Decal courtesy of Sara Lugar Ouverson. Nice although worn decal.
Photo courtesy of Sara Lugar Ouverson. A standard design by Homer Bienfang.
Courtesy of GM. Noticed the building? That was the rink where it used to be. What an interesting arch they had at the entrance of the parking lot. Sorry that the picture is a little grainy due to the date of this was taken in 2009 and the one below in 2013 that they took out the extension that was built after the rink was closed to bring back to the original as close as you can appearance but no long canopy as shown in the old Black-and-White photo on top. This is the accurate location.
Clear View Roller Rink 1025 North 8th Street, Clear Lake, IA
Clear View Roller Rink began with construction in May 1959 but did not complete until they opened in May 1960. It was considered one of the largest in the state at the time. Unfortunately, I do not have any other information because the page was really from Clear Lake Iowa Alumni for those who went high school there.
The rink lasted likely till end of 20th Century. I am not sure because the website they made explained in 2009 a little about the rink but it was a birthday party for Homer who owned the rink. He turned 80 that year. Homer and his wife, Pat owned this rink although Homer built several other rinks as well in Iowa. Homer went home to be with the LORD in 2016.
Homer sold it in 1977 and likely a new operator ran the rink until sometime in 1980s. There is no information regarding its closing. Anyone?
Now a company owns the building and renovated for their business model (garages, and storage, etc).
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
It was an Arched-Curved building. Very similar to other rinks that Bienfeng build. Each one gets bigger and this was the biggest of all of the Bienfeng-Designed rinks.. Red-Bricks Brick building. For example, Black Hawk Rollerdrome was a Bienfeng design. It also had a canopy in front. The door was on the left as the Black Hawk was on the right.
The HVAC company bought the property and added a huge Gable Warehouse-like building blocking the old front of the rink. ONLY the rear WAS visible from the road as seen on Google Map. However, they torn it down between 2009 and 2013 according to Google Map. I have no idea why they torn it down. And they said a new development there. As you can see on the map, you will see it is gone with fresh dirt on it in the 2013 (likely torn down in 2013).
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A (Biggest in state) Floor: Maple Floor. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1960. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss, Red-Brick Building, a Bienfeng design.
Roof: Arched-Curved.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: Constructed started in May of 1959; opened May of 1960 to January 11, 1996.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior, sizes, open and closed dates, and why closed. Also photos of exterior.
Sources: Homer Bienfang, operator; Clear Lake Alumni Association website,
Update: 07 January 2021., 08 January 2021.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The rink lasted likely till end of 20th Century. I am not sure because the website they made explained in 2009 a little about the rink but it was a birthday party for Homer who owned the rink. He turned 80 that year. Homer and his wife, Pat owned this rink although Homer built several other rinks as well in Iowa. Homer went home to be with the LORD in 2016.
Homer sold it in 1977 and likely a new operator ran the rink until sometime in 1980s. There is no information regarding its closing. Anyone?
Now a company owns the building and renovated for their business model (garages, and storage, etc).
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
It was an Arched-Curved building. Very similar to other rinks that Bienfeng build. Each one gets bigger and this was the biggest of all of the Bienfeng-Designed rinks.. Red-Bricks Brick building. For example, Black Hawk Rollerdrome was a Bienfeng design. It also had a canopy in front. The door was on the left as the Black Hawk was on the right.
The HVAC company bought the property and added a huge Gable Warehouse-like building blocking the old front of the rink. ONLY the rear WAS visible from the road as seen on Google Map. However, they torn it down between 2009 and 2013 according to Google Map. I have no idea why they torn it down. And they said a new development there. As you can see on the map, you will see it is gone with fresh dirt on it in the 2013 (likely torn down in 2013).
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A (Biggest in state) Floor: Maple Floor. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1960. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss, Red-Brick Building, a Bienfeng design.
Roof: Arched-Curved.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: Constructed started in May of 1959; opened May of 1960 to January 11, 1996.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior, sizes, open and closed dates, and why closed. Also photos of exterior.
Sources: Homer Bienfang, operator; Clear Lake Alumni Association website,
Update: 07 January 2021., 08 January 2021.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.