Photo Courtesy of Lisa Addison Photography. Beautiful color composition of this photograph. Strong colors. Love this photo!
Bottom 4 photos courtesy of Abby Ecker, American Press. Oddly, Abby did not take any photos of the rink itself? Huh?! Oh well, too late now. It is torn down. Anyone has photos of the rink itself? Please let me know!
La Fleur’s Roller Rink, 2001 Ruth Street, Sulphur, Louisiana
This rink has not much information at all that I am seeking for however, this rink had a mark in history. That is, in court. It was a case called DORRY v. LAFLEUR 387 So. 2d 690 (La. Ct. App. 1980). It was filed on July 31st, 1980 and that was appealle court case. The original case was heard and they ruled against judgment against Defendant, La Fleur and the rink. It has to do with the water puddle on the skating rink floor due to the leakage of water from the roof. From what I seen it was very basic warehouse design with gable roof. All steel sheeting including the roof.
The judgement brought the skater, Mr. Dorry to appeal the case and the judgment was made to up held the lower court case that the skater had knowledge about the water puddle. There were three puddles according to the plaintiff. And he skated around to avoid the puddles but then he slipped and fell in one of the puddle. See this link for further information on this public record: DORRY v. LAFLEUR.
It first build and open in 1958 and they closed in 1998. I do not have exact dates. I do not even have any photos of interior. However, quite a bit of professional photographers have photographed the iconic rink. Seemly this was the symbol rink of being abandoned because it stood 20 years of emptiness and the building stood there until finally sold for 421,000 Dollars. It will become a franchise fast food chain store.
In 1958, the late Goldman J. LaFleur and Agnes LaFleur, originally from Elton, brought the idea to build the rink. it was in the LaFleur Family for at least three Generations until its closure. They sold the building and had the rink floor torn up and will make into tables to memorize the rink. Posters, skates, and other collectibles were donated to a local museum so that skaters can remember by. It was quite popular rink and even skaters demanded it to be reopened but the family decided against it because of the cost and it would be a 24/7 business to run. Too much burden. I would say that is true because from what I see on the outside, it sure does need a lot of work. Replacement walls and roof and reseal it so it would not leak and have good ventilation due to its humidity and its location near the Gulf of Mexico where unwelcoming guests called hurricanes would sweep by such as Katrina, Rita, and Barry.
To see the memorabilia, please visit Polished Peasant at 2304 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur is open the first and third Thursday-Saturday each month. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Also go see Brimstone Museum at 900 S. Huntington Street in Sulphur as well.
The rink itself was Maple wood for sure because of their plans to cut up the floor for tables. I wish I knew this and ask for a 4 feet by 4 wood section to catalog all recent rinks for a possible museum I will open one up.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1958. Demolished 2018 to make way for a fast food restaurant.
Roof: Sheet metal Gable.
Operated: 1958 to 1998.
Reason for Closure: Unknown.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open and closure. Needs photos of interior (I have not seen any photos of the rink). Why close for good?
Sources: Web Urbanist, Flickr, DORRY v. LAFLEUR, Google Map, Calcasieu Info (online newspaper), American Press (Online newspaper), American Press (2)
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The judgement brought the skater, Mr. Dorry to appeal the case and the judgment was made to up held the lower court case that the skater had knowledge about the water puddle. There were three puddles according to the plaintiff. And he skated around to avoid the puddles but then he slipped and fell in one of the puddle. See this link for further information on this public record: DORRY v. LAFLEUR.
It first build and open in 1958 and they closed in 1998. I do not have exact dates. I do not even have any photos of interior. However, quite a bit of professional photographers have photographed the iconic rink. Seemly this was the symbol rink of being abandoned because it stood 20 years of emptiness and the building stood there until finally sold for 421,000 Dollars. It will become a franchise fast food chain store.
In 1958, the late Goldman J. LaFleur and Agnes LaFleur, originally from Elton, brought the idea to build the rink. it was in the LaFleur Family for at least three Generations until its closure. They sold the building and had the rink floor torn up and will make into tables to memorize the rink. Posters, skates, and other collectibles were donated to a local museum so that skaters can remember by. It was quite popular rink and even skaters demanded it to be reopened but the family decided against it because of the cost and it would be a 24/7 business to run. Too much burden. I would say that is true because from what I see on the outside, it sure does need a lot of work. Replacement walls and roof and reseal it so it would not leak and have good ventilation due to its humidity and its location near the Gulf of Mexico where unwelcoming guests called hurricanes would sweep by such as Katrina, Rita, and Barry.
To see the memorabilia, please visit Polished Peasant at 2304 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur is open the first and third Thursday-Saturday each month. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Also go see Brimstone Museum at 900 S. Huntington Street in Sulphur as well.
The rink itself was Maple wood for sure because of their plans to cut up the floor for tables. I wish I knew this and ask for a 4 feet by 4 wood section to catalog all recent rinks for a possible museum I will open one up.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1958. Demolished 2018 to make way for a fast food restaurant.
Roof: Sheet metal Gable.
Operated: 1958 to 1998.
Reason for Closure: Unknown.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open and closure. Needs photos of interior (I have not seen any photos of the rink). Why close for good?
Sources: Web Urbanist, Flickr, DORRY v. LAFLEUR, Google Map, Calcasieu Info (online newspaper), American Press (Online newspaper), American Press (2)
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.