Google Map. This was the Church Street location where the rink was located. Top photo was taken in 2016 as the above was taken in May 2019.
My Record Journal. Above two were workers getting the rink ready by wiring and putting up speakers, I guess. This was at the North Plains Industrial Road location. Photos taken in April 1991.
Roller Haven II North Plains Industrial Road, Wallingford, CT
Roller Haven II 120 Church St, Wallingford, CT (Relocated)
Roller Haven II 120 Church St, Wallingford, CT (Relocated)
Roller Haven II was not exactly a squeal and not exactly connected to the other Roller Haven which was in North Haven, Connecticut. This one was being on 120 Church Street in Wallingford, Connecticut. which was started by Kathy McNulty who was a former skating instructor at Roller Haven in North Haven.
The original location was at Barnes Industrial Park
It was not a reboot, it was not a squeal, and certainly not a daughter/sister rink to the original Roller Haven. It was named after the original as perhaps a remembrance. Clearly because of Kathy McNulty worked at the original place and thought of that name likely. She was co-owner of the rink with Mary Anne Carrano.
What interesting was that Roller Haven II was the bridge between generations of rinks in Wallingford because originally, there were three rinks including Roller Haven II, Skate Palace and Wheel World. You see, in 1984, there were three rinks in town then by 1990s came along with the Inline Skates, It was just Roller Haven II and Wheel World after Skate Palace had closed back then. Roller Haven II served in between the two peak eras of roller skating, standing alone as the only roller skating rink in Wallingford until 1995, when Wheel World opened. The Roller Disco Era and the Inline Skate Era. (I believe that Roller Disco era died out by 1984-86 and the Inlines was already in the 1980s but did not catch on till around 1989ish.)
Roller Haven II opened for business in (likely May) 1991 at an old warehouse on North Plains Industrial Road.
By 1995, McNulty had left Roller Haven II, which had relocated to Church Street by 1994, for Wheel World which was located on North Cherry Street.
I could not figure out where exactly the old address was. I only got the street but not the building or lot number. I tried to contact Ryan but he is no longer reporter for the newspaper/media there as I got a returned email as I was typing this profile. Anyone know exactly where the old location was? I got the street, thank you but number?
As for the Church Street location, Roller Haven II closed in year 2000 then Wheel World closed in 2008. Google Map has 2008 but nothing to show as it was a rink. It had a church there, a party and sports venue but nothing related to skating at all. Those lasted till 2019 when it became industrial warehouse.
They had a skating time that is totally unstructured such as no couples, men-only, women-only or other special skates. There were four padded iron poles up the middle of the floor which limit the amount of space in the center of the rink. Oh, also Black-booted inlines are not allowed. because it would scratch the floor.
The Interior.
I am not sure if this rink had concrete or wood floor and it was pained in Navy Gray color. Anyone know what material they had?
The interior had walls like a movie set would have because the dry wall did not go all the way up to the ceiling. It was exposed aluminum walls on the other side of those walls. And exposed ceiling with steel beams.
The interior for both sites were quite similar. Same stripes or almost the same, same White wall background, and similar roller floor. Photos will describe them well.
For the 2nd location they had, it was likely part of the building, not entirely because of its massive size of 58,260 SF.
Both the sound system and the lights came from the now-defunct Plainville CT rink.
The Exterior.
The original is unknown. But I can see the Church Street location was a very long narrow building next to a highway and surrounded by tree rows on each side. Big field in front and rear. And big parking lot.
The Google Map showed nothing about the rink because Wheel World closed in 2008 and it was already gone as other businesses and a church were housed there at that time till last year when it became an industrial warehouse as you can see in the photos. It is sad that is no longer available for the public to enjoy or to worship.
The Stats:
North Plains Industrial Road location --
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Treated cement floor/Impregnated Concrete. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Column-Supported Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Church Road location --
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Treated cement floor/Impregnated Concrete. Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: 58,260 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 10.4200 Acres (Big!)
Operated: 1991 to 2000.
North Plains Industrial Road location: (Likely in May)1991 to 1994
Church Street location: 1994 to 2000.
Reason for Closure:
North Plains Industrial Road location: N/A.
Church Street location: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: My Record Journal - 3 rinks in town; Loop Net - Church Street location;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
The original location was at Barnes Industrial Park
It was not a reboot, it was not a squeal, and certainly not a daughter/sister rink to the original Roller Haven. It was named after the original as perhaps a remembrance. Clearly because of Kathy McNulty worked at the original place and thought of that name likely. She was co-owner of the rink with Mary Anne Carrano.
What interesting was that Roller Haven II was the bridge between generations of rinks in Wallingford because originally, there were three rinks including Roller Haven II, Skate Palace and Wheel World. You see, in 1984, there were three rinks in town then by 1990s came along with the Inline Skates, It was just Roller Haven II and Wheel World after Skate Palace had closed back then. Roller Haven II served in between the two peak eras of roller skating, standing alone as the only roller skating rink in Wallingford until 1995, when Wheel World opened. The Roller Disco Era and the Inline Skate Era. (I believe that Roller Disco era died out by 1984-86 and the Inlines was already in the 1980s but did not catch on till around 1989ish.)
Roller Haven II opened for business in (likely May) 1991 at an old warehouse on North Plains Industrial Road.
By 1995, McNulty had left Roller Haven II, which had relocated to Church Street by 1994, for Wheel World which was located on North Cherry Street.
I could not figure out where exactly the old address was. I only got the street but not the building or lot number. I tried to contact Ryan but he is no longer reporter for the newspaper/media there as I got a returned email as I was typing this profile. Anyone know exactly where the old location was? I got the street, thank you but number?
As for the Church Street location, Roller Haven II closed in year 2000 then Wheel World closed in 2008. Google Map has 2008 but nothing to show as it was a rink. It had a church there, a party and sports venue but nothing related to skating at all. Those lasted till 2019 when it became industrial warehouse.
They had a skating time that is totally unstructured such as no couples, men-only, women-only or other special skates. There were four padded iron poles up the middle of the floor which limit the amount of space in the center of the rink. Oh, also Black-booted inlines are not allowed. because it would scratch the floor.
The Interior.
I am not sure if this rink had concrete or wood floor and it was pained in Navy Gray color. Anyone know what material they had?
The interior had walls like a movie set would have because the dry wall did not go all the way up to the ceiling. It was exposed aluminum walls on the other side of those walls. And exposed ceiling with steel beams.
The interior for both sites were quite similar. Same stripes or almost the same, same White wall background, and similar roller floor. Photos will describe them well.
For the 2nd location they had, it was likely part of the building, not entirely because of its massive size of 58,260 SF.
Both the sound system and the lights came from the now-defunct Plainville CT rink.
The Exterior.
The original is unknown. But I can see the Church Street location was a very long narrow building next to a highway and surrounded by tree rows on each side. Big field in front and rear. And big parking lot.
The Google Map showed nothing about the rink because Wheel World closed in 2008 and it was already gone as other businesses and a church were housed there at that time till last year when it became an industrial warehouse as you can see in the photos. It is sad that is no longer available for the public to enjoy or to worship.
The Stats:
North Plains Industrial Road location --
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Treated cement floor/Impregnated Concrete. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Column-Supported Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Church Road location --
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Treated cement floor/Impregnated Concrete. Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: 58,260 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 10.4200 Acres (Big!)
Operated: 1991 to 2000.
North Plains Industrial Road location: (Likely in May)1991 to 1994
Church Street location: 1994 to 2000.
Reason for Closure:
North Plains Industrial Road location: N/A.
Church Street location: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: My Record Journal - 3 rinks in town; Loop Net - Church Street location;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.