Courtesy of Great View RR Rink/the Martins.
Video courtesy of Valley News. It shows one of the last time the rink running before it closed up.
Al's Casino Roller Rink, West Canaan, NH (Original location)
Al's Casino Roller Rink, 180 US Route 4, Enfield, NH (relocated)
Great View Roller Skating Rink, 180 US Rt 4, Enfield, NH (Second/final)
Al's Casino Roller Rink was original name after Al DeHavens who ran the rink for ten years starting in 1977. Then he wanted to retire in ten years and sold it to Peter & Diane Martin, a couple who ran the rink till 2019.
This much storied rink was a nice cozy spot overseeing the Mascoma Lake with the forest behind them as you can zoom out on Google Map. Beautiful area but right next door to the rink, was a cemetery. Anyway! This rink was the last of roller rink in New Hampshire. Now the title is shared with Vermont the only two states without any skating rink. It is quite sad. 2019 marks slow deaths of rinks in many areas.
Both rinks, the Skateland Vermont and Al's Casino/Great View both were last operating rinks to close in late 2010s and both has to do with costs because not much skaters around. Skyrocketed costs of operating.. the closure of original Skateland in Vermont in 2010 was the start of a ripple effect for the VT-NH region that they are closing for good.
Taxes are usually the biggest problem in 2010s. For the closure of Skateland in Vermont in 2010 was Death taxes that estate taxes were too high. The rebooted version was because less skaters skated at a brand new facility that I am sure taxes are also to be blamed. Financing they said caused the closure.
Now, onto this rink, yes, the article said the cost of taxes really were killing the business and hurts the Martins. Sadly his trying efforts were his best to attempt to keep the rink operational. He even attempted to have annual membership akin to fitness clubs and golf courses plans. This is why fitness clubs are very popular (as of 2019). Two or three were just opened up right near me in my hometown in Liverpool, NY Anyway, that is what I see how their business model works.
But you cannot do that model of annual membership plan because today skaters are children. They have no concept of money. Just parents giving children lunch money daily and thats like 10,000 Dollars a year for school lunches far cry from my days as a kid. That amount is for per child.
Now for skating, 50 weeks times 10 Dollars a week, that brings to 500 Dollars just for admission, not mention to rentals, food, the helpers, lockers, video games.
I am sure the Martins had excellent ideas he tried with the annual membership that could help boost the rink business. He tried far back in 2017 but failed in 2019 and he shut down for good.
Now the rink has converted to pets resort. Haha. Cute name. Its a kennel for sure. Or an indoor pet running space. Poor floor! It was originally for skates. Now for pets. It is sad.
The building was a standard Gable sheet metal warehouse style building. no windows. Arched steel truss with Gable style roof is quite unique at this rink. You will see the photos.
The rink was set pretty much toward countryside with the forest in backdrop. I am sure it is beautiful forest there. The parking lot was a little lower than the ground where the rink building was. You had to walk up the road to walk in. But if you park toward the back, you had to take the steps up. It appeared to be around 20 steps up. That was a little laborious to do so. But it was nice capture by Google to show 5 Turkeys taking their stroll on the parking lot. See photo again.
Originally it was Drab Grey building then it was painted in Sky Blue externally with a 2D skate upon the roof-line of the rink. Internally, it was epoxy floor.
Actually the very first Al's Casino was at another location. It was in West Canaan. Al purchased it to convert to a rink and the floor was quite wobble and flawed but everyone loved the rink. It was too small because of so many people skated at the original West Canaan location. So, Al purchased a new property and built a new rink. The people in Enfield did not a rink fearing that it would bring the wrong crowd! Wrong crowd!? This was 1980s!
Al went ahead and built that rink most people knew of. It was larger, better, and easier for skaters.
The Martins tried to keep it up. At the start it was easy 200 skaters a night or more. But then ended up with just 40 to 80 skaters a night. It was hard financially to keep up. One report says 21,000 Dollars property taxes with just few skaters there it is hard to break that amount.
One time when Al ran the Al's Casino, there was a hush hush party for a huge name band, Aerosmith played there. They were the ones reserved a private party for themselves and they skated as well as played the music there. Rarely any an operational rink after 1975 on would have a huge name band play at a skating rink. A far cry from more common in 1930s to 1950s skating rink era with big bands, orchestra and local garage bands besides the organ music.
But Al's had circus music. Quite different. He had as a theme back in the 1970s rather than the Disco craze. Smart move because Disco died that July 1979.
I am sure changes to the rink appearance inside with renovations occurred a few times. Having said, only I have the appearance for the newer appearance under Great View. It was concrete with Powder Blue colored epoxy floor. Exterior to match with Sky Blue walls. Really brightened up.
Lighter Blue on the wall with big fonts with the name of the rink.
Sadly the rink did not last. Many others made efforts. The manager tried to purchase but the cost would be 850,000 Dollars for a two lot nearly four acres property. Yes, even it has its own road!
Original Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Relocated Rink Size: N/A Floor: Powered Blue Epoxy Concrete
Floor Layout: Standard, with Roller Derby Track
Building Size: 16,000 SF Built: c. 1980s
Roof: Gable, Sheet metal warehouse style.
Operated: Original location West Canaan: 1977 to ?
Al's Casino: 1977 to 1987
At new location for Al's Casino: ? to 1987
Great View Roller Rink: 1987 to Sunday June 30, 2019
Reason for Closure: Al retired, sold. Martins sold, now its a indoor pet park.
Wanted: Information regarding photographs of original location in West Canaan and original Al's at the final location. Specific dates of open and closed for each.
Sources: FRRP, YouTube, New Hampshire Public Radio, Valley News, Only in Your State, Facebook,
© 2019 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Al's Casino Roller Rink, 180 US Route 4, Enfield, NH (relocated)
Great View Roller Skating Rink, 180 US Rt 4, Enfield, NH (Second/final)
Al's Casino Roller Rink was original name after Al DeHavens who ran the rink for ten years starting in 1977. Then he wanted to retire in ten years and sold it to Peter & Diane Martin, a couple who ran the rink till 2019.
This much storied rink was a nice cozy spot overseeing the Mascoma Lake with the forest behind them as you can zoom out on Google Map. Beautiful area but right next door to the rink, was a cemetery. Anyway! This rink was the last of roller rink in New Hampshire. Now the title is shared with Vermont the only two states without any skating rink. It is quite sad. 2019 marks slow deaths of rinks in many areas.
Both rinks, the Skateland Vermont and Al's Casino/Great View both were last operating rinks to close in late 2010s and both has to do with costs because not much skaters around. Skyrocketed costs of operating.. the closure of original Skateland in Vermont in 2010 was the start of a ripple effect for the VT-NH region that they are closing for good.
Taxes are usually the biggest problem in 2010s. For the closure of Skateland in Vermont in 2010 was Death taxes that estate taxes were too high. The rebooted version was because less skaters skated at a brand new facility that I am sure taxes are also to be blamed. Financing they said caused the closure.
Now, onto this rink, yes, the article said the cost of taxes really were killing the business and hurts the Martins. Sadly his trying efforts were his best to attempt to keep the rink operational. He even attempted to have annual membership akin to fitness clubs and golf courses plans. This is why fitness clubs are very popular (as of 2019). Two or three were just opened up right near me in my hometown in Liverpool, NY Anyway, that is what I see how their business model works.
But you cannot do that model of annual membership plan because today skaters are children. They have no concept of money. Just parents giving children lunch money daily and thats like 10,000 Dollars a year for school lunches far cry from my days as a kid. That amount is for per child.
Now for skating, 50 weeks times 10 Dollars a week, that brings to 500 Dollars just for admission, not mention to rentals, food, the helpers, lockers, video games.
I am sure the Martins had excellent ideas he tried with the annual membership that could help boost the rink business. He tried far back in 2017 but failed in 2019 and he shut down for good.
Now the rink has converted to pets resort. Haha. Cute name. Its a kennel for sure. Or an indoor pet running space. Poor floor! It was originally for skates. Now for pets. It is sad.
The building was a standard Gable sheet metal warehouse style building. no windows. Arched steel truss with Gable style roof is quite unique at this rink. You will see the photos.
The rink was set pretty much toward countryside with the forest in backdrop. I am sure it is beautiful forest there. The parking lot was a little lower than the ground where the rink building was. You had to walk up the road to walk in. But if you park toward the back, you had to take the steps up. It appeared to be around 20 steps up. That was a little laborious to do so. But it was nice capture by Google to show 5 Turkeys taking their stroll on the parking lot. See photo again.
Originally it was Drab Grey building then it was painted in Sky Blue externally with a 2D skate upon the roof-line of the rink. Internally, it was epoxy floor.
Actually the very first Al's Casino was at another location. It was in West Canaan. Al purchased it to convert to a rink and the floor was quite wobble and flawed but everyone loved the rink. It was too small because of so many people skated at the original West Canaan location. So, Al purchased a new property and built a new rink. The people in Enfield did not a rink fearing that it would bring the wrong crowd! Wrong crowd!? This was 1980s!
Al went ahead and built that rink most people knew of. It was larger, better, and easier for skaters.
The Martins tried to keep it up. At the start it was easy 200 skaters a night or more. But then ended up with just 40 to 80 skaters a night. It was hard financially to keep up. One report says 21,000 Dollars property taxes with just few skaters there it is hard to break that amount.
One time when Al ran the Al's Casino, there was a hush hush party for a huge name band, Aerosmith played there. They were the ones reserved a private party for themselves and they skated as well as played the music there. Rarely any an operational rink after 1975 on would have a huge name band play at a skating rink. A far cry from more common in 1930s to 1950s skating rink era with big bands, orchestra and local garage bands besides the organ music.
But Al's had circus music. Quite different. He had as a theme back in the 1970s rather than the Disco craze. Smart move because Disco died that July 1979.
I am sure changes to the rink appearance inside with renovations occurred a few times. Having said, only I have the appearance for the newer appearance under Great View. It was concrete with Powder Blue colored epoxy floor. Exterior to match with Sky Blue walls. Really brightened up.
Lighter Blue on the wall with big fonts with the name of the rink.
Sadly the rink did not last. Many others made efforts. The manager tried to purchase but the cost would be 850,000 Dollars for a two lot nearly four acres property. Yes, even it has its own road!
Original Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Relocated Rink Size: N/A Floor: Powered Blue Epoxy Concrete
Floor Layout: Standard, with Roller Derby Track
Building Size: 16,000 SF Built: c. 1980s
Roof: Gable, Sheet metal warehouse style.
Operated: Original location West Canaan: 1977 to ?
Al's Casino: 1977 to 1987
At new location for Al's Casino: ? to 1987
Great View Roller Rink: 1987 to Sunday June 30, 2019
Reason for Closure: Al retired, sold. Martins sold, now its a indoor pet park.
Wanted: Information regarding photographs of original location in West Canaan and original Al's at the final location. Specific dates of open and closed for each.
Sources: FRRP, YouTube, New Hampshire Public Radio, Valley News, Only in Your State, Facebook,
© 2019 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.