Drone filming the neighborhood including the rink.
Interesting lettering. I would also consider this as the logo. RECA into one letter. Can you spot all 4 letters in one? I can. Although this letter stands for R. This is only one they showed on Facebook. I wish someone did take a picture of each letter! Would have been cool to see that! Taken in 2012.
See the pews? Not there.. It looked more like a movie theater seating. It was common with those seating at rinks of yesteryear.
Ah, I love the classics. This appeared so 60s to 70s.. Wooden floor throughout. NO carpeting.. None of that. And yes, it does look like different wood. And they are wood tiles. Big difference than the rink floor itself. I love the orange colors trims and lockers. From the bygone of 1960s to mid-1980s. All photos courtesy of RECA Roller Rink/Kelly Danners.
Below you see are renovated. Above are older generation appearance.
Awesome carpet! I love it! Very colorful!
Google Image. Wow, look at all of the skates! Were they new rentals or new skates for the pro-shop?
Those are the pews that replaced the movie-theater seating. Church members heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and get saved in those pews. Amen!
All photos of Google Images, RECA Roller Rink Facebook, etc.
Real sad ending. Courtesy of RECA Roller Rink Facebook/Kelly Danner. You are welcome, Kelly!
The Cincinnati Inquirer October 26, 2017. Is it my heart beating fast here? Haha. Wink! Why I said that, look at the picture, you silly! Yeah, right!
The Cincinnati Inquirer. March 3, 2020.
RECA Roller Rink 11 Viewpoint Drive, Alexandria, KY
RECA Roller Rink was a roller rink on 11 Viewpoint Drive in Alexandria, Kentucky. They recently closed as a rink. It was also an event center.
RECA which stands for Recreational & Event Center of Alexandria. Cool name for that. Like what people always say SOS stands for Save Our Souls. The name made it easier for RECA. But that was in 1984 when the new owners purchased it. But remained the RECA which originally stood for the original owners' first names-- Roy White and his Son Ed, Charles Franzel and Al Feldman. Those 4 gentleman owned from the opening year in 1958 (specific date is unknown). Like 2 fast food restaurants had their combinations names joined together-- Arby's and the defunct Sambo's. Cool acronym!
Originally was going to be a storage facility when the houses were completely built in surrounding area but quickly put to rest when they saw the need to have a place for children to do and that conceive an idea-- roller rink in that same building.
The rink floor was done using dipping them into water and bend the wood and place on the floor instead of steaming. It is called Water Bending. A technique you put wood in a large pool of water and dip them in. First the water has to be heated and then put wood in and see how much curved it will be until you like that curve, then remove it out of the water. It is repetitive process. Most prefer to use Steam Bending method because you put that into a steam pipe and bend it. Or you bend slowly till the wood is fully bended to your desire.
The Water Bending wood you gets wet and after bending, you have to let it dry out before laying in the floor. Steaming eliminate that waiting period. It is similar to dry kiln that you get bunch of fire wood at your state park campground you go to. Water Bending is more laborious and time. More information regarding bending, check here.
The timing to close was perfect for Kelly Danner because it was merely 3 weeks before global lockdown on COVID. Otherwise, she would have faced much more financial hardship. The reason for closing was because of finanical hardship and enough rink competitions around that she said it is a dying industry. Yes, it is, Kelly in a way. but it will be back. It just that lockdowns has to go away permanently, no more lawsuits and make everyone be own responsiblity to take care of themselves with their own insurance, not rink's insurance unless say.. maybe roof collapse if not care for it.. That is big difference than say a kid knock down someone else causing a major injury. That lawsuit should be aimed at the bully, not the rink unless.. whew.. the rink has to have excellent floor guards. There, I said it. Needs aggressive advertising, and new generations now and its time they know what roller skating is and take their phones away. And no more xboxes and cable TV at home! The good old fashioned way, they earn it!
Timeline of owners--
1958 to N/A: Roy White, Edward White, Charlie Frentzel & Alvin Feldman. (Acronym for the rink name- RECA)
N/A to March 1, 1984: Wilma and Jack Wessling
March 1, 1984 to 2015: Warren & Audrey Danner (changed meaning of RECA to Recreational & Event Center of Alexandria)
2015 to March 1, 2020: Kelly Danner
The Interior.
Let's start with the sun room. That room feels roomily. Like a real sunroom. And bright with Bold Yellow wall with White stripe and Purple at the base of the wall. It is where the admission is and you walk in the glass door into the rink section. You would find a beautiful aging Rotunda rink floor with the size of 66 feet wide by 139 feet long. It is all Maple and does need total refinished but they had it for 60 years-- the life beyond the rink floor age which typically 45 to 50 years. Likely this is one of reasons for closing. Yes, I see the videos on their local news how few skaters were. Sad.
The floor does need redone. I saw a picture or two how much warping it showed even you can't see in the photo that well it does showed. And the floor staining and wood shrink as it ages.
What I love about it is that it is a rotunda. Arched-curve floor done by Water Bending.
The interior was redone in 2017 though.
I love the colors on the wall. It is common at many rinks with this updates between year 2000 and 2020. Usually a color between Free-Span Steel Truss platform. Originally they had Country Cottage Brown Wall Panel sheets you seen in many places and home during 1950s to 1970s. It was removed and painted.
The church pew in the sunroom was originally from a church that was destroyed by a tornado in the same town. A few pew survived. But the pews in the rink area were from another church. They had a lot of benches, chairs, and laminated dinettes eating areas practically almost all over the rink area. The pews against the wall by the rink were from a church.
I love the carpets. It was set as NY Subway Tile format. Very colorful to match the colors of the wall colors. Beautiful carpets. They covered up where the wooden floor used to be.
The Exterior.
It is a Gable roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Storefront - like Building with a sunroom where the admission is.
I love the view with the windows you see out is the area. The rink was on a hill overseeing Alexandria. Beautiful sight! Wish this continued as a rink. Oh well.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 66' x 139'. Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda/Arched-curve (Water Bending).
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Storefront - like Building. With sunroom.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Reason for Closure: Financial hardship. Kelly Donner said this, “The business is unfortunately an industry that is dying. There are a lot of rinks in the area and we just can’t keep up with everything [Competition].”
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Local 12 News - Closing; Local 12 News - Last weekend to skate; Facebook; RECA website: Credits above in photos are noted.
Date of issue: 17 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
RECA which stands for Recreational & Event Center of Alexandria. Cool name for that. Like what people always say SOS stands for Save Our Souls. The name made it easier for RECA. But that was in 1984 when the new owners purchased it. But remained the RECA which originally stood for the original owners' first names-- Roy White and his Son Ed, Charles Franzel and Al Feldman. Those 4 gentleman owned from the opening year in 1958 (specific date is unknown). Like 2 fast food restaurants had their combinations names joined together-- Arby's and the defunct Sambo's. Cool acronym!
Originally was going to be a storage facility when the houses were completely built in surrounding area but quickly put to rest when they saw the need to have a place for children to do and that conceive an idea-- roller rink in that same building.
The rink floor was done using dipping them into water and bend the wood and place on the floor instead of steaming. It is called Water Bending. A technique you put wood in a large pool of water and dip them in. First the water has to be heated and then put wood in and see how much curved it will be until you like that curve, then remove it out of the water. It is repetitive process. Most prefer to use Steam Bending method because you put that into a steam pipe and bend it. Or you bend slowly till the wood is fully bended to your desire.
The Water Bending wood you gets wet and after bending, you have to let it dry out before laying in the floor. Steaming eliminate that waiting period. It is similar to dry kiln that you get bunch of fire wood at your state park campground you go to. Water Bending is more laborious and time. More information regarding bending, check here.
The timing to close was perfect for Kelly Danner because it was merely 3 weeks before global lockdown on COVID. Otherwise, she would have faced much more financial hardship. The reason for closing was because of finanical hardship and enough rink competitions around that she said it is a dying industry. Yes, it is, Kelly in a way. but it will be back. It just that lockdowns has to go away permanently, no more lawsuits and make everyone be own responsiblity to take care of themselves with their own insurance, not rink's insurance unless say.. maybe roof collapse if not care for it.. That is big difference than say a kid knock down someone else causing a major injury. That lawsuit should be aimed at the bully, not the rink unless.. whew.. the rink has to have excellent floor guards. There, I said it. Needs aggressive advertising, and new generations now and its time they know what roller skating is and take their phones away. And no more xboxes and cable TV at home! The good old fashioned way, they earn it!
Timeline of owners--
1958 to N/A: Roy White, Edward White, Charlie Frentzel & Alvin Feldman. (Acronym for the rink name- RECA)
N/A to March 1, 1984: Wilma and Jack Wessling
March 1, 1984 to 2015: Warren & Audrey Danner (changed meaning of RECA to Recreational & Event Center of Alexandria)
2015 to March 1, 2020: Kelly Danner
The Interior.
Let's start with the sun room. That room feels roomily. Like a real sunroom. And bright with Bold Yellow wall with White stripe and Purple at the base of the wall. It is where the admission is and you walk in the glass door into the rink section. You would find a beautiful aging Rotunda rink floor with the size of 66 feet wide by 139 feet long. It is all Maple and does need total refinished but they had it for 60 years-- the life beyond the rink floor age which typically 45 to 50 years. Likely this is one of reasons for closing. Yes, I see the videos on their local news how few skaters were. Sad.
The floor does need redone. I saw a picture or two how much warping it showed even you can't see in the photo that well it does showed. And the floor staining and wood shrink as it ages.
What I love about it is that it is a rotunda. Arched-curve floor done by Water Bending.
The interior was redone in 2017 though.
I love the colors on the wall. It is common at many rinks with this updates between year 2000 and 2020. Usually a color between Free-Span Steel Truss platform. Originally they had Country Cottage Brown Wall Panel sheets you seen in many places and home during 1950s to 1970s. It was removed and painted.
The church pew in the sunroom was originally from a church that was destroyed by a tornado in the same town. A few pew survived. But the pews in the rink area were from another church. They had a lot of benches, chairs, and laminated dinettes eating areas practically almost all over the rink area. The pews against the wall by the rink were from a church.
I love the carpets. It was set as NY Subway Tile format. Very colorful to match the colors of the wall colors. Beautiful carpets. They covered up where the wooden floor used to be.
The Exterior.
It is a Gable roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Storefront - like Building with a sunroom where the admission is.
I love the view with the windows you see out is the area. The rink was on a hill overseeing Alexandria. Beautiful sight! Wish this continued as a rink. Oh well.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 66' x 139'. Floor: Clear coated Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda/Arched-curve (Water Bending).
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Storefront - like Building. With sunroom.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Reason for Closure: Financial hardship. Kelly Donner said this, “The business is unfortunately an industry that is dying. There are a lot of rinks in the area and we just can’t keep up with everything [Competition].”
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Local 12 News - Closing; Local 12 News - Last weekend to skate; Facebook; RECA website: Credits above in photos are noted.
Date of issue: 17 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.