Owatonna Skating Rink 120 18th Street SW, Owatonna, MN
This rink was opened in 1948 by Vern and Jerry Meixner. Later, in 1976, Vern bought Jerry's share of ownership then it was sold to another couple, Chris and Jim Rotthoff who ran for the final 10 years of the rink.
I do not have any photos however, now I found the location, it is now where Hy-Vee G-store sits. Wow, this Hy-Vee is a TWO-story grocery store! Wow, big store height-wise. That is because the rink was sold and demolished to make way for that store.
Jim bought the rink in 1995 and he noticed the mirrors from that diamond ball as I call that. It is really a mirrored ball. He had to get some mirrors and break in pieces and he said it was over a thousand pieces on that mirror! He fixed at home and put it in the station wagons. People realized it something reflexive and cars would flash lights on it and everything. Even people thought it was cops. Very funny! It is in the article (see link here: Owatonna) Very funny! he kept that ball with everything sold to other rinks.
I do not have photos so I have no idea what the place was like. Google Map only got as far back as 2008. Just three years shy. By the way, that food store originally had one story! They must have built it bigger a few years later. And redone their parking lot to include a gas station as well (seen in 2008 Google Map edition).
They closed in March 25, 2005 because they were not paying lease to the building. Apparently they were losing money at the rink.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1948 Demolished: 2005 (Now Hy-Vee Grocery Store).
Type of Building: Free Span block building as part of shopping plaza. Yellow brick facade and side walls.
Roof: Rink-Arched, rest of plaza-Flat.
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1948 to March 25, 2005.
Reason for Closure: Not paying lease to the building owner/management.
Wanted: Information regarding photos and actual dates of open.
Sources: Facebook, Manta, Dun and Bradstreet 1, Dun and Bradstreet 2, Google Map,
Owatonna, Angel Marie (Skate fan).
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
I do not have any photos however, now I found the location, it is now where Hy-Vee G-store sits. Wow, this Hy-Vee is a TWO-story grocery store! Wow, big store height-wise. That is because the rink was sold and demolished to make way for that store.
Jim bought the rink in 1995 and he noticed the mirrors from that diamond ball as I call that. It is really a mirrored ball. He had to get some mirrors and break in pieces and he said it was over a thousand pieces on that mirror! He fixed at home and put it in the station wagons. People realized it something reflexive and cars would flash lights on it and everything. Even people thought it was cops. Very funny! It is in the article (see link here: Owatonna) Very funny! he kept that ball with everything sold to other rinks.
I do not have photos so I have no idea what the place was like. Google Map only got as far back as 2008. Just three years shy. By the way, that food store originally had one story! They must have built it bigger a few years later. And redone their parking lot to include a gas station as well (seen in 2008 Google Map edition).
They closed in March 25, 2005 because they were not paying lease to the building. Apparently they were losing money at the rink.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1948 Demolished: 2005 (Now Hy-Vee Grocery Store).
Type of Building: Free Span block building as part of shopping plaza. Yellow brick facade and side walls.
Roof: Rink-Arched, rest of plaza-Flat.
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1948 to March 25, 2005.
Reason for Closure: Not paying lease to the building owner/management.
Wanted: Information regarding photos and actual dates of open.
Sources: Facebook, Manta, Dun and Bradstreet 1, Dun and Bradstreet 2, Google Map,
Owatonna, Angel Marie (Skate fan).
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.