Google Map of Rambo's Sunshine Skate Center and Sunshine Skate Center. Pre-2015 and post 2015.
Taken by a fan in Yelp. Look at the half-wall. Way high compared to people themselves. Most people are 5' 5" to 6' tall. Compare to people right by the wall, that is tall. Compare that with the man in green shirt and baseball cap on as well as floor guard with referee shirt on. Looks to me, it is a 5' tall wall! Even with the step down!
Courtesy of Sunshine Skate Center. Most are taken in 2015 and newer through Google Image. Beautiful facility. I highly recommend skaters to attend this because this appeared to be a successful good rink with even Gokart. I wonder where they put them away! Beautiful design. Clean Navy Blue walls with Lime Green background above where the graffiti style words and murals. That is only drawback I do not like-- the graffiti. That encourage wrong crowd to come and educate the young skaters the wrong idea. It is only change they need to do. Second of all, the step up/down is the other feature I do not like. i skated at rinks without any steps and it is comfortable without having to step up/down. I do not like the steps.
Rambo’s 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL
Sunshine Skate Center 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL (Still operational)
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL
Sunshine Skate Center 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL (Still operational)
First was Rambo's, then Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center on 950 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, Alabama before it became just Sunshine Skate Center which is currently operational and please do check their website. It is a beautiful rink there now! Wow!
This rink was around since 1977 according to their website. Apparently I believe it was Rambo's. Sure, you are thinking of that PSTD victim, Vietnam vet named Rambo starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo. Guys, wrong guy! This Rambo's IS or rather, WAS a skating rink.
Then it was Rambo's Sunshine Skate Center before dropping the name. You can see the easiest evolution of the name in chronically order.
Look like they dropped Zumba classes according to the sign. Zumba was popular in 2000s and 2010s. BUT they do have gokarts on the rink! Wow, but would that hurt the rink floor?
Only drawback out of beautiful place is the graffiti style words and logos above the Navy Blue (or was that Midnight Blue?) which drastically made the place feel like 2 different styles there.. a conflict It is like a clash between a Liberal and a Conservative. Right? Remove those art work above and use entire Lime Green to it. Or can use Mustard Yellow. Maybe School Bus Yellow. Any complimentary color with Blue. The Conservative Blue side with festive appearance wins most of the view I can see. Focus on that. That is the plus side of my criticism.
That is the style. Another draw back is the step. I do not like steps. Sure it is just one step. But with skates? I recommend completely flat.
The Interior.
I do not know what the interior was like when it first opened in late 1970s and on. But I can describe present day operating rink called Sunshine Skate Center. Of course, without Rambo's.
The present interior since 2014 for the rink itself is White and Blue (Since 2014) Tite-Coat urethane coated on possible concrete. Beautiful floor. And the interior. Truly freshening and modern. Some rinks has that checkered center floor with Blue like the Stardust Skate Center that was closed in Florida.
What interests me is that they had really high half-walls. With steel sheet metal-like strips to make it very unique design. Love the design. Very clean lines and hardly see it is Cinder-block but I believe it is hidden behind some material they had on. But is that necessary to be that high dividing snack bar and the rink? Most rinks have 3 feet high walls but this appeared to be 4 feet to 4 feet and 6 inches. Why that high? The side of the rink has no half walls and its all open. Many people and parents will want to watch their children FROM the snack bar. If that is too high, parents would be forced to sit on the side of the rink without any drinks or coffee or snacks!
Speaking of snack bar and eating area, it has that very 1960s/70s festive circus/ice cream stand feel to it. And I said festive because it matches with their glow carpet that has festive appearance. Like you do with New Year's in New York Time Square or a celebration such as victory parades, etc.
The Exterior.
I do not know what the look in the late 1970s but apparently I would agree that the architecture is the same. Very common Skate Country of Arizona architecture look. The more recent decade since 2007 provided by Google Map showed that the Standard Green trim and canopy is shown with White Steel sheet metal walls. There is also bricks. It appeared to be Orange-Red color which was also common in the 1960s and 1970s before turning to Red red bricks of 1980s as a trend before it became flat rock trendy look.
The name of the rink is on the wall as well as their big sign.
Now, about the sign itself, it had Rambo's above the rest of the name seen on Google Map until 2015 when they changed to just Sunshine Skate Center. It is entirely new sign and size too. The new one is very colorful compared to the fading name Rambo's but the Sunshine Skate Center mysteriously remained on the sign. Was it on purpose to erase the name by an act of weather and sun? I do know that red paint or red vinyl decals usually fade faster than any other color because of the sun radiation that hits red color. (this is why 98 percent of the plants are green! The timing the nature was perfect as Rambo's was meant to be erased off the sign. The new one unfortunately has a large amount of redness in background behind the plain fonts name which bore me. I like unique fonts. Today many businesses are turning to simple fonts for their logos. Even losing it all together. I can give you a better picture of what I mean: Verizon. You recall the newly formed Verizon company with that logo with the large red check? Just a few years ago, they dropped that and made a very plain font for Verizon. Boring!
Now, back to Sunshine SC. They had interesting sign and logo with the sunburst prefix on the name "Sunshine." Truly 1970s logo. Can be updated with the sun but not the boring fonts now on that sign. One problem, was that new sign electronically? Its hard to put logo on electronic signs? Its easier to type and movements of background as I seen some signs. Still, I have seen non-electronic logos on electronic signs. They could have done that.
It is Cinder-block built with Steel walls and Bricks.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80′ x 180′. Floor: White and Blue (Since 2014) Tite-Coat Urethane coated Concrete(?).
Floor Layout: Roller Derby with checkered center.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1977?. Demolished: Still standing .
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled, Cinder-block Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1977 (Sunshine SC) or 1996 (Manta - Rambo's) to Present.
Rambo’s: 1977/1996 to N/A.
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center: N/A to c. 2015. (proof with sign on Google Maps)
Sunshine Skate Center: c.2015 to Present/Still operational.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Rambo’s: N/A.
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center: N/A.
Sunshine Skate Center: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact date and why change name? Dropping Rambo's? Size of building.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Manta - Rambo's, Sunshine Skate Center, Yelp - Sunshine Skate Center, Cmac - Rambo's Sunshine Skate Center, Four Square - Sunshine Skate Center,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.
This rink was around since 1977 according to their website. Apparently I believe it was Rambo's. Sure, you are thinking of that PSTD victim, Vietnam vet named Rambo starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo. Guys, wrong guy! This Rambo's IS or rather, WAS a skating rink.
Then it was Rambo's Sunshine Skate Center before dropping the name. You can see the easiest evolution of the name in chronically order.
Look like they dropped Zumba classes according to the sign. Zumba was popular in 2000s and 2010s. BUT they do have gokarts on the rink! Wow, but would that hurt the rink floor?
Only drawback out of beautiful place is the graffiti style words and logos above the Navy Blue (or was that Midnight Blue?) which drastically made the place feel like 2 different styles there.. a conflict It is like a clash between a Liberal and a Conservative. Right? Remove those art work above and use entire Lime Green to it. Or can use Mustard Yellow. Maybe School Bus Yellow. Any complimentary color with Blue. The Conservative Blue side with festive appearance wins most of the view I can see. Focus on that. That is the plus side of my criticism.
That is the style. Another draw back is the step. I do not like steps. Sure it is just one step. But with skates? I recommend completely flat.
The Interior.
I do not know what the interior was like when it first opened in late 1970s and on. But I can describe present day operating rink called Sunshine Skate Center. Of course, without Rambo's.
The present interior since 2014 for the rink itself is White and Blue (Since 2014) Tite-Coat urethane coated on possible concrete. Beautiful floor. And the interior. Truly freshening and modern. Some rinks has that checkered center floor with Blue like the Stardust Skate Center that was closed in Florida.
What interests me is that they had really high half-walls. With steel sheet metal-like strips to make it very unique design. Love the design. Very clean lines and hardly see it is Cinder-block but I believe it is hidden behind some material they had on. But is that necessary to be that high dividing snack bar and the rink? Most rinks have 3 feet high walls but this appeared to be 4 feet to 4 feet and 6 inches. Why that high? The side of the rink has no half walls and its all open. Many people and parents will want to watch their children FROM the snack bar. If that is too high, parents would be forced to sit on the side of the rink without any drinks or coffee or snacks!
Speaking of snack bar and eating area, it has that very 1960s/70s festive circus/ice cream stand feel to it. And I said festive because it matches with their glow carpet that has festive appearance. Like you do with New Year's in New York Time Square or a celebration such as victory parades, etc.
The Exterior.
I do not know what the look in the late 1970s but apparently I would agree that the architecture is the same. Very common Skate Country of Arizona architecture look. The more recent decade since 2007 provided by Google Map showed that the Standard Green trim and canopy is shown with White Steel sheet metal walls. There is also bricks. It appeared to be Orange-Red color which was also common in the 1960s and 1970s before turning to Red red bricks of 1980s as a trend before it became flat rock trendy look.
The name of the rink is on the wall as well as their big sign.
Now, about the sign itself, it had Rambo's above the rest of the name seen on Google Map until 2015 when they changed to just Sunshine Skate Center. It is entirely new sign and size too. The new one is very colorful compared to the fading name Rambo's but the Sunshine Skate Center mysteriously remained on the sign. Was it on purpose to erase the name by an act of weather and sun? I do know that red paint or red vinyl decals usually fade faster than any other color because of the sun radiation that hits red color. (this is why 98 percent of the plants are green! The timing the nature was perfect as Rambo's was meant to be erased off the sign. The new one unfortunately has a large amount of redness in background behind the plain fonts name which bore me. I like unique fonts. Today many businesses are turning to simple fonts for their logos. Even losing it all together. I can give you a better picture of what I mean: Verizon. You recall the newly formed Verizon company with that logo with the large red check? Just a few years ago, they dropped that and made a very plain font for Verizon. Boring!
Now, back to Sunshine SC. They had interesting sign and logo with the sunburst prefix on the name "Sunshine." Truly 1970s logo. Can be updated with the sun but not the boring fonts now on that sign. One problem, was that new sign electronically? Its hard to put logo on electronic signs? Its easier to type and movements of background as I seen some signs. Still, I have seen non-electronic logos on electronic signs. They could have done that.
It is Cinder-block built with Steel walls and Bricks.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80′ x 180′. Floor: White and Blue (Since 2014) Tite-Coat Urethane coated Concrete(?).
Floor Layout: Roller Derby with checkered center.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1977?. Demolished: Still standing .
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled, Cinder-block Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1977 (Sunshine SC) or 1996 (Manta - Rambo's) to Present.
Rambo’s: 1977/1996 to N/A.
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center: N/A to c. 2015. (proof with sign on Google Maps)
Sunshine Skate Center: c.2015 to Present/Still operational.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Rambo’s: N/A.
Rambo’s Sunshine Skate Center: N/A.
Sunshine Skate Center: Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact date and why change name? Dropping Rambo's? Size of building.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Manta - Rambo's, Sunshine Skate Center, Yelp - Sunshine Skate Center, Cmac - Rambo's Sunshine Skate Center, Four Square - Sunshine Skate Center,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.