J-4 Rollaway Sav-U-More (Originally Ward) Plaza, 534 South Duff Avenue, Ames IA
This rink had a very unsuual name. A letter and an number. Sounds like a car model name or something. Remember the Pontiac and Chevy models with the letters and numbers back in 1980s and early 1990s? Those. It was actually named after all four Js in the family business owners. Jim and Jean Meyers operated the business with their two sons, Jeff and Jan.
It was on South Duff Avenue in a shopping plaza called Sav-U-More but originally it was Ward Plaza which was Montgomery Ward, an A-store. Interesting name! Sounds like the leading store, Sav-U-More was a G-store (Grocery store).
On September 11, 1975, construction began for J-4 Rollaway skating rink. In this photo, the steel framework is going up in the Ward Plaza near the corner of South Duff and SE 5th Street. It opened in October of 1975 and remained in business until 1997. Its location is today the north part of the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Quite clearly in that block where Ward Plaza used to be were stores including Montgomery Ward followed by Sav-U-Lot G-store, and now Walmart with free-standing stores. The rink was in operations from 1975 to 1997. Google Map was just ten years too late to snapshot the J-4 Rollaway rink. Although it has nice history cross the street where the former Pizza Hut evolved and demolished to make way for a Panda Express.
From my understanding this rink was just cross the street from the former Ames Skateland that was damaged by a tornado in 1968. So clearly the Meyers opened their J-4 rink cross the street as means to replace the former Ames Skateland.
Currently an auto parts store is located where the rink used to be. It has long since demolished. Both Ames Skateland and J-4 Rollaway has been demolished.
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like. No photos available.
The Exterior.
It was a Free-steel span steel walled warehouse-like building that they build in less than a month! September 11, 1975 to around early October 1975, likely. If it was built this fast, likely they had poured concrete, not wood floor.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Possible Concrete? Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: Sept 11, 1975 broke ground. Demolished: 1997.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: October 1975 to 1997.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior wanted! Anyone? Second of all, Exact date of open and closed and why closed?
Sources: Ames Historical Society,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This rink had a very unsuual name. A letter and an number. Sounds like a car model name or something. Remember the Pontiac and Chevy models with the letters and numbers back in 1980s and early 1990s? Those. It was actually named after all four Js in the family business owners. Jim and Jean Meyers operated the business with their two sons, Jeff and Jan.
It was on South Duff Avenue in a shopping plaza called Sav-U-More but originally it was Ward Plaza which was Montgomery Ward, an A-store. Interesting name! Sounds like the leading store, Sav-U-More was a G-store (Grocery store).
On September 11, 1975, construction began for J-4 Rollaway skating rink. In this photo, the steel framework is going up in the Ward Plaza near the corner of South Duff and SE 5th Street. It opened in October of 1975 and remained in business until 1997. Its location is today the north part of the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Quite clearly in that block where Ward Plaza used to be were stores including Montgomery Ward followed by Sav-U-Lot G-store, and now Walmart with free-standing stores. The rink was in operations from 1975 to 1997. Google Map was just ten years too late to snapshot the J-4 Rollaway rink. Although it has nice history cross the street where the former Pizza Hut evolved and demolished to make way for a Panda Express.
From my understanding this rink was just cross the street from the former Ames Skateland that was damaged by a tornado in 1968. So clearly the Meyers opened their J-4 rink cross the street as means to replace the former Ames Skateland.
Currently an auto parts store is located where the rink used to be. It has long since demolished. Both Ames Skateland and J-4 Rollaway has been demolished.
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like. No photos available.
The Exterior.
It was a Free-steel span steel walled warehouse-like building that they build in less than a month! September 11, 1975 to around early October 1975, likely. If it was built this fast, likely they had poured concrete, not wood floor.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Possible Concrete? Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: Sept 11, 1975 broke ground. Demolished: 1997.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: October 1975 to 1997.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior wanted! Anyone? Second of all, Exact date of open and closed and why closed?
Sources: Ames Historical Society,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.