Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. It was already out of business and the T-shirt place was leasing for a while. Source: Loop Net.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. It was already out of business and the T-shirt place was leasing for a while. Source: Loop Net.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. After Skate Town USA, then Roller Rave (both not pictured), then a T-shirt place, then a gymnasium, then Flip City Gym and Cheer, then Crossfit which finally painted over the Gold Yellow stones on the wall. Real sad they removed the Browning of America by painting into the Graying of America. Top photo taken in 2008, middle photo was 2016 while bottom was 2018. Good thing they did removed the trees though. It was too close together and was not growing right because they were planted too close to each other. Source: Google.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. After Skate Town USA, then Roller Rave (both not pictured), then a T-shirt place, then a gymnasium, then Flip City Gym and Cheer, then Crossfit which finally painted over the Gold Yellow stones on the wall. Real sad they removed the Browning of America by painting into the Graying of America. Top photo taken in 2008, middle photo was 2016 while bottom was 2018. Good thing they did removed the trees though. It was too close together and was not growing right because they were planted too close to each other. Source: Google.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. After Skate Town USA, then Roller Rave (both not pictured), then a T-shirt place, then a gymnasium, then Flip City Gym and Cheer, then now Crossfit which finally painted over the Gold Yellow stones on the wall. Real sad they removed the Browning of America by painting into the Graying of America. Top photo taken in 2008, middle photo was 2016 while bottom was 2018. Good thing they did removed the trees though. It was too close together and was not growing right because they were planted too close to each other. Source: Google.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. For a time between the rink and Flip City, it was Prescott Indoor Soccer, an indoor football field facility. The walls were pretty much painted over and a classic Pepsi Cola logo was painted above the wall seen in the background. Source: C. E.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. A nice article in The Daily Courier, Thursday October 17, 1996. Source: Save Our Rink.
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Bachelor Auction. No, ladies, they are not adult hunks. Shame on you. This was just for fun and to raise money for D.A.R.E. And the girls only had time with those boys after they won their bet that they have time spend with them that evening at the rink. OK? Boy! Hee hee. Source: Save Our Rink.
NEWLY ADDED!
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. This showed where the open locker shelves were and a video game located. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ. Roller Rink. Source: Leslie Kolic.
Skate Town USA 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Skate Carousel 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Roller Rave Roller Skating Rink 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Skate Carousel 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Roller Rave 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
Roller Rave Roller Skating Rink 546 North 6th Street, Prescott, AZ
The location at 546 North 6th Street in Prescott, Arizona was the home for Skate Town USA, Skate Carousel, and Roller Rave (also known as Roller Rave Roller Skating Rink.)
Looks like Skate Town USA was first then Skate Carousel, then Roller Rave because of more recent history showed it was Roller Rave. I do not see any information related of that rink's name. But only found through my lists of 1990s rinks. Since the building was built in 1979, that housed Skate Town USA. But they closed in 1996 and became Roller Rave which ran till around 2005.
UPDATE:
After Skate Town USA, it was Skate Carousel for awhile, operated by Paul Nave, a skating coach. Then it became Roller Rave where that owner pretty much ran it into the ground and for 9 short months in 2006-2007, Tom Wood leased it and operated it. I went in to be his marketing director and we were filling the place. The owner of the building reclaimed the property in February of 2007. Then it became a karate or gymnastics center.
--S.G.
Update again- Roller Rave was from October 1995 to September 2005 -E.J.
Thank you E.J. for the proof from the website, Prescott Youth Hockey.
Evidently they may have closed sometimes before 2008 according to a comment someone made in a website saying they are closed. No other information said they are closed. But it is closed because after that, it was sold to a gymnasium then they went out of business too then the next one was a gymnasium too and a cheerleading center (joint). Now some fitness center. Seemly all kinds of fitness are attracted to this place! First roller skating, then a gymnasium, then gymnasium-cheerleading, then a workout gym. What's next?
UPDATED AGAIN --
One thing I discovered, between S.G.'s statement because she worked there and E.J. gave me proof and she skated there, there is a conflict of years of operation. Because E.J. showed me proof, I would say E.J. is correct.
UPDATED ONCE AGAIN! --
This time I got it from the owner of the rink who owned from 1996 to May 2006. He said this-- Word for word--
I [Dean Koresel] was the owner of the business from 1996 through May 2006. The 2nd owner of the Roller Rave was Tom Woods for barely 6 months beginning in June 2006. In fact - I made a bet with Tom: If he could keep the rink open & keep it a thriving business into 2007 I would take him to the best restaurant in the quad cities - dinner on me. Needless to say, Tom did not win the bet.
The mismanagement period of the Roller Rave was entirely on Tom Woods. We ran the skating center longer & had the most successful run out of any other business operator/manager.
This one Dean just send me on the 10th, hours after I updated this profile.. A very good wealth of information seen here-- Roller Wave. Click on the name on the left. it is a longer version and detailed story but brief version here--
Of course Roller skating was becoming popular again in 1970s thanks to Disco music popularity that connected to skating (Thanks to Empire Rink in Brooklyn, NY for starting Roller Disco), the craze caught on. This family, real estate developers Jerry and Barbara Williams saw the craze as the local YMCA was converted to a rink from their traditional basketball court. The Y had quite a crowd at every session from 1977 to 1979.
This prompt the Williams to open their rink and they did so on December 1, 1979. From that night on for the next full year of 1980, it was quite beyond the capacity of skaters to go skating at this rink. Over crowded.
Sadly, Skate Town USA went through more than 10 years of more than 5 different owners or groups of owners. By the mid 90’s the Disco craze that had captivated so many folks had all but evaporated. Also the Inline-Skates were the new skates in the mini craze of late 1980s and early 1990s. But that too gone.
For 15 years, the floor was worn quickly and all the woos and jazzy lights were becoming bore to skaters. By 1995 – Then was called, Skate Carousel, was mired in significant debt.
Then the Dean Koressel Family uprooted from Phoenix to relocate to operate this rink in 1996. In the hopes of revival of this rink and renamed as Roller Rave. Or known to some Roller Rave Roller Rink (seen on lists of rinks from 1990s),
The Koressel Family made the critical decision that the rink was too vital for the community to let it close. The Koressels met with the property owners about what they might possibly do in which to keep the rink operational. The message from the property owners was clear – If, within 30 days, the rink can be returned to profitability including financial support for their family through the rink’s revenue, rink business ownership would be transferred to the Koressels. It was a risky and I might add, a good deal on the family's decision. Clearly it was a trial. If the Koressels were successful in which they did, they would retain ownership. But if they failed, they never owned the place and the owners prior to the Koressels would have sold and closed the rink sooner.
They did successfully operated for a good 10 years. All good thanks to their excellent research that it was Inline-Skates that made it happened. They focused on that new type of skates that were popular in 1990s. This "7 years cycle" of ups were in at the time. They captured at correct time to use that new concept whilist other rinks even refused to allow Inline Skates including the rink I worked for in 1990 to 1991.
They made excellent jump at this new craze. Disco were long gone. It died at the Cincinnati Reds Stadium during the doubleheader game one Saturday afternoon 1980 when fans were upset at Disco for wiping out Rock music.
Anyway, they did well during that ten year run.
On October 15th, 1995 the rink would begin the first organized youth inline hockey league in northern Arizona.
Because of Inlines, and Roller Hockey, they successfully convicted the property owners that the rink can maintain after all.
This also showed other rink operators around the world to allow both at their rinks although many rink operators feared that the black rubber brakes can leave skid marks on their beautiful wood floor or even white painted floors.
The Koressels had a naming contest and Roller Rave was chosen out of 85 people who submitted. They changed the sign and this on was known as Roller Rave. In fact, I only know at least one other Roller Rave in the country that has such name. Quite rare compared to say.. Skateland which has to be at least 75 to 100 of them as I have profiled (so far). I admit I love this name and If I was to open a rink or a chain, maybe I would use Roller Rave. But I am eyeing on a different name, another story another time.
I sure hope that winner enjoyed a year of free skating. Hey winner, did you have fun!? If yes, that is awesome! I had my share of free summer sessions (unlimited) package because of my report cards. Why? I had so many A and A+!
Anyway.. because of this, they gutted inside and totally renovated the interior to update the look and install new wow stuff.
Roller Hockey was very popular at the time at the rink. They organized for youth but the adults wanted in as well. They organized three adult seasons- Fall, winter, and spring. They also later introduced figure skating as well as speed skating.
Roller Rave was truly a leading rink over most rinks around the country because they were one of the first to allow inline skating, inline skating roller hockey, and of course, have theme skating. What put the Roller Rave on the map were many of its insanely choreographed spectacles that featured ‘themed’ public skating sessions. These ‘themed’ sessions would always feature mischievous and playfully irreverent games and activities. Just a few of these ‘themed’ sessions including: Gross out night, Toilet paper night, Battle of the sexes, Break the rules night, Bachelor auction night, Boxer Shorts Night and Wreck the rink night as reported in the website, Restore our rink.
No wonder I see many rinks photos showed the most popular-- Toilet paper mummy night, usually closer to Halloween. Many rinks also have that night, the costume contest. I went skating in the 1970s to early 1990s often and I never seen such contests as this. Never. It may have never reached here or they may have but after my frequent time attending the rinks in mid-1990s to 2006 have come rare. I admit I have not skated at a rink more than once since 2006. And that was in Spring 2019.
Boxer Shorts night? (shaking head). Must be why no other rinks dared to do that. No due to health codes and their clothing requirements or even their state laws that you must wear a shirt on or shoes on when inside a business establishment kind of laws.
Ohhh! As I read on the same website, they explained further what this is all about. Oh whew! Ok, you still have to wear your clothes and just wear those inside out. What this means is you wear your clothes but put on your boxer shorts OVER your jeans or pants. (I wish this site allows me to give a facial expression of an, "Uh?" and a, "shaking head".
And the Bachelors... no, ladies, wait a minute! No hunks you think they were. They were boys! Teenage boys! They were to raise money for D.A.R.E. The girls had to bid to win the boys to be their "date" or "skating partner for the evening" only that night. I am not sure if any of them did fall in love... Did any one? Leave those hunks to the movies, ladies! Haha.
This rink was truly very successful and I am sure many rinks followed this formula. And should win the best concept for marketing award given by Dead-Rinks. Guys, should we have such awards? I think we should! Send me an email and I will design an award and actual have them produced some kind of plague or medallion. One for dead rink annually, and one for alive rink.
By 1999, Roller Rave was quite popular than any other rinks in the area. Also in 1999, the Roller Rave install state of the art sound audio, lighting, fog and laser system. After this retrofit, teen dance nights were conducted where the rink once again shed its skating persona and morphed into a teen club venue where skates were prohibited and dancing and socializing for teens were a priority. DJ competitions were conducted to see who could spin the best tracks.
Because of the entire good marketing and new concepts that helped revitalize rinks in this cycle of ups, Roller Rave as in fact, they had positioned itself as one of the most progressive and innovative rinks in the country – ice or roller, period.
By 2005, the popularity of roller hockey and other skating related activities were large in town that the town built an outdoor skate park / rink at the Pioneer Park. That I read and I agree that park did kind of steal the thunder from Roller Rave.
May 20th, 2006 was the saddest day for Roller Rave and the Koressels. Every kind of session that day came to an end. The park was a non-profit and this not need to pay taxes as opposed to the for-profit business that collects taxes. In fact, the park wanted the rink to still operate and share expenses, it was too much for both sides to function together.
Hey, Peace! Sorry, Woodstock did not have a skating rink at the time. HAHA.
UPDATE --
I received an email from the granddaughter of one of the owners. Here is what she has to say--
Hi, my name is L.
My grandpa was on of the owner/managers there before Paul took it over. I can answer a few of the things you were unsure of in your post.
The rink floor was concrete, it was white and blue in the lobby, and had blue carpeting on the cement walls. The ceiling had all 50 state flags hanging from the support system. I don’t have any photos here with me of the inside of the rink, the few I might have are across the county. I do have a picture from inside the lobby, it was taken for a skate competition.
Have a great day,
Thanks L!
ANOTHER UPDATE!! --
Thank you C. E. for the update I received the week of October 2021. Here is what Cameron has to say--
Between the time it was a roller rink and Flip City it was also an indoor soccer place. Called Prescott Indoor Soccer. If you like I might be able to find some pictures for you. It was a concrete floor to start but we put down turf for the field. I'm not sure what was done after that.
This is one of the most storied roller rink I ever heard, read, or known thanks to many of you replied! Thank you everyone! Only I am missing now are the photos of the rink interior! Any one of you have it?
UPDATE! -- 14 March 2022 (Pi Day)
Wow, this is the most updated profile of all rinks on Dead-Rinks! You read them all above and yes, there are more below including this update. Here is what I received --
This is from the same person named L in the previous update above. First of all, I want to express my sympathy for you and your family on your grandfather's passing.. Prayers and thoughts are with you and family and friends and the family of skaters.
I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. My family are all together this weekend to bury my grandfather's ashes. He was the one who owned/managed Skate Town. Among the personal items carried out to be distributed to everyone is a full 360 view of photos of the rink as my grandpa was setting it up. After talking to my Aunts and Uncle I found out that the rink was concrete coated in poly urethane. My Uncle has vivid memories of repainting the floor a couple of times. Attached is the pictures I took of the skating rink pictures, which have been taped together and rolled for some reason unknown to me.
(included were photos. See in the photo gallery above.)
The Interior.
It was a 12,600 Square Feet facility that they had a rink. On a smaller side though for skating floor. Likely it was concrete. The interior at the time is unknown because I only can catch partials on Flip City Gymnasium and Cheer that they had White walls, all gym mats and stuff around. There is not much to see.
For a time, it had an Astroturf for the indoor field for football (you call it soccer but internationally, they recognize as football, sorry Americans!)
UPDATE! --
Yes, it was concrete after all. I was correct in my guessing what floor it was. Thanks to the granddaughter of one of the owners before Paul took over tis rink. She emailed me today on 23 August 2021.
In 1996, they installed the first state-of-the-art skating pro shop in northern Arizona. A family could walk in to the pro shop and outfit their youngster from head to toe for hockey or for any skating needs. After wrapping the top of the pro shop with stunning hot orange neon tubing, the arena walls were furred out to maintain rounded corners for hockey. In order to protect spectators from the perils of speeding pucks during games, an ingenious curtain netting system was implemented that could be rolled out, adhered into place with industrial grade velcro and removed it for public skating.
in 1999, the Roller Rave install state of the art sound audio, lighting, fog and laser system. After this retrofit, teen dance nights were conducted where the rink once again shed its skating persona and morphed into a teen club
The Exterior.
Very stylish and modern for its day in the 1970s. Maybe 1960s. Its hard to describe the style but I love that 70s classic look. Might be 60s though. They even had outdoors scone colonial style lanterns on the wall. Each divided by a decorative divider with Gold Yellow pebble look with White wall lead to the front door. They also have a canopy that match the style to the partial of the front where the wall lamps are. Still there. Very rare you find rinks truly had the styles of its decade they started. While 1930s, so many motels and drive-in restaurants had Art Deco while rinks almost never had that style. 1950s brought Mid-Century and Googie's styles to fast food, coffee shops, diners, drive-ins restaurants, even drive-in theaters, banks, etc. But almost none to the rinks - maybe a couple of them. 1960s and 1970s had Contemporary or 60s Futurism or Browning of America that many fast food, diners, coffeeshops, banks, stores, etc. had. Rarely found at rinks. Not a lot. Then 1980s and 90s had several revivalism such as Colonialism, then later French Revivalism. No rinks had that.. well, maybe one or two I have on Dead-Rinks had that look. But 2000s on had Abstractism, Wild design, Frank Gehry designs, etc. And Mixture Architecture styles, slowly you see rinks have those styles (ie-closed Skate Daze, etc.) Right now it is Modernism, Cubism, Mixture, Post-Modernism, and Post-Googie's.
So, this is a rare spot you see the 1970s look for a rink. I love it because you almost do not see that style that belonged that decade around even that time and I am sure others did but either torn down or renovated completely.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Concrete. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 12,600 SF. Built: 1979. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock and Stucco storefront - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 0.7000 Acres.
Operated: December 1, 1979 to December 2006.
Skate Town USA: December 1, 1979 to N/A.
Skate Carousel: N/A to 1996.
Roller Rave: 1996 to May 20 2006 under the Koressels (Tom Woods ran from June 2006 to December 2006).
Reason for Closure:
Skate Town USA: N/A.
Skate Carousel: Likely age of facility and worn floor.
Roller Rave: (The Koressels management); new skate park competition.
Roller Rave: Mismanagement and mis-used the money. Non-payment of lease. Only operating for 6 months.
Wanted: Information regarding size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures of the INTERIOR when it was roller rink please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Roller Rave Revue - June/July/August 2002 (PDF).
Roller Rave Revue - Sept/Oct/Nov 2002 (PDF).
Insider Pages.
Loop Net 1.
Loop Net 2.
Manta - Roller Rave.
Prescott Youth Hockey - Roller Rave.
2 former employees, and D.K.(owner of the rink) email.
Save Our Rink - Lengthy and very detailed history about Roller Rave.
Granddaughter of one of the owners of the rink - email.
Worth to Visit:
You can see the building still stands today. Drive by and see it.
Date of Issue: 2019.
Updated: 09 January 2021.
Updated: 23 August 2021.
Updated: 14 March 2022.
For Office Only: 16.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.
Looks like Skate Town USA was first then Skate Carousel, then Roller Rave because of more recent history showed it was Roller Rave. I do not see any information related of that rink's name. But only found through my lists of 1990s rinks. Since the building was built in 1979, that housed Skate Town USA. But they closed in 1996 and became Roller Rave which ran till around 2005.
UPDATE:
After Skate Town USA, it was Skate Carousel for awhile, operated by Paul Nave, a skating coach. Then it became Roller Rave where that owner pretty much ran it into the ground and for 9 short months in 2006-2007, Tom Wood leased it and operated it. I went in to be his marketing director and we were filling the place. The owner of the building reclaimed the property in February of 2007. Then it became a karate or gymnastics center.
--S.G.
Update again- Roller Rave was from October 1995 to September 2005 -E.J.
Thank you E.J. for the proof from the website, Prescott Youth Hockey.
Evidently they may have closed sometimes before 2008 according to a comment someone made in a website saying they are closed. No other information said they are closed. But it is closed because after that, it was sold to a gymnasium then they went out of business too then the next one was a gymnasium too and a cheerleading center (joint). Now some fitness center. Seemly all kinds of fitness are attracted to this place! First roller skating, then a gymnasium, then gymnasium-cheerleading, then a workout gym. What's next?
UPDATED AGAIN --
One thing I discovered, between S.G.'s statement because she worked there and E.J. gave me proof and she skated there, there is a conflict of years of operation. Because E.J. showed me proof, I would say E.J. is correct.
UPDATED ONCE AGAIN! --
This time I got it from the owner of the rink who owned from 1996 to May 2006. He said this-- Word for word--
I [Dean Koresel] was the owner of the business from 1996 through May 2006. The 2nd owner of the Roller Rave was Tom Woods for barely 6 months beginning in June 2006. In fact - I made a bet with Tom: If he could keep the rink open & keep it a thriving business into 2007 I would take him to the best restaurant in the quad cities - dinner on me. Needless to say, Tom did not win the bet.
The mismanagement period of the Roller Rave was entirely on Tom Woods. We ran the skating center longer & had the most successful run out of any other business operator/manager.
This one Dean just send me on the 10th, hours after I updated this profile.. A very good wealth of information seen here-- Roller Wave. Click on the name on the left. it is a longer version and detailed story but brief version here--
Of course Roller skating was becoming popular again in 1970s thanks to Disco music popularity that connected to skating (Thanks to Empire Rink in Brooklyn, NY for starting Roller Disco), the craze caught on. This family, real estate developers Jerry and Barbara Williams saw the craze as the local YMCA was converted to a rink from their traditional basketball court. The Y had quite a crowd at every session from 1977 to 1979.
This prompt the Williams to open their rink and they did so on December 1, 1979. From that night on for the next full year of 1980, it was quite beyond the capacity of skaters to go skating at this rink. Over crowded.
Sadly, Skate Town USA went through more than 10 years of more than 5 different owners or groups of owners. By the mid 90’s the Disco craze that had captivated so many folks had all but evaporated. Also the Inline-Skates were the new skates in the mini craze of late 1980s and early 1990s. But that too gone.
For 15 years, the floor was worn quickly and all the woos and jazzy lights were becoming bore to skaters. By 1995 – Then was called, Skate Carousel, was mired in significant debt.
Then the Dean Koressel Family uprooted from Phoenix to relocate to operate this rink in 1996. In the hopes of revival of this rink and renamed as Roller Rave. Or known to some Roller Rave Roller Rink (seen on lists of rinks from 1990s),
The Koressel Family made the critical decision that the rink was too vital for the community to let it close. The Koressels met with the property owners about what they might possibly do in which to keep the rink operational. The message from the property owners was clear – If, within 30 days, the rink can be returned to profitability including financial support for their family through the rink’s revenue, rink business ownership would be transferred to the Koressels. It was a risky and I might add, a good deal on the family's decision. Clearly it was a trial. If the Koressels were successful in which they did, they would retain ownership. But if they failed, they never owned the place and the owners prior to the Koressels would have sold and closed the rink sooner.
They did successfully operated for a good 10 years. All good thanks to their excellent research that it was Inline-Skates that made it happened. They focused on that new type of skates that were popular in 1990s. This "7 years cycle" of ups were in at the time. They captured at correct time to use that new concept whilist other rinks even refused to allow Inline Skates including the rink I worked for in 1990 to 1991.
They made excellent jump at this new craze. Disco were long gone. It died at the Cincinnati Reds Stadium during the doubleheader game one Saturday afternoon 1980 when fans were upset at Disco for wiping out Rock music.
Anyway, they did well during that ten year run.
On October 15th, 1995 the rink would begin the first organized youth inline hockey league in northern Arizona.
Because of Inlines, and Roller Hockey, they successfully convicted the property owners that the rink can maintain after all.
This also showed other rink operators around the world to allow both at their rinks although many rink operators feared that the black rubber brakes can leave skid marks on their beautiful wood floor or even white painted floors.
The Koressels had a naming contest and Roller Rave was chosen out of 85 people who submitted. They changed the sign and this on was known as Roller Rave. In fact, I only know at least one other Roller Rave in the country that has such name. Quite rare compared to say.. Skateland which has to be at least 75 to 100 of them as I have profiled (so far). I admit I love this name and If I was to open a rink or a chain, maybe I would use Roller Rave. But I am eyeing on a different name, another story another time.
I sure hope that winner enjoyed a year of free skating. Hey winner, did you have fun!? If yes, that is awesome! I had my share of free summer sessions (unlimited) package because of my report cards. Why? I had so many A and A+!
Anyway.. because of this, they gutted inside and totally renovated the interior to update the look and install new wow stuff.
Roller Hockey was very popular at the time at the rink. They organized for youth but the adults wanted in as well. They organized three adult seasons- Fall, winter, and spring. They also later introduced figure skating as well as speed skating.
Roller Rave was truly a leading rink over most rinks around the country because they were one of the first to allow inline skating, inline skating roller hockey, and of course, have theme skating. What put the Roller Rave on the map were many of its insanely choreographed spectacles that featured ‘themed’ public skating sessions. These ‘themed’ sessions would always feature mischievous and playfully irreverent games and activities. Just a few of these ‘themed’ sessions including: Gross out night, Toilet paper night, Battle of the sexes, Break the rules night, Bachelor auction night, Boxer Shorts Night and Wreck the rink night as reported in the website, Restore our rink.
No wonder I see many rinks photos showed the most popular-- Toilet paper mummy night, usually closer to Halloween. Many rinks also have that night, the costume contest. I went skating in the 1970s to early 1990s often and I never seen such contests as this. Never. It may have never reached here or they may have but after my frequent time attending the rinks in mid-1990s to 2006 have come rare. I admit I have not skated at a rink more than once since 2006. And that was in Spring 2019.
Boxer Shorts night? (shaking head). Must be why no other rinks dared to do that. No due to health codes and their clothing requirements or even their state laws that you must wear a shirt on or shoes on when inside a business establishment kind of laws.
Ohhh! As I read on the same website, they explained further what this is all about. Oh whew! Ok, you still have to wear your clothes and just wear those inside out. What this means is you wear your clothes but put on your boxer shorts OVER your jeans or pants. (I wish this site allows me to give a facial expression of an, "Uh?" and a, "shaking head".
And the Bachelors... no, ladies, wait a minute! No hunks you think they were. They were boys! Teenage boys! They were to raise money for D.A.R.E. The girls had to bid to win the boys to be their "date" or "skating partner for the evening" only that night. I am not sure if any of them did fall in love... Did any one? Leave those hunks to the movies, ladies! Haha.
This rink was truly very successful and I am sure many rinks followed this formula. And should win the best concept for marketing award given by Dead-Rinks. Guys, should we have such awards? I think we should! Send me an email and I will design an award and actual have them produced some kind of plague or medallion. One for dead rink annually, and one for alive rink.
By 1999, Roller Rave was quite popular than any other rinks in the area. Also in 1999, the Roller Rave install state of the art sound audio, lighting, fog and laser system. After this retrofit, teen dance nights were conducted where the rink once again shed its skating persona and morphed into a teen club venue where skates were prohibited and dancing and socializing for teens were a priority. DJ competitions were conducted to see who could spin the best tracks.
Because of the entire good marketing and new concepts that helped revitalize rinks in this cycle of ups, Roller Rave as in fact, they had positioned itself as one of the most progressive and innovative rinks in the country – ice or roller, period.
By 2005, the popularity of roller hockey and other skating related activities were large in town that the town built an outdoor skate park / rink at the Pioneer Park. That I read and I agree that park did kind of steal the thunder from Roller Rave.
May 20th, 2006 was the saddest day for Roller Rave and the Koressels. Every kind of session that day came to an end. The park was a non-profit and this not need to pay taxes as opposed to the for-profit business that collects taxes. In fact, the park wanted the rink to still operate and share expenses, it was too much for both sides to function together.
Hey, Peace! Sorry, Woodstock did not have a skating rink at the time. HAHA.
UPDATE --
I received an email from the granddaughter of one of the owners. Here is what she has to say--
Hi, my name is L.
My grandpa was on of the owner/managers there before Paul took it over. I can answer a few of the things you were unsure of in your post.
The rink floor was concrete, it was white and blue in the lobby, and had blue carpeting on the cement walls. The ceiling had all 50 state flags hanging from the support system. I don’t have any photos here with me of the inside of the rink, the few I might have are across the county. I do have a picture from inside the lobby, it was taken for a skate competition.
Have a great day,
Thanks L!
ANOTHER UPDATE!! --
Thank you C. E. for the update I received the week of October 2021. Here is what Cameron has to say--
Between the time it was a roller rink and Flip City it was also an indoor soccer place. Called Prescott Indoor Soccer. If you like I might be able to find some pictures for you. It was a concrete floor to start but we put down turf for the field. I'm not sure what was done after that.
This is one of the most storied roller rink I ever heard, read, or known thanks to many of you replied! Thank you everyone! Only I am missing now are the photos of the rink interior! Any one of you have it?
UPDATE! -- 14 March 2022 (Pi Day)
Wow, this is the most updated profile of all rinks on Dead-Rinks! You read them all above and yes, there are more below including this update. Here is what I received --
This is from the same person named L in the previous update above. First of all, I want to express my sympathy for you and your family on your grandfather's passing.. Prayers and thoughts are with you and family and friends and the family of skaters.
I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. My family are all together this weekend to bury my grandfather's ashes. He was the one who owned/managed Skate Town. Among the personal items carried out to be distributed to everyone is a full 360 view of photos of the rink as my grandpa was setting it up. After talking to my Aunts and Uncle I found out that the rink was concrete coated in poly urethane. My Uncle has vivid memories of repainting the floor a couple of times. Attached is the pictures I took of the skating rink pictures, which have been taped together and rolled for some reason unknown to me.
(included were photos. See in the photo gallery above.)
The Interior.
It was a 12,600 Square Feet facility that they had a rink. On a smaller side though for skating floor. Likely it was concrete. The interior at the time is unknown because I only can catch partials on Flip City Gymnasium and Cheer that they had White walls, all gym mats and stuff around. There is not much to see.
For a time, it had an Astroturf for the indoor field for football (you call it soccer but internationally, they recognize as football, sorry Americans!)
UPDATE! --
Yes, it was concrete after all. I was correct in my guessing what floor it was. Thanks to the granddaughter of one of the owners before Paul took over tis rink. She emailed me today on 23 August 2021.
In 1996, they installed the first state-of-the-art skating pro shop in northern Arizona. A family could walk in to the pro shop and outfit their youngster from head to toe for hockey or for any skating needs. After wrapping the top of the pro shop with stunning hot orange neon tubing, the arena walls were furred out to maintain rounded corners for hockey. In order to protect spectators from the perils of speeding pucks during games, an ingenious curtain netting system was implemented that could be rolled out, adhered into place with industrial grade velcro and removed it for public skating.
in 1999, the Roller Rave install state of the art sound audio, lighting, fog and laser system. After this retrofit, teen dance nights were conducted where the rink once again shed its skating persona and morphed into a teen club
The Exterior.
Very stylish and modern for its day in the 1970s. Maybe 1960s. Its hard to describe the style but I love that 70s classic look. Might be 60s though. They even had outdoors scone colonial style lanterns on the wall. Each divided by a decorative divider with Gold Yellow pebble look with White wall lead to the front door. They also have a canopy that match the style to the partial of the front where the wall lamps are. Still there. Very rare you find rinks truly had the styles of its decade they started. While 1930s, so many motels and drive-in restaurants had Art Deco while rinks almost never had that style. 1950s brought Mid-Century and Googie's styles to fast food, coffee shops, diners, drive-ins restaurants, even drive-in theaters, banks, etc. But almost none to the rinks - maybe a couple of them. 1960s and 1970s had Contemporary or 60s Futurism or Browning of America that many fast food, diners, coffeeshops, banks, stores, etc. had. Rarely found at rinks. Not a lot. Then 1980s and 90s had several revivalism such as Colonialism, then later French Revivalism. No rinks had that.. well, maybe one or two I have on Dead-Rinks had that look. But 2000s on had Abstractism, Wild design, Frank Gehry designs, etc. And Mixture Architecture styles, slowly you see rinks have those styles (ie-closed Skate Daze, etc.) Right now it is Modernism, Cubism, Mixture, Post-Modernism, and Post-Googie's.
So, this is a rare spot you see the 1970s look for a rink. I love it because you almost do not see that style that belonged that decade around even that time and I am sure others did but either torn down or renovated completely.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Concrete. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 12,600 SF. Built: 1979. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock and Stucco storefront - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 0.7000 Acres.
Operated: December 1, 1979 to December 2006.
Skate Town USA: December 1, 1979 to N/A.
Skate Carousel: N/A to 1996.
Roller Rave: 1996 to May 20 2006 under the Koressels (Tom Woods ran from June 2006 to December 2006).
Reason for Closure:
Skate Town USA: N/A.
Skate Carousel: Likely age of facility and worn floor.
Roller Rave: (The Koressels management); new skate park competition.
Roller Rave: Mismanagement and mis-used the money. Non-payment of lease. Only operating for 6 months.
Wanted: Information regarding size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures of the INTERIOR when it was roller rink please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Roller Rave Revue - June/July/August 2002 (PDF).
Roller Rave Revue - Sept/Oct/Nov 2002 (PDF).
Insider Pages.
Loop Net 1.
Loop Net 2.
Manta - Roller Rave.
Prescott Youth Hockey - Roller Rave.
2 former employees, and D.K.(owner of the rink) email.
Save Our Rink - Lengthy and very detailed history about Roller Rave.
Granddaughter of one of the owners of the rink - email.
Worth to Visit:
You can see the building still stands today. Drive by and see it.
Date of Issue: 2019.
Updated: 09 January 2021.
Updated: 23 August 2021.
Updated: 14 March 2022.
For Office Only: 16.
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