“It’s so big,” said Dedee Lehman, 45, of Cedar Rapids. “We were just admiring the floors and how thin the boards are. They don’t make them like that anymore.”

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