All above courtesy of Google Map. The evolution of look. From top to above- bird view, July 2013, followed by May 2016, February 2019 and July 2019.
All courtesy of Learning Zone and Skate Center from their defunct website.
Battles Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Battles-Lambert Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Lambert Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
The Skate Center (Roller) 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Learning Zone and Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Battles-Lambert Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Lambert Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
The Skate Center (Roller) 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Learning Zone and Skate Center 1221 Commerce Dr. Auburn, AL
Battles Skate Center, Battles-Lambert Skate Center, as well as The Skate Center Roller, and Learning Zone and Skate Center were all at 1221 Commerce Dr in Auburn, Alabama. They changed quite a bit on names. The Battles-Lambert Skate Center came to mind because there was one in Georgia which might be a sister rink Lambert Skate Center in Columbus, GA. Might be. Because of the Learning Zone. Something connecting there. It was possible.
Speaking of names, it was because originally owned by Howard and Lisa Battles But when they had a divorce, this is why the name were changed to Battles-Lambert Skate Center. Then dropped the Battles name and stick with the name, Lambert Skate Center. Apparently this went to Lisa.
Also Battles Skate Center was a sister rink to Captain Battles Skates Center in, Moulton, AL which was also Skate Arena at that location. That was owned by Howard Battles, not with his ex-wife, Lisa.
Rink Time said for The Skate Center (Roller) was first started in 1987. But I need to know for sure about others. The final two rinks in operations was The Skate Center and the Learning Zone and Skate Center. Those two rinks are quite evidently seen on Google Map history. It was closed likely in 2019 because of the renovation of the building and parking lot being repaved. it turned into a Christian Church. From physical need to spiritual need.
The Learning Zone and Skate Center opened in 2008 only to be closed by around 2017ish. The Learning Zone was a day care center. Similar concept to the Lambert Skate Center in Columbus, Georgia. Both may have been similar owner and business plan to include day care center and a roller rink. The name was quite clear though.
Unfortunately I do not have information regarding to Battles Skate Center and Battles-Lambert Skate Center such as opening.
Day care for children age 3 weeks to 12 years of age.
Currently value in July 2020 is 744,000 USD. But it was sold for 1,250,000 USD on April 25, 1018 to the church.
The Interior.
BINGO! Their website is still on there. Apparently some photos showed that Graying of America look. I am not sure about older rink there but look at this way, the newer rinks there before it was sold into a church. It was blackish ceiling with Dark Gray carpet and spool seating bench as some walls and parts were in Yellow. With White paint Polyurethane Coated floor. Maybe Maple but i am not sure. And yes, that step up/down onto or off the rink. Apparently every rink in GA and AL are step up/down. Why? Rinks in the north like NYS are not like that. It is always flat but those two states,
There are a little bit of other colors but mainly Grey and Black and Yellow.
It was almost monochromatic interior for that rink. Children would like it colorful. It does but. So, with this rink, apparently it appeared to be designed for adults. By the look of it. And the exterior too. A splash of more color would have been advised. No offense. But that is how I viewed it. On the good side the monochromatic makes it very stabilized mood instead of wild. More like a fitness workout mood. This means positive attitude. "I am going to do it!" attitude.
The Exterior.
Originally before it became a church in 2019, they had 1980s style architecture on the outside with glass blocks for some vertical space on the front wall especially right of the admission door.
What disappointed me about the exterior was that they did not have direct ramp for accessibility for people with Disabilities. They did have a ramp however. It was not direct to the front door where glass doors were. They did have a ramp directly go to the "side door" up front. That was not a good accessibility.
The color, like the interior, the exterior was very much monochromatic. The Greyness of America. In fact they were ahead of time.
In Google Map before 2016, the posts and the entrance area were in Black or Night Gray but in the 2016 photo, it was becoming like those in Fast Food look--Gray building with Redness in certain area. That Red replaced the Night Gray look at the entrance. But...the 2019 photo showed they renovated into a church with new flat stone half-wall covered the original Cinder-block look. Also covered up were Glass blocks. But added more side doors up front. This time, they actually repaired the sidewalk to have ADA accessibility. Potential skate owners, please compare the photos and you will see why its important to have such ramps. Look at the one redone by the church to have better accessibility for their church members who are disabled and seniors serving for the LORD. Your rink should have good accessibility for all ages. Hey, have you ever thought of adding adult rink walkers each morning to compete against malls? First, get your sidewalks accessible for others.
I do not know what the looks were under Battles and Battles-Lambert.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 25,128 SF. Built: 1980. Demolished: Still standing, now a church.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-trim with Cinderblock and Flatstone-Veneer Office-like Building.
Roof: Gable with faux flat roof look.
Acres: 2.56 Acres.
Operated: 1980 to April 25, 2018.
Battles Skate Center: 1980 to 1987?
Battles-Lambert Skate Center: 1980 to 1987?
Lambert Skate Center: N/A.
The Skate Center (Roller): 1987 to April 25, 2018.
Learning Zone and Skate Center: 2008 to April 25, 2018.
Reason for Closure:
Battles Skate Center: Name changed to Battles-Lambert Skate Center due to divorce.
Battles-Lambert Skate Center: Name changed again to Lambert Skate Center 2 years later due to divorce and name change for the owner, Lisa Lambert who was Lisa Battles.
Lambert Skate Center: After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
The Skate Center (Roller): After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
Learning Zone and Skate Center: After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exteriors. Exact dates of all rinks, why closed for each.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Manta - Learning Zone and Skate Center, Discover Our Town - Learning Zone and Skate Center,
Four Square - The Skate Center, Yelp - The Learning Zone and Skate Center, Rink Time - The Skate Center Roller,
The Learning Zone and the Skate Center website, Loop Net,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10
Speaking of names, it was because originally owned by Howard and Lisa Battles But when they had a divorce, this is why the name were changed to Battles-Lambert Skate Center. Then dropped the Battles name and stick with the name, Lambert Skate Center. Apparently this went to Lisa.
Also Battles Skate Center was a sister rink to Captain Battles Skates Center in, Moulton, AL which was also Skate Arena at that location. That was owned by Howard Battles, not with his ex-wife, Lisa.
Rink Time said for The Skate Center (Roller) was first started in 1987. But I need to know for sure about others. The final two rinks in operations was The Skate Center and the Learning Zone and Skate Center. Those two rinks are quite evidently seen on Google Map history. It was closed likely in 2019 because of the renovation of the building and parking lot being repaved. it turned into a Christian Church. From physical need to spiritual need.
The Learning Zone and Skate Center opened in 2008 only to be closed by around 2017ish. The Learning Zone was a day care center. Similar concept to the Lambert Skate Center in Columbus, Georgia. Both may have been similar owner and business plan to include day care center and a roller rink. The name was quite clear though.
Unfortunately I do not have information regarding to Battles Skate Center and Battles-Lambert Skate Center such as opening.
Day care for children age 3 weeks to 12 years of age.
Currently value in July 2020 is 744,000 USD. But it was sold for 1,250,000 USD on April 25, 1018 to the church.
The Interior.
BINGO! Their website is still on there. Apparently some photos showed that Graying of America look. I am not sure about older rink there but look at this way, the newer rinks there before it was sold into a church. It was blackish ceiling with Dark Gray carpet and spool seating bench as some walls and parts were in Yellow. With White paint Polyurethane Coated floor. Maybe Maple but i am not sure. And yes, that step up/down onto or off the rink. Apparently every rink in GA and AL are step up/down. Why? Rinks in the north like NYS are not like that. It is always flat but those two states,
There are a little bit of other colors but mainly Grey and Black and Yellow.
It was almost monochromatic interior for that rink. Children would like it colorful. It does but. So, with this rink, apparently it appeared to be designed for adults. By the look of it. And the exterior too. A splash of more color would have been advised. No offense. But that is how I viewed it. On the good side the monochromatic makes it very stabilized mood instead of wild. More like a fitness workout mood. This means positive attitude. "I am going to do it!" attitude.
The Exterior.
Originally before it became a church in 2019, they had 1980s style architecture on the outside with glass blocks for some vertical space on the front wall especially right of the admission door.
What disappointed me about the exterior was that they did not have direct ramp for accessibility for people with Disabilities. They did have a ramp however. It was not direct to the front door where glass doors were. They did have a ramp directly go to the "side door" up front. That was not a good accessibility.
The color, like the interior, the exterior was very much monochromatic. The Greyness of America. In fact they were ahead of time.
In Google Map before 2016, the posts and the entrance area were in Black or Night Gray but in the 2016 photo, it was becoming like those in Fast Food look--Gray building with Redness in certain area. That Red replaced the Night Gray look at the entrance. But...the 2019 photo showed they renovated into a church with new flat stone half-wall covered the original Cinder-block look. Also covered up were Glass blocks. But added more side doors up front. This time, they actually repaired the sidewalk to have ADA accessibility. Potential skate owners, please compare the photos and you will see why its important to have such ramps. Look at the one redone by the church to have better accessibility for their church members who are disabled and seniors serving for the LORD. Your rink should have good accessibility for all ages. Hey, have you ever thought of adding adult rink walkers each morning to compete against malls? First, get your sidewalks accessible for others.
I do not know what the looks were under Battles and Battles-Lambert.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 25,128 SF. Built: 1980. Demolished: Still standing, now a church.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-trim with Cinderblock and Flatstone-Veneer Office-like Building.
Roof: Gable with faux flat roof look.
Acres: 2.56 Acres.
Operated: 1980 to April 25, 2018.
Battles Skate Center: 1980 to 1987?
Battles-Lambert Skate Center: 1980 to 1987?
Lambert Skate Center: N/A.
The Skate Center (Roller): 1987 to April 25, 2018.
Learning Zone and Skate Center: 2008 to April 25, 2018.
Reason for Closure:
Battles Skate Center: Name changed to Battles-Lambert Skate Center due to divorce.
Battles-Lambert Skate Center: Name changed again to Lambert Skate Center 2 years later due to divorce and name change for the owner, Lisa Lambert who was Lisa Battles.
Lambert Skate Center: After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
The Skate Center (Roller): After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
Learning Zone and Skate Center: After Lisa divorced again (yes, 2nd time), sold to her bookeeper.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exteriors. Exact dates of all rinks, why closed for each.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Manta - Learning Zone and Skate Center, Discover Our Town - Learning Zone and Skate Center,
Four Square - The Skate Center, Yelp - The Learning Zone and Skate Center, Rink Time - The Skate Center Roller,
The Learning Zone and the Skate Center website, Loop Net,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10