Patch courtesy of fan on Elsmere Skating Center Fan Page on Facebook. I apologize it is blurred.
Photo courtesy of News Journal/Delaware Online. This was the original Elsmere rink as Elsmere Rollerena before they had a fire. The date is unknown however, by looking at clothes, it appeared to be early 1980s just before the fire. Why? No bell bottoms! And the girl dressed like the 80s (with ref behind her left).
Photo courtesy of News Journal/Delaware Online. Clearly it was after the rebuilt. Noticed new building? And the pretty girls passed by the photographer real close by with those 80s hairdos especially the Farrah Fawcett Feather Hairdo.
Defunct website and logo for Adrenaline Skating Center. Courtesy of Adrenaline Skating Center. It was a very short 13 months long operated rink. Wonder why!
Bottom three photos courtesy of Google Map. Noticed the changes? First one was in October 2007 that was available online showed it had Patriotic Red strip wrapped around the building or almost. And the next one after Charles, the owner passed away, it showed June 2008 with new sign on the facing-the-road side with new sign. However, it was bit confusing. Because Adrenaline opened in August 2008, AFTER Elsmere Skating Center was closed for good on August 1, 2008. The photo showed that sign. It is not clear at all. I looked at my main competitor's website to see that photo. Cannot read it either. Google back then did not have good digital cameras. They need to clean all of it up. What was the sign say at the time, anyone?
All six photos courtesy of Adrenaline Skating Center/ Tracy Medley who provided us the wonderul photos! Thank you Tracy! Oh darn it! I could not add a red rose for Tracy! Weebly, the Dead-Rink's provider does not have any icons. Oh well!
Elsmere Rollerama 215 New Road, Elsmere, DE
Elsmere Skating Center 215 New Rd, Elsmere, DE
Adrenaline Skating Center 215 New Rd, Elsmere, DE
Elsmere Skating Center 215 New Rd, Elsmere, DE
Adrenaline Skating Center 215 New Rd, Elsmere, DE
Those rinks were in operations in Elsmere, Delaware for a while. First it was Elsmere Rollerama. The name sounds like coming from Mid-Century (20th) then Elsmere Skating Center, then under new Management in 2009, it became Adrenaline Skating Center.
This is why the list is in correct order of business at that rink. It was opened in 1964 the building had last held skating in 2008. Let's break down. Under Elsmere Rollerama, it was opened in 1964 and ran till 1981. Then Elsmere Skating Center from 1981 to August 1, 2008. Then under new management, it became Adrenaline Skating Center from late August 2008 to September 15, 2010. That is just two years of operations.
Charles and Connie Wahlig who owned other Delaware rinks in that state operated Elsmere rinks from 1964 till August 1, 2008.
The Rollerena was more simple design rink as it had Maple wood floor, steel pipes rails, windows at one end. Perhaps had on sides too but the photo shown here is not good enough.
It was a Free-span steel truss building with extensions on the sides of the rink. Sadly, that building had a major fire in 1981 but rising from ashes like a phoenix, Elsmere Rollerena became Elsmere Skating Center in order to revive and as "new" business. The newer one clearly displayed much roomier, bigger, cleaner design. It was also a free-span building as well. And this time, cinderblocks built.
It was pretty basic interior too. No graphics according to one photo taken in 1981 for a newspaper article. Unfortunately, I could not tell. It may have renovations through the 80s and 90s before it was sold to new management as Adrenaline Skating Center.
They renovate by changing carpet every 11 years according to Charles Wahlig. The average standard for a business especially hospitality (hotels, motels, restaurants) usually change every seven years. Roller Skates usually can abuse quickly on a carpet than foot traffic. I think I mentioned that in my ebook about the carpet.
Likely the rink was sold in 2008 because of Charles Wahlig passed away on December 8, 2007.
Now it is an automobile dealership and vehicles are the ones now on the rink instead of skates and yes, the only thing left of the rink is the Maple floor which is still exist!
There were problems in 1990 to 1992 at several rinks because of fights. Several links tells about it. But they got tougher and stricter by cutting hours, requiring a TSA-style body and metal detector checks points at entrance, and limiting number of skaters to 500 plus hiring an off-duty police officer.
Tracy Medley who contacted us owned this rink from 2008 to 2010.
Below are the information separated by each generation of rinks.
Elsmere Rollerena--
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: Chevron (on each end of rink).
Building Size: N/A Built: 1964 Demolished: Fire in 1981 but rink rebuilt immediately.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1964 to 1981 (First rink owned by Charles Wahlig in 1975 according to Dun and Bradstreet).
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire. However, reopened as Elsmere Skating Center after rebuilt immediately.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos, exterior photos. Exact dates of open and closing.
Elsmere Skating Center --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1981 Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel cinderblock Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1981 to August 1, 2008 (Note-it was registered as LTD in 1975)
Reason for Closure: Charles Wahlig's passing on December 8, 2007, estate sold.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos, both interior and exterior, no people in it please! As Elsmere for exterior. Exact dates?
Adrenaline Skating Center --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1981 Demolished: Still standing, now as car dealership.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: Late August 2008 to September 15, 2010 (wow, real short! Only 13 months!) Tracy Medley owned and operated this rink.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior. Sign? Reason for closing so soon?
ALL--
Sources (all): Charles Wahlig Obituary, Delaware Online/Delaware News Journal, Newspaper in PDF-, FRRP, Dun and Bradstreet, Yelp (it has not updated and I reported an update as of 25 Feb. 2020).
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This is why the list is in correct order of business at that rink. It was opened in 1964 the building had last held skating in 2008. Let's break down. Under Elsmere Rollerama, it was opened in 1964 and ran till 1981. Then Elsmere Skating Center from 1981 to August 1, 2008. Then under new management, it became Adrenaline Skating Center from late August 2008 to September 15, 2010. That is just two years of operations.
Charles and Connie Wahlig who owned other Delaware rinks in that state operated Elsmere rinks from 1964 till August 1, 2008.
The Rollerena was more simple design rink as it had Maple wood floor, steel pipes rails, windows at one end. Perhaps had on sides too but the photo shown here is not good enough.
It was a Free-span steel truss building with extensions on the sides of the rink. Sadly, that building had a major fire in 1981 but rising from ashes like a phoenix, Elsmere Rollerena became Elsmere Skating Center in order to revive and as "new" business. The newer one clearly displayed much roomier, bigger, cleaner design. It was also a free-span building as well. And this time, cinderblocks built.
It was pretty basic interior too. No graphics according to one photo taken in 1981 for a newspaper article. Unfortunately, I could not tell. It may have renovations through the 80s and 90s before it was sold to new management as Adrenaline Skating Center.
They renovate by changing carpet every 11 years according to Charles Wahlig. The average standard for a business especially hospitality (hotels, motels, restaurants) usually change every seven years. Roller Skates usually can abuse quickly on a carpet than foot traffic. I think I mentioned that in my ebook about the carpet.
Likely the rink was sold in 2008 because of Charles Wahlig passed away on December 8, 2007.
Now it is an automobile dealership and vehicles are the ones now on the rink instead of skates and yes, the only thing left of the rink is the Maple floor which is still exist!
There were problems in 1990 to 1992 at several rinks because of fights. Several links tells about it. But they got tougher and stricter by cutting hours, requiring a TSA-style body and metal detector checks points at entrance, and limiting number of skaters to 500 plus hiring an off-duty police officer.
Tracy Medley who contacted us owned this rink from 2008 to 2010.
Below are the information separated by each generation of rinks.
Elsmere Rollerena--
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: Chevron (on each end of rink).
Building Size: N/A Built: 1964 Demolished: Fire in 1981 but rink rebuilt immediately.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1964 to 1981 (First rink owned by Charles Wahlig in 1975 according to Dun and Bradstreet).
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire. However, reopened as Elsmere Skating Center after rebuilt immediately.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos, exterior photos. Exact dates of open and closing.
Elsmere Skating Center --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1981 Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel cinderblock Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1981 to August 1, 2008 (Note-it was registered as LTD in 1975)
Reason for Closure: Charles Wahlig's passing on December 8, 2007, estate sold.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos, both interior and exterior, no people in it please! As Elsmere for exterior. Exact dates?
Adrenaline Skating Center --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1981 Demolished: Still standing, now as car dealership.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: Late August 2008 to September 15, 2010 (wow, real short! Only 13 months!) Tracy Medley owned and operated this rink.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior. Sign? Reason for closing so soon?
ALL--
Sources (all): Charles Wahlig Obituary, Delaware Online/Delaware News Journal, Newspaper in PDF-, FRRP, Dun and Bradstreet, Yelp (it has not updated and I reported an update as of 25 Feb. 2020).
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.