Top two courtesy of Google Map. Noticed aging colors bit of a fade though in Off-Orange and White. On Facebook, I was able to get confirmation of colors but it did not look orange in Google Map. It looked Faded Red. But seriously, it was Orange.
Courtesy of Chamlee Family/ForSaleByOwner. This was the next generation after that fading circus look into more like a Military Campo Beige or Drap Beige.
Courtesy of Revolutions. The current look in Dark Grey. This is their response to the Graying of America Era of late 2010s into 2020s.
Courtesy of Times Free Press. Taken in 2011. Pictured is Tim Chamlee. The interior as it appeared in 2011. Revolutions painted it all black.
Courtesy of Chamlee Family/ForSaleByOwner.com. They were in poor quality the photographs I meant. Never mind that. It is all good as you are dreaming to be there. This rink was truly dreamy for sure because of excellent evironment they had through the years thanks to the Chamlees.
Chamlee's Roller Rink 78 Tate Rd, Trion, GA
Revolutions 78 Tate Road, Trion, GA
Revolutions 78 Tate Road, Trion, GA
Chamlee's Roller Rink had such storied life since 1958 to retirement and sold to another which is now Revolutions.
It all began with Reynolds Chamlee, the owner/operator of this multi-Gable-warehouse-like buildings, started to built the rink in 1958 only to burn down in April 1959. Merely just finished putting down new roller rink floor. It was a huge loss especially to the 5,000 USD worth of brand new rented skates. To figure the cost in today's money, It comes to 44,053 USD (in May 2020). That was quite expensive compared to the buildings cost at the time. Perhaps half, I do not know. But that was most expensive investment.
Good thing Reynolds and his wife, Jennie Lou had other employment and I am sure with insurance money, they were able to rebuilt. Often when construction, it can happen to burn down if workers are not careful with some equipment like hot tar or welding, In this case I do not know why it burned.
It is still in a nice seduced small street section away from housing developments as you can see on Google Map. It was three Gable-Roofed buildings, two looked very much like a warehouse with steel walled. It may have been a different design than the 1958 version when they rebuilt in 1959. The third building looked more like a storefront with Bricks and it is smaller.
The property itself has a mini-golf course tucked in a corner where those two Steel warehouse walls stood. Making it feel cozy away from the road and distraction and you can see the forest behind. And there are no river for an angry golfer to throw a rented golf club at the mini-golf course. Reynolds and a friend of his built the mini-golf course by themselves.
Sure, they did rebuilt the rink but they had another fire! Only two rinks so far I know that had two major fires. The other being Alhambra Roller Rink on James Street at Pearl St in Syracuse, NY. The second one was truly a loss and the owner decided not to rebuilt. For that one, timing was perfect because of highway exchange occurred on the spot. But with the Chamlees, they were truly survivors and fighters with much faith and determination as I can see after reading the article from Chattooga County Historical Society, I think. Please click their name.
In July 2012, Reynolds' son, Tim closed the rink because of entertainment economy was downturn and usually entertainment expenses are first to cut by any families or individuals. But Ed and Joanna Thoreson purchased the facility in December 2012 and revitalized the rink presently as Revolutions.
They had some major events such as a fund raising for Marches of Dimes. They had bands playing there. On that historical society's website, you will see some well dressed band! They sure looked dressed better than the Beatles. (Yes, I met the 5th Beatle who was on the drums for very brief time through online in early 2010s.)
Anyway, It was well packed for such events at the rink.
Two generations ran the Chamlee's Roller Rink. Tim Chamlee took over from his sister who took over from the father and ran the rink.
From what I read about the Chamlees, they were very kind, nice people who really cared for people and this is why he opened the rink for them. It was all about the people, not themselves. This is the rink for sure I would have loved to attend when they were operating at the time.
It was very structured and Christian environment element to the rink which made it well operated and functional for skaters in the area. God truly blessed the Chamlees for this to happen. I felt this is why the rink was opened because God loves children and Reynolds was the man to make this happen through God. From 1958 when the idea was concepted till Tim sold it in 2012, It was a long time.
First it was Reynolds from 1959 till 1994 when his sister took over and then Tim, Reynolds' son took over (date unknown) then closed in June 2012.
The rink was up for sale as early as September 2011 and was unable to sell by the time they closed in July 2012. Finally sold in December 2012.
Chamlee's was well received with 5 out of 5 on Facebook.
The Interior.
I do not know what floor it was like before the first fire in April 1959 but the rebuilt had poured concrete floor. Perhaps they learned from the Three Little Pigs story that the third one was smartest of the three.
The floor was painted with Sky-Blue and I am sure it was painted again likely twice more because of the second fire.
They had Steel pipes rail wrapped around the rink while rest are concrete floor as well. It was very basic interior I believe. I do not know what the layout of those three buildings. the brick one was is a house! For Mini-golf course admission with clubs and balls and speakers and a radio as well as microphone were all inside that smaller building. Very common at mini-golf courses, both open and dead.
From exterior, it looked very roomy inside with those buildings. But it was not that big as I can see itself though. The interior was Free-Span steel Trusses so there were no columns on the rink. It does feel expansive with white walls, exposed truss ceiling, with snack bar and booths and more.
The booths were very common Fast-Food style booths with Orange color. This might have been installed after the second fire as I can see the photos but I do not know what it was in first two.
The steel pipes were part of the old rink but the newer ones showed half wall with likely concrete blocks, not pipes to modernize the appearance.
The snack bar has a very home-style kitchen cabinets and counter top appearance.
By the time Timothy Chamlee, the son of the Late Reynolds Chamlee, was selling the rink, the walls were more like Van Gogh Yellow with Spanish Terra Cotta color with that combination, it appeared more Spanish feel on those walls. The Spanish Terra Cotta was on bottom part. It does make it look Spanish/Roman look.
Revolutions owners painted more dark. Black walls all around, new colorful neon carpet, and still has that black metal steel pipe rails.
Note that I found in one of the photos for Revolutions, the Concrete floor HAS warped. The evident shown that against the black wall background and the metal rail that goes around on the wall (this rink does not need those "walkers" skate-mates or skate helpers at all). That raises a bit concern. I would need to inspect the floor for further evaluation. Please do not be alarmed. It is very slight and being a Drafter, Artist, and Designer, I do well with perspective. It is very slight warped. So, nothing to worry about. Hey, it is all good to feel a little like skating on a roller coaster! A joke.
If you were to look from the road, the right side is the entire building of the skating rink with the practice floor. The center which is smaller from top view is for snack bar, party space, bathrooms, etc.
The mini golf is behind and the admission I believe for that is the brick building which is on the left.
The Exterior.
Free Span Steel Truss Steel Walled Warehouse Building. I do not know what the very original was like due to the fire but the rebuilt, I am not sure because of the second fire.
The more recent times you can see it is three part Gabled-roof buildings, with two main buildings in warehouse like with steel walls and the third one, the smaller one with Red Brick Red colored bricks likely for the admission for mini-golf as it was separate venue or activity under the same ownership with the rink.
At one time, they had painted very circus like stripes of Orange and White walls on the exterior. But it was painted in Beige then Revolutions painted again and this time in Gray just like any other modern businesses do during the Graying of America era.
Reynolds Chamlee had a light sign that has a certain soda/coke/pop (whereever you are, they are the same) and the name of the rink. It was a common kind of sign back the day in mid to late 20th Century. I do not see those anymore.
The sign is still there but they removed the name and still have no name of the rink for Revolutions! With Dredge Beige and Grey colors they had, it does make the buildings look bigger and expansive. But does still feel low hung like a 1950s coffee shop would have or had.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Original: Unknown. Rebuilt: Concrete, Sky-Blue Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: Original Completing in April 1959 but burned down. Rebuilt in 1959. Demolished: Original burned down April 1959, second fire, both rebuilt. (I do not have date for the 2nd fire).
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Steel Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Chamlee's Skating Rink: Late 1959 (after rebuilt) to July 2012.
Revolutions: December 2012 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Chamlee's Skating Rink: Declining attendance, Tim wanted out and look for full time job (hope he did!)
Revolutions: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding More pictures of interior without people, exact dates of reopening, the fire dates (first and second fires), the closure due to fire (2nd) and reopening again. Size of buildings and rink itself. Just 18 holes of mini golf?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Chattooga History, Times Free Press-rink for sale, Facebook-Chamlee's,
Facebook-Revolution, Zillow,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
It all began with Reynolds Chamlee, the owner/operator of this multi-Gable-warehouse-like buildings, started to built the rink in 1958 only to burn down in April 1959. Merely just finished putting down new roller rink floor. It was a huge loss especially to the 5,000 USD worth of brand new rented skates. To figure the cost in today's money, It comes to 44,053 USD (in May 2020). That was quite expensive compared to the buildings cost at the time. Perhaps half, I do not know. But that was most expensive investment.
Good thing Reynolds and his wife, Jennie Lou had other employment and I am sure with insurance money, they were able to rebuilt. Often when construction, it can happen to burn down if workers are not careful with some equipment like hot tar or welding, In this case I do not know why it burned.
It is still in a nice seduced small street section away from housing developments as you can see on Google Map. It was three Gable-Roofed buildings, two looked very much like a warehouse with steel walled. It may have been a different design than the 1958 version when they rebuilt in 1959. The third building looked more like a storefront with Bricks and it is smaller.
The property itself has a mini-golf course tucked in a corner where those two Steel warehouse walls stood. Making it feel cozy away from the road and distraction and you can see the forest behind. And there are no river for an angry golfer to throw a rented golf club at the mini-golf course. Reynolds and a friend of his built the mini-golf course by themselves.
Sure, they did rebuilt the rink but they had another fire! Only two rinks so far I know that had two major fires. The other being Alhambra Roller Rink on James Street at Pearl St in Syracuse, NY. The second one was truly a loss and the owner decided not to rebuilt. For that one, timing was perfect because of highway exchange occurred on the spot. But with the Chamlees, they were truly survivors and fighters with much faith and determination as I can see after reading the article from Chattooga County Historical Society, I think. Please click their name.
In July 2012, Reynolds' son, Tim closed the rink because of entertainment economy was downturn and usually entertainment expenses are first to cut by any families or individuals. But Ed and Joanna Thoreson purchased the facility in December 2012 and revitalized the rink presently as Revolutions.
They had some major events such as a fund raising for Marches of Dimes. They had bands playing there. On that historical society's website, you will see some well dressed band! They sure looked dressed better than the Beatles. (Yes, I met the 5th Beatle who was on the drums for very brief time through online in early 2010s.)
Anyway, It was well packed for such events at the rink.
Two generations ran the Chamlee's Roller Rink. Tim Chamlee took over from his sister who took over from the father and ran the rink.
From what I read about the Chamlees, they were very kind, nice people who really cared for people and this is why he opened the rink for them. It was all about the people, not themselves. This is the rink for sure I would have loved to attend when they were operating at the time.
It was very structured and Christian environment element to the rink which made it well operated and functional for skaters in the area. God truly blessed the Chamlees for this to happen. I felt this is why the rink was opened because God loves children and Reynolds was the man to make this happen through God. From 1958 when the idea was concepted till Tim sold it in 2012, It was a long time.
First it was Reynolds from 1959 till 1994 when his sister took over and then Tim, Reynolds' son took over (date unknown) then closed in June 2012.
The rink was up for sale as early as September 2011 and was unable to sell by the time they closed in July 2012. Finally sold in December 2012.
Chamlee's was well received with 5 out of 5 on Facebook.
The Interior.
I do not know what floor it was like before the first fire in April 1959 but the rebuilt had poured concrete floor. Perhaps they learned from the Three Little Pigs story that the third one was smartest of the three.
The floor was painted with Sky-Blue and I am sure it was painted again likely twice more because of the second fire.
They had Steel pipes rail wrapped around the rink while rest are concrete floor as well. It was very basic interior I believe. I do not know what the layout of those three buildings. the brick one was is a house! For Mini-golf course admission with clubs and balls and speakers and a radio as well as microphone were all inside that smaller building. Very common at mini-golf courses, both open and dead.
From exterior, it looked very roomy inside with those buildings. But it was not that big as I can see itself though. The interior was Free-Span steel Trusses so there were no columns on the rink. It does feel expansive with white walls, exposed truss ceiling, with snack bar and booths and more.
The booths were very common Fast-Food style booths with Orange color. This might have been installed after the second fire as I can see the photos but I do not know what it was in first two.
The steel pipes were part of the old rink but the newer ones showed half wall with likely concrete blocks, not pipes to modernize the appearance.
The snack bar has a very home-style kitchen cabinets and counter top appearance.
By the time Timothy Chamlee, the son of the Late Reynolds Chamlee, was selling the rink, the walls were more like Van Gogh Yellow with Spanish Terra Cotta color with that combination, it appeared more Spanish feel on those walls. The Spanish Terra Cotta was on bottom part. It does make it look Spanish/Roman look.
Revolutions owners painted more dark. Black walls all around, new colorful neon carpet, and still has that black metal steel pipe rails.
Note that I found in one of the photos for Revolutions, the Concrete floor HAS warped. The evident shown that against the black wall background and the metal rail that goes around on the wall (this rink does not need those "walkers" skate-mates or skate helpers at all). That raises a bit concern. I would need to inspect the floor for further evaluation. Please do not be alarmed. It is very slight and being a Drafter, Artist, and Designer, I do well with perspective. It is very slight warped. So, nothing to worry about. Hey, it is all good to feel a little like skating on a roller coaster! A joke.
If you were to look from the road, the right side is the entire building of the skating rink with the practice floor. The center which is smaller from top view is for snack bar, party space, bathrooms, etc.
The mini golf is behind and the admission I believe for that is the brick building which is on the left.
The Exterior.
Free Span Steel Truss Steel Walled Warehouse Building. I do not know what the very original was like due to the fire but the rebuilt, I am not sure because of the second fire.
The more recent times you can see it is three part Gabled-roof buildings, with two main buildings in warehouse like with steel walls and the third one, the smaller one with Red Brick Red colored bricks likely for the admission for mini-golf as it was separate venue or activity under the same ownership with the rink.
At one time, they had painted very circus like stripes of Orange and White walls on the exterior. But it was painted in Beige then Revolutions painted again and this time in Gray just like any other modern businesses do during the Graying of America era.
Reynolds Chamlee had a light sign that has a certain soda/coke/pop (whereever you are, they are the same) and the name of the rink. It was a common kind of sign back the day in mid to late 20th Century. I do not see those anymore.
The sign is still there but they removed the name and still have no name of the rink for Revolutions! With Dredge Beige and Grey colors they had, it does make the buildings look bigger and expansive. But does still feel low hung like a 1950s coffee shop would have or had.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Original: Unknown. Rebuilt: Concrete, Sky-Blue Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: Original Completing in April 1959 but burned down. Rebuilt in 1959. Demolished: Original burned down April 1959, second fire, both rebuilt. (I do not have date for the 2nd fire).
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Steel Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Chamlee's Skating Rink: Late 1959 (after rebuilt) to July 2012.
Revolutions: December 2012 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Chamlee's Skating Rink: Declining attendance, Tim wanted out and look for full time job (hope he did!)
Revolutions: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding More pictures of interior without people, exact dates of reopening, the fire dates (first and second fires), the closure due to fire (2nd) and reopening again. Size of buildings and rink itself. Just 18 holes of mini golf?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Chattooga History, Times Free Press-rink for sale, Facebook-Chamlee's,
Facebook-Revolution, Zillow,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.