Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Taken in 2007. Source: Google.
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Taken in 2013 when it was a flea market. Source: Google.
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Taken in 2018 when it was being renovated after the flea market failed. Source: Google. © Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. (Lightened, more color).
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Taken in 2019. From very 1970s look to movie fantasy 2020s look. Does that remind you of someplace. To me, yes, the Texaco Gas Station in Back to the Future Part II that Marty saw how the gas station is located above the 7-11 convenience store. If you were going to buy back, ohh, a lot of money to change it back to a rink by removing that hideous faux roofline and interior walls that divided the all present spaces and the rink floor is gone. Set you back maybe a good 400,000 Dollars, not mentioned to the purchase price which would run in a good Million Dollars. Source: Google. © Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. (Lightened, more color).
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Ah, a good close up to the rink! This was taken when it was a flea market. I wish Loop Net had bunch of those photos to share. Oh well. Source: Loop Net.
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Source: Open Office. Those are the only two photos I could find currently of the rink. I wish Loop Net had bunch of those photos to share. Oh well. Source: Open Office.
Skateworld Skating Center 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR. Source: Open Office. Those are the only two photos I could find currently of the rink. I wish Loop Net had bunch of those photos to share. Oh well. What you are seeing here is the DJ booth right in front of the photograph (see the vacuum cleaner is located by the half-wall of the DJ booth. Source: Open Office.
Skateworld 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR
Skateworld Skating Center
521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR
Skateworld Skating Center
521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR
Skateworld Skating Center or known as Skateworld that was held at 521 N. J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, Arkansas. This is another rink with a controversy that this one, the owner of this rink, Robert Allen Borders was arrested for sexually assaulting a five year old girl. The charge, Sexual Assault 2nd degree is a Class "B" Felony.
Likely the rink was shut down because of this crime. it was reported not only that 5 years old girl who was a victim, there were other victims as well. Google Map did explain clearly it was gone. They have photos of 2007, 2009, and 2012, and 2013. The dates was too far apart between 2009 and 2012 to show that change.
Well, the rink had humble beginning in 1977. The design with exposed Steel Truss posts was, once again common design like the other Skateworld and other rinks in the state. It may have been owned by the same owners at the time. (Note: I stood correct about same owners according to an email I received on May 5, 2021 who is related to the original owner of this rink and other Skateworld including one in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, West Memphis, adn Blytheville. That would be five (5) Skateworld rinks. (Source; email).
UPDATE! -- 05 May 2021.
I received this email today on 05 May 2021 from a relative whose relative owned this rink and other Skateworld rinks. That person explained clearly and I copied and paste but the relations is changed for that person's protection and the family's reputation because of the new owner/manager's involvement in crimes.
UPDATE! -- 24 August 2022.
Received another email. More details are explained.
I used to go every weekend to the rink in the late 80s. I remember a DJ named Rick. Officer [Redacted] from JPD would be working there at night. Speed skates “black” were an extra $1. There were two pool tables, two pin ball machines and several arcade games. There was a snack bar you could get nachos with hot peppers or a hot dog. There were mushroom shaped seating around the skate floor to the left of the DJ booth. Oh, and in there was a pay phone by the pool tables. I learned how to have fun there. Sad it had such a sad ending
Thank you Ricky for your information. Really helps! And updated page as well.
The Interior.
The interior was very basic look. I only have two photos I could find online. The rink had Maple floor with Blue walls wrapped around. Very simple look. Not that impressed with what I saw. And the carpet was fading Navy Ship Gray color which made it more dreadful to the interior design. And that decorative décor metal rail. Tacky! And so are the half-walls I can see are built pretty tacky as well. Those supports? Not a good idea for those half-walls/rails. Skaters could trip! That is all I could find in photos. Anyone has them, please let me know. I will add them.
There were two pool tables, two pin ball machines and several arcade games. There was a snack bar you could get nachos with hot peppers or a hot dog. There were mushroom shaped seating around the skate floor to the left of the DJ booth. Oh, and in there was a pay phone by the pool tables.
The Exterior.
Typical Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled and Brick-walled Warehouse - like Building. It really showed its age at this rink by 2011, the time the owner was arrested. It was similar to the other Skateworld. Clearly the original owners owned both and had both architectural design similar but the entrance was different with this location.
Presently when it was sold in 2017 after the flea market went out of business, the new owner ripped one side and partial on the front to make it into a shopping plaza with full of windows and doors. What he did have the roof remained the same as gable but added an other roof over it. it becomes a salt box style with a raised wall above. It gives its entirely different look. Really bit of oddity at this facility that reminds me of that appearance was a Texaco Gas Station in the Back to the Future Part II when Marty McFly already went to the year 2015 with Doc Brown. Clearly The two Bobs (Zemeckis and Gale) had their design team to design things so many things predictable and correct such as 9/11 WTC, hydroponic plants, video phone /skyping / Zoom, and of course, the architecture of that Texaco Gas Station. The way it curved up. There are many images you can see on Google image search on this gas station although not very good pictures. That is what reminded me of.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 18,000 SF. Built: 1976. Demolished: Total renovated, roof and front and back walls are intact, new front look; now as plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: 1.1900 AC.
Organ: None.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: 2
Amusement Rides: None.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: 2 pinballs, Unknown number of coin-operated games.
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: None.
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Operated: 1977 to December 30, 2011.
Reason for Closure: Owner, Robert Allen Borders arrested for sexually assaulting a five year old girl. Now registered Sex Offender. Forced to close rink likely by the town.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Dead-Rinks. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Loop Net.
Yelp.
Manta.
ABC KATV 7 - Owner arrested.
Home Facts - Registered Sex Offender.
Office Space.
email - relative 05 May 2021.
email - Ricky. 24 August 2022.
Date of issue: 2020.
Update: 05 May 2021.
Update: 24 August 2022.
For office use only: 7.
Worth to visit:
None. Just a shopping plaza now.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on Dead-Rinks are not the property of Dead-Rinks therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7.
Likely the rink was shut down because of this crime. it was reported not only that 5 years old girl who was a victim, there were other victims as well. Google Map did explain clearly it was gone. They have photos of 2007, 2009, and 2012, and 2013. The dates was too far apart between 2009 and 2012 to show that change.
Well, the rink had humble beginning in 1977. The design with exposed Steel Truss posts was, once again common design like the other Skateworld and other rinks in the state. It may have been owned by the same owners at the time. (Note: I stood correct about same owners according to an email I received on May 5, 2021 who is related to the original owner of this rink and other Skateworld including one in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, West Memphis, adn Blytheville. That would be five (5) Skateworld rinks. (Source; email).
UPDATE! -- 05 May 2021.
I received this email today on 05 May 2021 from a relative whose relative owned this rink and other Skateworld rinks. That person explained clearly and I copied and paste but the relations is changed for that person's protection and the family's reputation because of the new owner/manager's involvement in crimes.
UPDATE! -- 24 August 2022.
Received another email. More details are explained.
I used to go every weekend to the rink in the late 80s. I remember a DJ named Rick. Officer [Redacted] from JPD would be working there at night. Speed skates “black” were an extra $1. There were two pool tables, two pin ball machines and several arcade games. There was a snack bar you could get nachos with hot peppers or a hot dog. There were mushroom shaped seating around the skate floor to the left of the DJ booth. Oh, and in there was a pay phone by the pool tables. I learned how to have fun there. Sad it had such a sad ending
Thank you Ricky for your information. Really helps! And updated page as well.
The Interior.
The interior was very basic look. I only have two photos I could find online. The rink had Maple floor with Blue walls wrapped around. Very simple look. Not that impressed with what I saw. And the carpet was fading Navy Ship Gray color which made it more dreadful to the interior design. And that decorative décor metal rail. Tacky! And so are the half-walls I can see are built pretty tacky as well. Those supports? Not a good idea for those half-walls/rails. Skaters could trip! That is all I could find in photos. Anyone has them, please let me know. I will add them.
There were two pool tables, two pin ball machines and several arcade games. There was a snack bar you could get nachos with hot peppers or a hot dog. There were mushroom shaped seating around the skate floor to the left of the DJ booth. Oh, and in there was a pay phone by the pool tables.
The Exterior.
Typical Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled and Brick-walled Warehouse - like Building. It really showed its age at this rink by 2011, the time the owner was arrested. It was similar to the other Skateworld. Clearly the original owners owned both and had both architectural design similar but the entrance was different with this location.
Presently when it was sold in 2017 after the flea market went out of business, the new owner ripped one side and partial on the front to make it into a shopping plaza with full of windows and doors. What he did have the roof remained the same as gable but added an other roof over it. it becomes a salt box style with a raised wall above. It gives its entirely different look. Really bit of oddity at this facility that reminds me of that appearance was a Texaco Gas Station in the Back to the Future Part II when Marty McFly already went to the year 2015 with Doc Brown. Clearly The two Bobs (Zemeckis and Gale) had their design team to design things so many things predictable and correct such as 9/11 WTC, hydroponic plants, video phone /skyping / Zoom, and of course, the architecture of that Texaco Gas Station. The way it curved up. There are many images you can see on Google image search on this gas station although not very good pictures. That is what reminded me of.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 18,000 SF. Built: 1976. Demolished: Total renovated, roof and front and back walls are intact, new front look; now as plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: 1.1900 AC.
Organ: None.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: 2
Amusement Rides: None.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: 2 pinballs, Unknown number of coin-operated games.
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: None.
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Operated: 1977 to December 30, 2011.
Reason for Closure: Owner, Robert Allen Borders arrested for sexually assaulting a five year old girl. Now registered Sex Offender. Forced to close rink likely by the town.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Dead-Rinks. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Loop Net.
Yelp.
Manta.
ABC KATV 7 - Owner arrested.
Home Facts - Registered Sex Offender.
Office Space.
email - relative 05 May 2021.
email - Ricky. 24 August 2022.
Date of issue: 2020.
Update: 05 May 2021.
Update: 24 August 2022.
For office use only: 7.
Worth to visit:
None. Just a shopping plaza now.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on Dead-Rinks are not the property of Dead-Rinks therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7.