View of the appearance today as Polar Ice Rink.
All above courtesy of Dona Malhiot. Under construction at the time.
All above courtesy of Dona Malhiot. The roller floor. Interesting mural, is it? It is monochromic but a black light art work which is rare for a mural. It shows northern lights at night.
Courtesy of Dona Malhiot. Jackets with their mascot at the time long before Roller Roo, their Scooter (Un-related to the Syracuse Chief's Scooter).
Courtesy of Dona Malhiot. Wow! I love this jacket! Nice Silver colored collegiate sports style jacket. It was common for 1950s and 60s teenagers and college age students would wear or any body at the rink would wear.
Courtesy of Dona Malhiot. Flyers! That is too bad I was not there to collect them.
All above and below courtesy of Dona Malhiot. Indeed, this rink was in the northern most in the world unless anyone comes forward to debunk and dethrone this title.
Northern Lights Roller Rink 1087 Dennis Rd., North Pole (Fairbanks), AK
Polar Roller Rink 1087 Dennis Rd., North Pole (Fairbanks), AK
Polar Ice Rink 1087 Dennis Rd., North Pole (Fairbanks), AK
Polar Roller Rink 1087 Dennis Rd., North Pole (Fairbanks), AK
Polar Ice Rink 1087 Dennis Rd., North Pole (Fairbanks), AK
Northernlights Roller Rink was in business before they closed and sold into another rink which also closed for good too. Now an ice skating rink. It was once the Northern Most Roller Rink in the World. Apparently they did unless Canadians, Russians, or the Nordic people tells me other wise. Got to pin point on Google Map and the GPS location points where then I will believe it. I am also curious who is the most Southern Most Roller Rink in the World. I believe Chile would have that title because of their geographically closest to Antarctica.
Sir Edward Malhiot and Betty Malhiot were president and vice president of the Northernlights Roller Rink. Dona who wrote me told me her autistic brother Garry Malhiot always helped at the rink.. and at 65 years he still skates.
This rink was 75 feet by 185 feet long and it was a real different material at the time which would make you feel uncomfortable. According to the article Dona provided, the rink floor was White coated Asbestos Vinyl Tiles on Concrete! Whoa. Asbestos! Remember this was before 1979 Federal law required removal and ban Asbestos in paints, dry walls, and other construction materials. I am sure they had it removed in 1980s when they bankrupted and closed and sold into an ice rink.
This rink had a very strict dress code. The owners researched from other rinks and learned from them the rules would do beneficial. This was during the Era of RSROA which cleaned up rinks in 1930s and 40s from having destructions at their rinks with troublemakers. This is why many of those same trouble makers found way in at Drive-in Theaters, and Drive-in Restaurants. That scared off families from going to those two and those two declined because of that. There are far LESS Drive-in Theaters than roller rinks today. And Drive-in Restaurants too were declined as well. I wish those two industry looked in to roller skating industry at that time and could have survived better.
Time line provided by Dona. The timeline also showed The Center/Roller Tech and the Polar Roller Rink because they all were connected. See their profiles.
Nov 1977 - Ed Malhiot and Al Gaudin proposed 1 million USD roller rink on Dennis Road Northern Lights Roller Rink.
Dec 1977 - Ed Malhiot secured financing from Alaska USA Federal Credit Union after letters in support poured in and 3800 people signed a petition indicating need in community; epoxy skating floor 188' x 75', a snack bar, pro shop, and other spaces
12 April 1978 - groundbreaking for Northern Lights Roller Rink.
29 Sept 1978 - Grand opening of Northern Lights Roller Rink, 6 mile Dennis Road, 7 miles out of Fairbanks; snack bar, pro shop selling and repairing skates, lockers, 2 party rooms, smoker's room along with large parking lot; strict dress code for safety reasons including no bare feet, backs, or midriffs; no white t-shirts, muscle shirts or tank tops, no torn or ragged pants, and no "obscene" clothing. No gum, no swearing, no liquor, no fighting. General admission for 2.5 hr skate time $2.50, skate rentals $1; an 18-hole miniature golf course opens next door the following week.
20 July 1979 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosted benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association; this was a preliminary event to the Rink's August 20th benefit 12-hour skate-a-thon, affiliated with the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon and television footage.
Dec 1981 - Owner Malhiot of Northern Lights Roller Rink had delivered canned goods to the Army Shelter after a "Meals on Wheels, Skate on your Can Night" - article in News-Miner with photo.
Mar 1982 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosts skating to reward all the volunteers of Arctic Winter Games
Sept 1982 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosts free party to celebrate National Roller Skating Week
Dec 1984 - Quarter Flash cancelled concert at Northern Lights Roller Rink due to cold weather and low ticket sales. (I never heard of this band at all, do you? The band no longer around as they had their last show in 2019 with two people in the original band-- a couple that they apparently retired).
May 1985 - Malhiot and partners to add on to Northern Lights Roller rink with a 22,400 sq foot addition that would house a 24-lane bowling alley and a fancy 60-seat Swiss-style restaurant, a fast-food restaurant down stairs, a banquet room upstairs, two apartments, two shops, a three-bay coin-operated car wash, a sign shop, and auto parts store. (They were going to compete against The Center in my humble opinion.)
Aug 1985 - All-Star Wresting (WWE "WWF" at the time?) at Northern Lights Roller Rink, but only 400 of 2000 expected paid to watch.
16-18 May 1986 - Arctic Wheels of Fairbanks Car Show at Northern Lights Roller Rink.
May 1986 - The Center's Roller Tech operating [opened].
April 1987 - Arctic Wheels of Fairbanks hosted fifth annual car show to benefit crippled children and adults at the Northern Lights Roller Rink.
Malhiot sold to AREO Corp. And AREO Corporation did not make any payments. Filed for bankruptcy. And the Malhiots lost laundry mat businesses and the roller rink because of Areo did not make any payments and fees for filling.
July 1987 - AREO Co. which owned the Fairbanks Entertainment Center (The Center) filed bankruptcy.
1988 - The Center still operating but at significant loss.
Jan 1989 - Dennis Wise, one of four stockholders in AREO (Joe Hayes, Kris Lethin, Larry Carpenter), filed bankruptcy, raising question of closure of The Center by bank holding mortgage.
June 1991 - Northern Lights Roller Rink listed for sale in FDNM; $399,000 asking price.
Aug 1991 - Frank Stoneman and Bob Childers plan to turn Northern Lights Roller Rink into indoor ice arena after Big Dipper closes over cracks in building beams.
Fall 1991 - Gus Johnson and Parish brothers bought Northern Lights Roller Rink and turned it into Polar Roller Rink.
June 1998 - Polar Roller Rink up for sale for a million dollars by owner Gus Johnson.
The Interior.
This rink was 75 feet by 185 feet long and it was a real different material at the time which would make you feel uncomfortable. According to the article Dona provided, the rink floor was White coated Asbestos Vinyl Tiles on Concrete! Whoa. Asbestos! Remember this was before 1979 Federal law required removal and ban Asbestos in paints, dry walls, and other construction materials. I am sure they had it removed in 1980s when they bankrupted and closed and sold into an ice rink.
It had a snack bar with eating area to seat 168 people, a smoking lounge. Yes! A smoking lounge! This is before most states now banned indoors smoking areas.
A pro-shop and an arcade. 2 party rooms...
The Flame Red colored carpet laid out here and there and the eating area had Bright Orange and Yellow tables and chairs. Those colors reflex 1960s and 1970s even very early 1980s look. And popular.
Disco lights were not available when they first opened and perhaps on back orders and would install when they received it for both skating and dancing.
The Exterior.
D-roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building. The trusses you can see in the construction were quite different than most D-roof or Arched-Curved. They were Grid style support Trusses. Clearly to reduce stress of heavy snow and ice in cold Northern Alaska.
It was Bare Metal Silver color on exterior. Later was painted.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 75' x 188'. Floor: White painted Asbestos Vinyl Tiles over Concrete . Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing. (now an ice rink)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: D-roof.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- Friday, September 29, 1978 to
Northern Lights Roller Rink: Friday, September 29, 1978 to Fall 1991
Polar Roller Rink: Fall 1991 to June 1998.
Polar Ice Rink: 1999 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Northern Lights Roller Rink: First sold which thought would keep rink operational but new owners did not make any payments forcing the rink to file bankruptcy. Forced to resell.
Polar Roller Rink: N/A.
Polar Ice Rink: Still Operational.
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: D.M. - email; Rink Time - Polar Ice Rink;
Date of issue: 17 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Sir Edward Malhiot and Betty Malhiot were president and vice president of the Northernlights Roller Rink. Dona who wrote me told me her autistic brother Garry Malhiot always helped at the rink.. and at 65 years he still skates.
This rink was 75 feet by 185 feet long and it was a real different material at the time which would make you feel uncomfortable. According to the article Dona provided, the rink floor was White coated Asbestos Vinyl Tiles on Concrete! Whoa. Asbestos! Remember this was before 1979 Federal law required removal and ban Asbestos in paints, dry walls, and other construction materials. I am sure they had it removed in 1980s when they bankrupted and closed and sold into an ice rink.
This rink had a very strict dress code. The owners researched from other rinks and learned from them the rules would do beneficial. This was during the Era of RSROA which cleaned up rinks in 1930s and 40s from having destructions at their rinks with troublemakers. This is why many of those same trouble makers found way in at Drive-in Theaters, and Drive-in Restaurants. That scared off families from going to those two and those two declined because of that. There are far LESS Drive-in Theaters than roller rinks today. And Drive-in Restaurants too were declined as well. I wish those two industry looked in to roller skating industry at that time and could have survived better.
Time line provided by Dona. The timeline also showed The Center/Roller Tech and the Polar Roller Rink because they all were connected. See their profiles.
Nov 1977 - Ed Malhiot and Al Gaudin proposed 1 million USD roller rink on Dennis Road Northern Lights Roller Rink.
Dec 1977 - Ed Malhiot secured financing from Alaska USA Federal Credit Union after letters in support poured in and 3800 people signed a petition indicating need in community; epoxy skating floor 188' x 75', a snack bar, pro shop, and other spaces
12 April 1978 - groundbreaking for Northern Lights Roller Rink.
29 Sept 1978 - Grand opening of Northern Lights Roller Rink, 6 mile Dennis Road, 7 miles out of Fairbanks; snack bar, pro shop selling and repairing skates, lockers, 2 party rooms, smoker's room along with large parking lot; strict dress code for safety reasons including no bare feet, backs, or midriffs; no white t-shirts, muscle shirts or tank tops, no torn or ragged pants, and no "obscene" clothing. No gum, no swearing, no liquor, no fighting. General admission for 2.5 hr skate time $2.50, skate rentals $1; an 18-hole miniature golf course opens next door the following week.
20 July 1979 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosted benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association; this was a preliminary event to the Rink's August 20th benefit 12-hour skate-a-thon, affiliated with the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon and television footage.
Dec 1981 - Owner Malhiot of Northern Lights Roller Rink had delivered canned goods to the Army Shelter after a "Meals on Wheels, Skate on your Can Night" - article in News-Miner with photo.
Mar 1982 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosts skating to reward all the volunteers of Arctic Winter Games
Sept 1982 - Northern Lights Roller Rink hosts free party to celebrate National Roller Skating Week
Dec 1984 - Quarter Flash cancelled concert at Northern Lights Roller Rink due to cold weather and low ticket sales. (I never heard of this band at all, do you? The band no longer around as they had their last show in 2019 with two people in the original band-- a couple that they apparently retired).
May 1985 - Malhiot and partners to add on to Northern Lights Roller rink with a 22,400 sq foot addition that would house a 24-lane bowling alley and a fancy 60-seat Swiss-style restaurant, a fast-food restaurant down stairs, a banquet room upstairs, two apartments, two shops, a three-bay coin-operated car wash, a sign shop, and auto parts store. (They were going to compete against The Center in my humble opinion.)
Aug 1985 - All-Star Wresting (WWE "WWF" at the time?) at Northern Lights Roller Rink, but only 400 of 2000 expected paid to watch.
16-18 May 1986 - Arctic Wheels of Fairbanks Car Show at Northern Lights Roller Rink.
May 1986 - The Center's Roller Tech operating [opened].
April 1987 - Arctic Wheels of Fairbanks hosted fifth annual car show to benefit crippled children and adults at the Northern Lights Roller Rink.
Malhiot sold to AREO Corp. And AREO Corporation did not make any payments. Filed for bankruptcy. And the Malhiots lost laundry mat businesses and the roller rink because of Areo did not make any payments and fees for filling.
July 1987 - AREO Co. which owned the Fairbanks Entertainment Center (The Center) filed bankruptcy.
1988 - The Center still operating but at significant loss.
Jan 1989 - Dennis Wise, one of four stockholders in AREO (Joe Hayes, Kris Lethin, Larry Carpenter), filed bankruptcy, raising question of closure of The Center by bank holding mortgage.
June 1991 - Northern Lights Roller Rink listed for sale in FDNM; $399,000 asking price.
Aug 1991 - Frank Stoneman and Bob Childers plan to turn Northern Lights Roller Rink into indoor ice arena after Big Dipper closes over cracks in building beams.
Fall 1991 - Gus Johnson and Parish brothers bought Northern Lights Roller Rink and turned it into Polar Roller Rink.
June 1998 - Polar Roller Rink up for sale for a million dollars by owner Gus Johnson.
The Interior.
This rink was 75 feet by 185 feet long and it was a real different material at the time which would make you feel uncomfortable. According to the article Dona provided, the rink floor was White coated Asbestos Vinyl Tiles on Concrete! Whoa. Asbestos! Remember this was before 1979 Federal law required removal and ban Asbestos in paints, dry walls, and other construction materials. I am sure they had it removed in 1980s when they bankrupted and closed and sold into an ice rink.
It had a snack bar with eating area to seat 168 people, a smoking lounge. Yes! A smoking lounge! This is before most states now banned indoors smoking areas.
A pro-shop and an arcade. 2 party rooms...
The Flame Red colored carpet laid out here and there and the eating area had Bright Orange and Yellow tables and chairs. Those colors reflex 1960s and 1970s even very early 1980s look. And popular.
Disco lights were not available when they first opened and perhaps on back orders and would install when they received it for both skating and dancing.
The Exterior.
D-roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building. The trusses you can see in the construction were quite different than most D-roof or Arched-Curved. They were Grid style support Trusses. Clearly to reduce stress of heavy snow and ice in cold Northern Alaska.
It was Bare Metal Silver color on exterior. Later was painted.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 75' x 188'. Floor: White painted Asbestos Vinyl Tiles over Concrete . Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing. (now an ice rink)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: D-roof.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- Friday, September 29, 1978 to
Northern Lights Roller Rink: Friday, September 29, 1978 to Fall 1991
Polar Roller Rink: Fall 1991 to June 1998.
Polar Ice Rink: 1999 to present.
Reason for Closure:
Northern Lights Roller Rink: First sold which thought would keep rink operational but new owners did not make any payments forcing the rink to file bankruptcy. Forced to resell.
Polar Roller Rink: N/A.
Polar Ice Rink: Still Operational.
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: D.M. - email; Rink Time - Polar Ice Rink;
Date of issue: 17 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.