This was the rink when it was long closed. It stayed empty for a few years. Before it became a storage facility. Apparently if you read down below, you will know what happened to the fitness center. That failed. Perhaps the people wanted a rink and successfully got that fitness center down. Unfortunately having a voice does not work. It became a storage facility. Taken in c. 2012. Another thing, the front door was not handicapped accessible. No ramp to wheel it in. ADA violations. No wonder the new owner moved front door to the side where that door is on the side. See next photo.
Skate Inn Kingsport 1400 Bridgewater Lane, Kingsport, TN
Kingsport Skate City 1400 Bridgewater Lane, Kingsport, TN
Skate City 1400 Bridgewater Lane, Kingsport, TN (also as Skate City Kingsport)
Kingsport Skate City 1400 Bridgewater Lane, Kingsport, TN
Skate City 1400 Bridgewater Lane, Kingsport, TN (also as Skate City Kingsport)
The address, 1400 Bridgewater Lane in Kingsport, Tennessee was the location where Kingsport Skate City, aka Skate City and also where Skate Inn operated.
This rink opened first as Kingsport Skate City in 1973. The original owner and operator was William E. Smidley (1973-1983) Apparently Skate Inn Kingsport was under the ownership of William E. Smidley from opening till he sold it to the Robinson Family in 1983. The Robinson Family owned it till they sold the entire thing to a fitness center in 2008.
When the Robinson Family bought it in 1983, They also became operator of the rink until 1991 when they sold the operations/business part to Bo Philips in 1991 until he sold back to the Robinson Family in 2002 who ran it till 2007 then sold it to Rick Hartgrove who ran for a year from 2007 to 2008.
Then the Robinson family sold the rink and business to the fitness center who converted to a fitness center.
The reason the Robinsons sold it because the Robinson Family said Alisha Robinson and Johnny Robinson are ready to move on to other business opportunities. They were not interested in roller skating business. They should have sold it to another roller rink operator.
Easier to read Timeline--
- Originally known as Skate Inn Kingsport
- Original Owner: William E. Smidley (1973-1983)
- William E. Smidley sold rink to Robinsons in 1983
- Second Owner: Robinson Family (1983-2008)
- First Operator: William Smidley (1973-1983)
- Second Operator: Robinson Family (1983-1991)
- Third Operator: Bo Philips (1991-2002)
- Fourth Operator: Robinson Family: 2002-2007
- Fifth Operator: Rick Hartgrove (2007-2008)
- Owned by Robinson family for 25 years
- Sold to fitness center developer.
Source Kathy Fry/Do it in The Americas website.
The Interior.
No photos are available so I have no idea what it was like.
The Exterior.
It may have changed its appearance because they were in business as a rink for 35 years. The last incarnation, it had Fire Engine Red Steel Walled Free-Span Steel Truss Warehouse-like building with Gable roof with the extension with flat roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 24,000 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: 1.9400 Acres.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1973 to 2008.
Skate Inn Kingsport: 1973 to 1983.
Kingsport Skate City: 1983 to 2008.
Skate City: 1983 to 2008.
Reason for Closure:
Skate Inn Kingsport: William E. Smidley Retired and sold to the Robinsons.
Kingsport Skate City: The Robinson Family said Alisha and Johnny are ready to move on to other business opportunities.
Skate City: The Robinson Family said Alisha and Johnny are ready to move on to other business opportunities.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Rink Time - Skate City; Loop Net; Do it in The Americas; Tennessee Times News - Article without a title! Tennessee Times News - Article in PDF version; Loop Net PDF version;
Date of issue: 29 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
This rink opened first as Kingsport Skate City in 1973. The original owner and operator was William E. Smidley (1973-1983) Apparently Skate Inn Kingsport was under the ownership of William E. Smidley from opening till he sold it to the Robinson Family in 1983. The Robinson Family owned it till they sold the entire thing to a fitness center in 2008.
When the Robinson Family bought it in 1983, They also became operator of the rink until 1991 when they sold the operations/business part to Bo Philips in 1991 until he sold back to the Robinson Family in 2002 who ran it till 2007 then sold it to Rick Hartgrove who ran for a year from 2007 to 2008.
Then the Robinson family sold the rink and business to the fitness center who converted to a fitness center.
The reason the Robinsons sold it because the Robinson Family said Alisha Robinson and Johnny Robinson are ready to move on to other business opportunities. They were not interested in roller skating business. They should have sold it to another roller rink operator.
Easier to read Timeline--
- Originally known as Skate Inn Kingsport
- Original Owner: William E. Smidley (1973-1983)
- William E. Smidley sold rink to Robinsons in 1983
- Second Owner: Robinson Family (1983-2008)
- First Operator: William Smidley (1973-1983)
- Second Operator: Robinson Family (1983-1991)
- Third Operator: Bo Philips (1991-2002)
- Fourth Operator: Robinson Family: 2002-2007
- Fifth Operator: Rick Hartgrove (2007-2008)
- Owned by Robinson family for 25 years
- Sold to fitness center developer.
Source Kathy Fry/Do it in The Americas website.
The Interior.
No photos are available so I have no idea what it was like.
The Exterior.
It may have changed its appearance because they were in business as a rink for 35 years. The last incarnation, it had Fire Engine Red Steel Walled Free-Span Steel Truss Warehouse-like building with Gable roof with the extension with flat roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 24,000 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: 1.9400 Acres.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1973 to 2008.
Skate Inn Kingsport: 1973 to 1983.
Kingsport Skate City: 1983 to 2008.
Skate City: 1983 to 2008.
Reason for Closure:
Skate Inn Kingsport: William E. Smidley Retired and sold to the Robinsons.
Kingsport Skate City: The Robinson Family said Alisha and Johnny are ready to move on to other business opportunities.
Skate City: The Robinson Family said Alisha and Johnny are ready to move on to other business opportunities.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Rink Time - Skate City; Loop Net; Do it in The Americas; Tennessee Times News - Article without a title! Tennessee Times News - Article in PDF version; Loop Net PDF version;
Date of issue: 29 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.