Both logos Courtesy of Baqara Skate at the Coliseum. Nice sleek design. I love it. Very classy. I love the fonts. See companies? Make it so unique! Not same boring serf fonts you use to be same as everyone else. Do not do that. Listen to Baqara! They know what they are doing! I love the gold shimming fonts with black background with wreath. Awesome.
All above exterior photos of Google Map. First in 2011, 2nd picture and 3rd picture in 2014.
Courtesy of Jamee A. Pierson/Newton Daily News. Beautiful renovated interior with cafe like and skate rental and admission seen in background. Floor did look aged because of inseam between planks/studs. Very cafe like area. Nice to have padded chairs and benches. Most rinks do not have that because of the possibility of skates can tear the vinyl.
Courtesy of Newton Daily News. Renovating at the time was the exterior after removing the castle look. Exposing the original bricks and red wall above.
Courtesy of Jamee A. Pierson/Newton Daily News. The view from Snack Bar counter to see the rink.
Courtesy of Baqara Skate at the Coliseum. The beautiful Maple floor in log cabin layout had roller hockey layout but they removed after doing the floor and added beautiful design in the middle of the floor. The rink is smaller thanks to the new dividing wall they installed.
Highview Roller Rink 1615 1st Avenue W., Newton, IA
Skate Castle 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
West Gate Skating Rink 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
Baqara Skate 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
Skate Castle 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
West Gate Skating Rink 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
Baqara Skate 1611 1st Ave W, Newton, IA
All three rinks plus the most recent one Baqara Skating Rink which is currently all purpose venue building.
I believe the previous rink before it was Baqara was Skate Castle and then before that, Highview or West Gate because of the castle light frontage as captured poorly by Google Map because they filmed that while there was a field days there. Nice going Google! Wrong week! Anyone has pictures of old frontage that looked like a castle?
Clearly those three rinks were in operations ever since 1950s before it became the current rink in 2012 as evident showed in Google Map. That would account for sixty years give or take on those three defunct rinks.
The Skate Castle and West Gate were the ones after the first one, Highview because of the Google Map and the castle-like building. That changed and the castle like was gone after 2011 Google Map showing but the front is entirely different in the 2013 map showing.
Apparently Highview Roller Rink was from 1950s to we do not know when and they had a sticker apparently when stickers and patches were popular from 1930s to early 1960s. Then Skate Castle took over. By the look of it, it may have been 1980s but not sure and then they closed in 2012 and the renovations occurred for two years between 2012 and 2014 and they opened as West Gate that year. But it was short lived and currently as Baqara Skate. It is also being used as banquet hall venue for wedding and events.
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like for the interior of the rink building as it was Highview then Skate Castle. It was entirely different back then.
The owner of West Gate, Hussey reconfigured the floorplan. He shortened the entryway to allow a larger kitchen as he took out the office toward the front to make a larger party room. Both Mens and Womens bathrooms were remodeled with new updated fixtures and styling. In the common area, new booths that were originally in the Newton Hy-Vee G-store cafeteria replaced the benches. The benches found a new home along the west wall, near the skate cubbies.
Replaced all of the windows around the rink and added two doors in the rear of the building. The D.J. corner was also expanded and re-carpeted. This was done in 2014.
The floor is newly refinished clear and light Maple floor with Polyurethane coating and it has an ornate graphic on the floor to make the place look fancy under Baqara Rink. It was designed to appeal the adults, not children kind of rink although children can skate. But it is for all ages.
The shift from children into adult was shown with changes in 2014. The owners who owned in year 2000 with Skate Castle with the castle theme on the outside perhaps had castle theme inside as well. But they had different managements who leased the business to the building owner. When the management left in 2012, the owners of the building and the rink and renovated and turned into West Gate in 2014. But the rink was up for sale though. Apparently the current owner did in 2014 quickly bought out and turned to Baqara.
Currently the interior is so beautiful. Very new, refreshing look. And quite new. This is the rink that was really totally changed its appearance. Not like other rinks that just slap a paint job and new carpet that retains the 70s or 80s look. Not with this one. Rink owners, I recommend you look into Baqara and get the idea what you should do.
They do have second floor in the front part of the building because of the windows up front. All windows were replaced in the renovation of 2012-14.
Interior they renovated in mid 2019 and it is a beautiful rink, see photos! Self described! They made it more fancier, nicer, beautiful for adult needs, mainly for wedding. Wow! Love that one photo! Sadly this year in 2020, no longer skating. They evolved slowly.
The Exterior.
I do not know what Highview rink exterior looked like. Likely all Red Brick because of the side of the building still that setting. Even all the way to present as Baqara. Apparently they had that look till year 2000 when it was perhaps likely when they became Skate Castle under new owners.
Likely Red Bricks front facade then castle look then plain front look.
As Skate Castle, they had the exterior more childish with a castle theme walls, towers, and all just like a movie set. It also hid the Arched-Curved Steel Truss Free Span roof on a Cinder-block building.
But in 2014, it was all changed to update because the owner said they wanted to get rid of it as it was getting old as it was decaying on that faux castle appearance. And perhaps they had to update to sell. No one wanted to buy a building with a faux castle appearance. Most customers prefer plain appearance. It is all about money and renovation. Having understand real estate, it is far cheaper for new owners not to do renovate if the owner of the building (or house) renovate themselves. Most prefer that way. And you need to be presentable to sell. I have done rink profiles here and some are for sale on here and they are not selling well. Why? Those owners failed to renovate and wants to sell as it is but the advertising I see says nothing about renovations. No "AS IS" in advertising. This is the problem with those owners out there did not ask for "AS IS" to their agents.
Well, not wanting to write as a book here. The owners of Skate Castle building did the right thing and did very well and I am sure Baqara Rink improved more to their business model and they all did good job.
Just very unusual design was the canopy over the front door. Sure, it is Gable roof canopy but its the singular post supporting the canopy is a little odd rather than having two posts. One each corner to support that canopy. I feel that is only thing needs to be changed. Please look at Google Map photo above regarding that. Currently it is in Off-White walls with Tan Stain Wood Canopy and post.
The Stats:
Highview --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Skate Castle --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
West Gate --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
Baqara --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Still Standing, Renovated exterior 2000, 2012-14, Interior renovated in 2019.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Arched-Curved Cinder-block Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1950s to September 3, 2020.
Highview Roller Rink: 1950s to likely 2000.
Skate Castle: 2000 to 2012
West Gate Skating Rink: October 2014 to 2018
Baqara Rink: 2018 to September 03, 2020.
Barqara at the Coliseum: 2018 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Highview Roller Rink: N/A
Skate Castle: Owners of building decided to take over, renovate and sell.
West Gate Skating Rink: renovated version under same owner of Skate Castle, wanted to sell.
Baqara Rink: they said "Not enough support to keep this very large piece of real estate afloat in these times." (owners, on Facebook page for Baqara Skate). They are still operational but not as a skating rink anymore because other venues they operate there are more successful.
Barqara at the Coliseum: Dropped roller skating, still operational as wedding and other community events.
Wanted: Information regarding dates of opening and closing for each former rinks, why closed each, and of course, photos of interior and exterior of former rinks.
Sources: Newton Daily News, October 1, 2014, Baqara, Newton Daily News, August 27, 2012,
Newton Daily News, October 5, 2014 (another article on grand opening), Facebook - Baqara Skate,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
I believe the previous rink before it was Baqara was Skate Castle and then before that, Highview or West Gate because of the castle light frontage as captured poorly by Google Map because they filmed that while there was a field days there. Nice going Google! Wrong week! Anyone has pictures of old frontage that looked like a castle?
Clearly those three rinks were in operations ever since 1950s before it became the current rink in 2012 as evident showed in Google Map. That would account for sixty years give or take on those three defunct rinks.
The Skate Castle and West Gate were the ones after the first one, Highview because of the Google Map and the castle-like building. That changed and the castle like was gone after 2011 Google Map showing but the front is entirely different in the 2013 map showing.
Apparently Highview Roller Rink was from 1950s to we do not know when and they had a sticker apparently when stickers and patches were popular from 1930s to early 1960s. Then Skate Castle took over. By the look of it, it may have been 1980s but not sure and then they closed in 2012 and the renovations occurred for two years between 2012 and 2014 and they opened as West Gate that year. But it was short lived and currently as Baqara Skate. It is also being used as banquet hall venue for wedding and events.
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like for the interior of the rink building as it was Highview then Skate Castle. It was entirely different back then.
The owner of West Gate, Hussey reconfigured the floorplan. He shortened the entryway to allow a larger kitchen as he took out the office toward the front to make a larger party room. Both Mens and Womens bathrooms were remodeled with new updated fixtures and styling. In the common area, new booths that were originally in the Newton Hy-Vee G-store cafeteria replaced the benches. The benches found a new home along the west wall, near the skate cubbies.
Replaced all of the windows around the rink and added two doors in the rear of the building. The D.J. corner was also expanded and re-carpeted. This was done in 2014.
The floor is newly refinished clear and light Maple floor with Polyurethane coating and it has an ornate graphic on the floor to make the place look fancy under Baqara Rink. It was designed to appeal the adults, not children kind of rink although children can skate. But it is for all ages.
The shift from children into adult was shown with changes in 2014. The owners who owned in year 2000 with Skate Castle with the castle theme on the outside perhaps had castle theme inside as well. But they had different managements who leased the business to the building owner. When the management left in 2012, the owners of the building and the rink and renovated and turned into West Gate in 2014. But the rink was up for sale though. Apparently the current owner did in 2014 quickly bought out and turned to Baqara.
Currently the interior is so beautiful. Very new, refreshing look. And quite new. This is the rink that was really totally changed its appearance. Not like other rinks that just slap a paint job and new carpet that retains the 70s or 80s look. Not with this one. Rink owners, I recommend you look into Baqara and get the idea what you should do.
They do have second floor in the front part of the building because of the windows up front. All windows were replaced in the renovation of 2012-14.
Interior they renovated in mid 2019 and it is a beautiful rink, see photos! Self described! They made it more fancier, nicer, beautiful for adult needs, mainly for wedding. Wow! Love that one photo! Sadly this year in 2020, no longer skating. They evolved slowly.
The Exterior.
I do not know what Highview rink exterior looked like. Likely all Red Brick because of the side of the building still that setting. Even all the way to present as Baqara. Apparently they had that look till year 2000 when it was perhaps likely when they became Skate Castle under new owners.
Likely Red Bricks front facade then castle look then plain front look.
As Skate Castle, they had the exterior more childish with a castle theme walls, towers, and all just like a movie set. It also hid the Arched-Curved Steel Truss Free Span roof on a Cinder-block building.
But in 2014, it was all changed to update because the owner said they wanted to get rid of it as it was getting old as it was decaying on that faux castle appearance. And perhaps they had to update to sell. No one wanted to buy a building with a faux castle appearance. Most customers prefer plain appearance. It is all about money and renovation. Having understand real estate, it is far cheaper for new owners not to do renovate if the owner of the building (or house) renovate themselves. Most prefer that way. And you need to be presentable to sell. I have done rink profiles here and some are for sale on here and they are not selling well. Why? Those owners failed to renovate and wants to sell as it is but the advertising I see says nothing about renovations. No "AS IS" in advertising. This is the problem with those owners out there did not ask for "AS IS" to their agents.
Well, not wanting to write as a book here. The owners of Skate Castle building did the right thing and did very well and I am sure Baqara Rink improved more to their business model and they all did good job.
Just very unusual design was the canopy over the front door. Sure, it is Gable roof canopy but its the singular post supporting the canopy is a little odd rather than having two posts. One each corner to support that canopy. I feel that is only thing needs to be changed. Please look at Google Map photo above regarding that. Currently it is in Off-White walls with Tan Stain Wood Canopy and post.
The Stats:
Highview --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Skate Castle --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
West Gate --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
Baqara --
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear Polyurethane Coated Maple Floor Layout: LOG
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Still Standing, Renovated exterior 2000, 2012-14, Interior renovated in 2019.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Arched-Curved Cinder-block Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1950s to September 3, 2020.
Highview Roller Rink: 1950s to likely 2000.
Skate Castle: 2000 to 2012
West Gate Skating Rink: October 2014 to 2018
Baqara Rink: 2018 to September 03, 2020.
Barqara at the Coliseum: 2018 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Highview Roller Rink: N/A
Skate Castle: Owners of building decided to take over, renovate and sell.
West Gate Skating Rink: renovated version under same owner of Skate Castle, wanted to sell.
Baqara Rink: they said "Not enough support to keep this very large piece of real estate afloat in these times." (owners, on Facebook page for Baqara Skate). They are still operational but not as a skating rink anymore because other venues they operate there are more successful.
Barqara at the Coliseum: Dropped roller skating, still operational as wedding and other community events.
Wanted: Information regarding dates of opening and closing for each former rinks, why closed each, and of course, photos of interior and exterior of former rinks.
Sources: Newton Daily News, October 1, 2014, Baqara, Newton Daily News, August 27, 2012,
Newton Daily News, October 5, 2014 (another article on grand opening), Facebook - Baqara Skate,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.