Skate Palace 5421 Beacon Drive, Irondale, AL
Skate Palace in Irondale, Alabama was a rink from 1982 to 1990. They were established and operated by J.P Carter and his wife, Ruth whom they also owned other respective rinks including Rainbow Skating Rink in Gadsden in 1959. That rink relocated to Anniston in 1964 and Skate Haven opened in Roebuck in 1970. Other rinks the Carters opened included Valley Skate Center in Birmingham in 1972, Fun Times in Gardendale in 1974, Skate World in Hoover in 1976, and PlayStation in 1996 (Still operational). They owned all 7 rinks.
This rink ran only 8 years but the owners did not give up and opened Playstation, their last rink which is still operational and that rink is beautiful. Check them out.
The controversy was that they had loud and large crowd on Sundays and they had off-duty police officers hired as security officers and it was getting out of hand. The city heard the complaints and the police chief had to order officers not to work as security in August 1987 due to no improvements by the owners and/or management staff at this rink to cease problems outside and I am sure inside too.
So, the city filed suit against the rink to order them to fix the problem but no, the rink countersued and the judgement was against the rink so they had an appeal and during this course of time, the rink was sold in 1990 which effectively ended any controversy presented between those two in court.
If the address is correct, the rink is where now a store for home improvement.
My question is, where was the rink in Irondale? I have no address thus, not able to add more information. I search as "Skate Palace Irondale, AL" and that is all I got. With just one article that shows the dates.
The Interior.
Said to be brighter than Skatehaven in Roebuck.
The Exterior.
At the time, unknown but much remodeled for a home improvement store.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple? Likely clear coated. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: renovated into a home improvement hardware store.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock-Walled storefront Building.
Roof: N/A..
Acres: N/A. (part of plaza)
Operated: 1982 to 1990.
Reason for Closure: Forced to close by the city due to a controversy they had with nuisance, police chief ordered his off-duty officers not to work as security guards, and the city complained that the owner did nothing to control crowds outside of the rink on the parking lot. See legal case here.
Wanted: Information size of rink floor, building? What the place was like? Photos would be appreciated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Trussville Tribune - Remembering Ruth Carter who passed away, Leagle - a lawsuit.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.
This rink ran only 8 years but the owners did not give up and opened Playstation, their last rink which is still operational and that rink is beautiful. Check them out.
The controversy was that they had loud and large crowd on Sundays and they had off-duty police officers hired as security officers and it was getting out of hand. The city heard the complaints and the police chief had to order officers not to work as security in August 1987 due to no improvements by the owners and/or management staff at this rink to cease problems outside and I am sure inside too.
So, the city filed suit against the rink to order them to fix the problem but no, the rink countersued and the judgement was against the rink so they had an appeal and during this course of time, the rink was sold in 1990 which effectively ended any controversy presented between those two in court.
If the address is correct, the rink is where now a store for home improvement.
My question is, where was the rink in Irondale? I have no address thus, not able to add more information. I search as "Skate Palace Irondale, AL" and that is all I got. With just one article that shows the dates.
The Interior.
Said to be brighter than Skatehaven in Roebuck.
The Exterior.
At the time, unknown but much remodeled for a home improvement store.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple? Likely clear coated. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: renovated into a home improvement hardware store.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock-Walled storefront Building.
Roof: N/A..
Acres: N/A. (part of plaza)
Operated: 1982 to 1990.
Reason for Closure: Forced to close by the city due to a controversy they had with nuisance, police chief ordered his off-duty officers not to work as security guards, and the city complained that the owner did nothing to control crowds outside of the rink on the parking lot. See legal case here.
Wanted: Information size of rink floor, building? What the place was like? Photos would be appreciated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Trussville Tribune - Remembering Ruth Carter who passed away, Leagle - a lawsuit.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.