Courtesy of Washington County Historical Society. Both pictures in B/W. Taken likely in late 1970s (cars and people wearing clothes).
Bottom four courtesy of Google Map. The top two (the auto part store) was taken in 2008 while the 2018/19 showed the furniture store.
Big Arch Roller Rink 155 West 100 North (now St. George Blvd.), St. George, UT
Big Dome Roller Rink 155 West 100 North (now St. George Blvd.), St. George, UT
Big Dome Roller Rink 155 West 100 North (now St. George Blvd.), St. George, UT
Big Arch Roller Rink and Big Dome Roller rink were on 155 West 100 North which is now St. George Boulevard in St. George, Utah. When you wanted to see the location, they changed the name of the street as I have found out. The 155 West 100 North is not what you think. It is in the new development areas with 2 LDS churches within 4 blocks of each other! So silly to have 2 of same thing within 4 blocks! Of course, Utah is a very strong LDS region.
Anyway, back to the location, you have to look up St. George Boulevard and yes, it is 155 St. George Boulevard. Click on the street and you will see Google Map pointing where it is. You will see it is currently a furniture store (and nice looking store in the Graying of America look) and previously an auto parts store. You will want to adjust the date to see the changes that were made in between 2008 and 2009 that the auto part store closed and furniture store opened up that year of 2009.
Ronald Nelson who bought his father's business in 1960 when his father retired and moved the supply business to that location at the 155 address. He was the Owner and operator, built opened the Big Dome Roller Rink in 1963. He also owned and operated the building. Ronald also owned the Weya rink as well.
The rink was on second floor in this D-shaped building or known as Raised Quonset because of high pitched Arch-curve from wall to wall, not from the ground. It was above the Nelson Supply Company. so when people skated upstairs, there were noises which presented a problem. The roller rink was opened after the supply store was closed. What more interesting was the rink originally had a grill for cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Later, the grill was changed to a snack bar and a place for buying soft drinks. It acted more like a restaurant and rink upstairs but eliminated the restaurant by replacing with a snack bar.
Wesley Alma Nelson who was Ronald's son. Wes used to have a community roller rink in the old recreation center. Do you know what rink this was? Wesley passed away but I could not find obituary.
In 1985, Ronald Nelson sold the store and the roller rink to WMS Famco. But WMS Famco defaulted on their loan so Ronald Nelson took back the building. Later, it became an auto part store and then currently the furniture store.
When it was daytime, the store on the first floor was open but when it was closed, the rink opened up because of the noise of skates and the wooden floor would make irritating noise on the first floor. Back then skates wheels were made of metal. Then they changed to polyurethane or plastic wheels which continue to this day. But rinks itself had only polish or an oil coating which also can make a lot of noise as well.
The Interior.
It was very spacey interior thanks to the Quonset feel interior but it was really on second floor above sporting and supplies store that was on ground floor. The arch was from floor to floor on each side. It had Maple wood floor and wood truss arches that originally was left on property that Ronald used and built the rink with. He did this to save space rather than use on the ground when he bought the building.
One one side there was a kitchen and there was a grill to cook hamburgers and hot dogs but later on, he took them out and it became a snack bar. A real restaurant at the time by the rink. Must be it did not catch on. Today rinks are attempting to add menu to their snackbar. One rink I know of was a steakhouse in the rink!
So, this burger joint was established as part of the rink. A rare establishment with this concept.
The Exterior.
It looked very much like a retail store without noticing the arch Quonset like roofline. It almost hides with that two story flat front building. That still stands today with much renovation especially for the furniture store.
The building was very loud appearing because of huge signs and a lot of writing on it. The auto part store was White walls with a couple of colored stripes and just name of store. The furniture store really made it more classier and nicer looking as if it is brand new built. The sides can tell you the history. See photos above.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple wood (2nd floor) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Wood Truss Cinderblock retail Building.
Roof: Quonset style Arch-curved/D-Roof.
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Nelson Supply: 1960 to 1985
Big Arch Roller Rink: 1963 to 1985
Big Arch Pawn Shop: 1963 to 1985
Reason for Closure: Likely retirement.
Wanted: Information regarding specific dates, why selling and closed the rink?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Washington County Historical Society, 1972 Phone book listing (bottom right page),
Washington County Historical Society 2, Southern Utah Memories: Big Arch Roller Rink was a skater's paradise, by Loren R. Webb, July 5, 2013, Obituary- Ronald Nelson,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Anyway, back to the location, you have to look up St. George Boulevard and yes, it is 155 St. George Boulevard. Click on the street and you will see Google Map pointing where it is. You will see it is currently a furniture store (and nice looking store in the Graying of America look) and previously an auto parts store. You will want to adjust the date to see the changes that were made in between 2008 and 2009 that the auto part store closed and furniture store opened up that year of 2009.
Ronald Nelson who bought his father's business in 1960 when his father retired and moved the supply business to that location at the 155 address. He was the Owner and operator, built opened the Big Dome Roller Rink in 1963. He also owned and operated the building. Ronald also owned the Weya rink as well.
The rink was on second floor in this D-shaped building or known as Raised Quonset because of high pitched Arch-curve from wall to wall, not from the ground. It was above the Nelson Supply Company. so when people skated upstairs, there were noises which presented a problem. The roller rink was opened after the supply store was closed. What more interesting was the rink originally had a grill for cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Later, the grill was changed to a snack bar and a place for buying soft drinks. It acted more like a restaurant and rink upstairs but eliminated the restaurant by replacing with a snack bar.
Wesley Alma Nelson who was Ronald's son. Wes used to have a community roller rink in the old recreation center. Do you know what rink this was? Wesley passed away but I could not find obituary.
In 1985, Ronald Nelson sold the store and the roller rink to WMS Famco. But WMS Famco defaulted on their loan so Ronald Nelson took back the building. Later, it became an auto part store and then currently the furniture store.
When it was daytime, the store on the first floor was open but when it was closed, the rink opened up because of the noise of skates and the wooden floor would make irritating noise on the first floor. Back then skates wheels were made of metal. Then they changed to polyurethane or plastic wheels which continue to this day. But rinks itself had only polish or an oil coating which also can make a lot of noise as well.
The Interior.
It was very spacey interior thanks to the Quonset feel interior but it was really on second floor above sporting and supplies store that was on ground floor. The arch was from floor to floor on each side. It had Maple wood floor and wood truss arches that originally was left on property that Ronald used and built the rink with. He did this to save space rather than use on the ground when he bought the building.
One one side there was a kitchen and there was a grill to cook hamburgers and hot dogs but later on, he took them out and it became a snack bar. A real restaurant at the time by the rink. Must be it did not catch on. Today rinks are attempting to add menu to their snackbar. One rink I know of was a steakhouse in the rink!
So, this burger joint was established as part of the rink. A rare establishment with this concept.
The Exterior.
It looked very much like a retail store without noticing the arch Quonset like roofline. It almost hides with that two story flat front building. That still stands today with much renovation especially for the furniture store.
The building was very loud appearing because of huge signs and a lot of writing on it. The auto part store was White walls with a couple of colored stripes and just name of store. The furniture store really made it more classier and nicer looking as if it is brand new built. The sides can tell you the history. See photos above.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple wood (2nd floor) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Wood Truss Cinderblock retail Building.
Roof: Quonset style Arch-curved/D-Roof.
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Nelson Supply: 1960 to 1985
Big Arch Roller Rink: 1963 to 1985
Big Arch Pawn Shop: 1963 to 1985
Reason for Closure: Likely retirement.
Wanted: Information regarding specific dates, why selling and closed the rink?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Washington County Historical Society, 1972 Phone book listing (bottom right page),
Washington County Historical Society 2, Southern Utah Memories: Big Arch Roller Rink was a skater's paradise, by Loren R. Webb, July 5, 2013, Obituary- Ronald Nelson,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.