All of Google Map. Top photo explains the already empty and torn down building of the former rink and mini-golf course. The bottom photo really shows about the same location as the photo in the newspaper article with the big name "KERNSEY HUB" written over that really blocked the photo. This should help you pinpoint where the former rink was. And the bus kind of blocked too. This former GH Bus (can tell with the Greyhound Blue on roof-top) with different graphics for different company.
J & M Roller Ranch 1513 Central Ave., Kearney, NE
This beautiful rink was around quite a long time. It ran from 1957 to 2002. Gerry and Mary O’Rourke operated J&M Roller Ranch in 1964, til Mary retired 2002. Gerry worked other jobs to make ends for the family. God bless Gerry because after Gerry leased the rink for a year, he bought it and had no money so he slept on the floor of the rink for six weeks. He had no money for an apartment at the time. He was 29 years old at the time and married a year later! He rebounded quickly but still needed to make money so he worked elsewhere but his wife Mary worked at the rink.
Good for them working almost 40 years.
The previous owner owned brief time since 1957. I believe that is what was happening but the article did not say much. I am not even sure if the name of the rink was the same. Usually new owners change names.
However, they worked till retirement.
Finally it got sold 4 years later after the rink closed and the rink was demolished and a new two story office building was to be built. However, by 2012 Google Map is showing that nothing was built. The new owner/developer must have dropped plans or cancelled or town not approved. I do not see anything regarding that site today.
There were other venues at the rink. There was a miniature golf course.
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
Very 1960s appearance that was built in 1957 for the purpose of the rink. It was very modern updated ahead of time at the time. Shingles Hip roof with flat top, Cinder-block Flatstone-veneer walls, low slung roofline (common at the time). Very updated and unique design. Totally separate from most rinks of its time that were very bare boring Cinder-block building that showed it appeared like a warehouse or factory. This rink truly displayed architecture features.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Demolished week of June 26, 2006. Now offices.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock flatstone-veneer Building.
Roof: Mixed- Hip. Shingles. Very 1960s.
Acres: N/A
Operated: N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of the rink! Both interior and exterior. Exact date of open, closed, sold, opened in 1964 (exact date) and exact closing date. Anything? Even anything happened to the new development? Both GM and Map Quest failed to display the new place.
Sources: Kearney Hub 1, Kearney Hub 2, Kearney Hub 3,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This beautiful rink was around quite a long time. It ran from 1957 to 2002. Gerry and Mary O’Rourke operated J&M Roller Ranch in 1964, til Mary retired 2002. Gerry worked other jobs to make ends for the family. God bless Gerry because after Gerry leased the rink for a year, he bought it and had no money so he slept on the floor of the rink for six weeks. He had no money for an apartment at the time. He was 29 years old at the time and married a year later! He rebounded quickly but still needed to make money so he worked elsewhere but his wife Mary worked at the rink.
Good for them working almost 40 years.
The previous owner owned brief time since 1957. I believe that is what was happening but the article did not say much. I am not even sure if the name of the rink was the same. Usually new owners change names.
However, they worked till retirement.
Finally it got sold 4 years later after the rink closed and the rink was demolished and a new two story office building was to be built. However, by 2012 Google Map is showing that nothing was built. The new owner/developer must have dropped plans or cancelled or town not approved. I do not see anything regarding that site today.
There were other venues at the rink. There was a miniature golf course.
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
Very 1960s appearance that was built in 1957 for the purpose of the rink. It was very modern updated ahead of time at the time. Shingles Hip roof with flat top, Cinder-block Flatstone-veneer walls, low slung roofline (common at the time). Very updated and unique design. Totally separate from most rinks of its time that were very bare boring Cinder-block building that showed it appeared like a warehouse or factory. This rink truly displayed architecture features.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Demolished week of June 26, 2006. Now offices.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock flatstone-veneer Building.
Roof: Mixed- Hip. Shingles. Very 1960s.
Acres: N/A
Operated: N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of the rink! Both interior and exterior. Exact date of open, closed, sold, opened in 1964 (exact date) and exact closing date. Anything? Even anything happened to the new development? Both GM and Map Quest failed to display the new place.
Sources: Kearney Hub 1, Kearney Hub 2, Kearney Hub 3,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.