Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This was a sticker. Perfect choice with this model and have the name on it because the name on the logo was exactly the same as the Skateland on the Segmental Arch roof! Source: eBay.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Logo used in 1970s. From what I see in the illustration, it looked unfinished. Cute couple though. Her nose is missing, the gentleman's pants is missing hem line to separate from the skate. This showed very 1970s because of the style of art that were based on Kim and Roberto themed art but this one, all clothed. He was sporting a jogger's suit on, no bell bottom though which classified as joggers or jump suit with turtle neck. She was sporting a short hairstyle just before Farrah Hairdo came out. But looked very Farah to me. Was she truly the first, not Farrah? Her shirt.. reminds me of Wendy Thomas' shirt seen as a logo for Wendy's Restaurants. The whole logo on the right also reminded me of executive producers' logo, the spinning credit wheel, "Norm Prescott-Lou Scheimer" as seen in opening credit on SHAZAM!/ISIS-(the Egyptian goddess) Hour Photo of logo taken from cute ad in 1971. My favorite of all three logos was the one on upper right with the wings and very professional looking logo. Yes, they are jets in the logo. Source: Fairborn Daily Journal 29 April 1971. Source (for logo on right): Facebook group, Remembering Skyborn Skateland group.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Logo used in the 2000s-early 2010s. This third known generation of logo. I do not know what the very first logo was in 1956. But since 1970s are known. This was clearly done on perhaps MS Paint or on MS Word or even Power Point because of the style of the logo were commonly known as budget D-I-Y graphic art. The evident was very clear. I have seen this kind of art work on early computer software. First known to use this in 2006. Source: Ripp Family Enterprises, LLC Collection. 2006.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. A 1950s or 1960s photograph of the sign leading to the rink right by the movie drive-in theater. You can see Wright-Patterson USAF base is located. For sure many servicemen requested time to go skating or the movies.. walking distance! Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Noticed the differences years later? The new fonts for the sign. One thing remains the same--"SKATELAND" SOGM New sign on the bottom as well. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Taken before they closed. My goodness, those cars! I remember those. Anyway, what catches my eye.. yes singular (blind in one eye), the doors! The B&W Checkers on the doors. The theme.. not specific here but the architectural design showed Sand colored Cinderblocks which was common in vogue in the 1950s. The theater gate is just left of the picture. That is why you can see the pavement leads to the left. Source: Loop Net.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. After it was closed. Abandoned for about three years because of the lengthy with the sale and the zoning changes took time. You can see the checkered front door was covered up with boards. Source: YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Skate rental booth. It showed a mixture of themes that has no definition. 1950s Yellow Cinderblocks (I love this color really) with Red Bricks, and Checkered counter with metal trim, and unmatched in style light scones. And Wood frame around the opening. Quite odd in style. I believe it was renovated time to time which added this or that. Hundreds of skates are shown behind the employee in Referee shirt on. Photo taken in 2003. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Snack bar and lockers. 4 teenagers were all smiles in front of camera as another referee-shirt staff waiting on the girls to give orders for purchases. I am sorry I had to laugh.. well, not really laugh but stumped with the "EXIT" sign just above the trash basket! It did not say "Trash" Just "EXIT". Was it because skaters had to go from left to right in the photo like those 4 were in the line? Maybe. It gave that state fair booth look with Stack Bond Bricks layout on the wall. Photo taken in 2003. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection. Note: the photos were blurred out for protection of identity of those 4 young ladies due to their age although this was taken in 2003. They are adults now.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This is beautiful. You can see the beautiful Virgin Yellow Cinderblocks, no painting! All natural! With Segmental Arch Steel Bowstring Arch Truss. They held on since 1956, the iron pipe rail. with 1960s-70s style dinettes. This place was timeless. A treasure could have preserved. Unfortunately, no longer. I feel like I am in the State Fair because many of the New York State Fair buildings has that kind of blocks but they were built between 1890s to more recent with exception of Empire Expo building. Photo taken in 2003. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This is beautiful. You can see the beautiful Virgin Yellow Cinderblocks, no painting! All natural! With Segmental Arch Steel Bowstring Arch Truss. They held on since 1956, the iron pipe rail. with 1960s-70s style dinettes. This place was timeless. This is the view on the other way facing the snack bar, eat area, etc. Photo taken in 2003. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This showed the floor layout. Rotunda. Beautiful art work to layout. A lot of lockers... Photo taken in 2003. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This is beautiful. I love the orbit light as I call that. Because of the light halos wrapping around the mirror ball. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Beautiful view of the Mirror Ball with Halos. Looks like Atomic symbol or planetary or a star system. Source: Ripp Family Entertainment LLC / David Ripp Collection.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. The final day. This was long after it was closed and then they were selling off things or people can take for free or something. You can see the floor was warped and wet. They did not take care of the floor as it was reckless. No one cared to get the wood before too late. Well, it was too late. Destroyed. See the video. This was taken from a video. Source: Once Occupied; YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Logo used in the website in 2003. This was under the Ripp Family Enterprises, LLC. Source: Ripp Family Enterprises, LLC Collection. 2003.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Website in 2006. This was under the Ripp Family Enterprises, LLC. Source: Ripp Family Enterprises, LLC Collection. 2006.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Source: Billboard 22 February 1960(L); The Journal Herald Saturday 19 September 1964. Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks (Both) (L: Clean up, darker fonts., R: Clean up and darker fonts.)
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. A catchy with a humor in the ad. Source: Fairborn Daily Journal 29 April 1971. Copyrighted Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks (new border box).
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Announcements and events listing in entertainment section of the newspaper. Source: Dayton Daily News 29 August 1989.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. Announcements and events listing in entertainment section of the newspaper. Source: Dayton Daily News 12 July 1989.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. A catchy with a humor in the ad. Source: Dayton Daily News 30 June 2015.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This advertisement did not date when and the ad was seen on Facebook group. But the dead giveaway was how the couple are dressed. It appeared to be late 1950s because of the tie was very common for gentlemen back the day with dress up clothes on plus wearing sweater which was popular in late 1950s-1960s for preppies. The female.. other hand looked 1950s-60s. More like the latter. Bib shorts, her hairdo screams 1950s. She even has a scarf on. Source: Facebook group, Remembering Skyborn Skateland group.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. I believe it was a business card but no manager or operator's name on it. Source: Facebook group, Remembering Skyborn Skateland group.
Some of the Skyborn Theater photos.
They were established by the same man who began the rink but his widow sold the theater to someone else separately but they also closed in 2015 too along with the rink.
They were established by the same man who began the rink but his widow sold the theater to someone else separately but they also closed in 2015 too along with the rink.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. The movies on the marquee were Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Shrek the Third. This dated to 2007. Savvy? Source: YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. The movies on the marquee in this beautiful picture of sunset! They were Smurf and Spy Kids 4. This dated to 2011. Source: YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. After it was closed for good, you can see where the roller rink was. It was right on the right side of the road as you can see in the photo. Entrance to the theater. Source: Youtube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. In its heydays, the booth appeared this look. Truly 1950s MCM / Googie's look. Oh well. Source: Youtube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. The screen in good shape when it was closed. Oh well. Source: Youtube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This YouTube video is an excellent video regarding the former rink and theater that both were closed that year. Source: Once Occupied; YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH. This YouTube video is also an excellent video regarding the former rink and theater that both were closed that year. More so on the theater and has excellent photographs on there! Source: Tilted Tripod Media; YouTube.
Skyborn Skateland (and Skyborn Drive-in) 5309 Haddix Road, Fairborn, OH
Both facilities, Skyborn Skateland and Skyborn Drive-in were at 5309 Haddix Road in Fairborn, Ohio. This long time rink was operational from 1956 (Fairborn Daily Herald) to its closure in 2018.
First, on May 17, 1950, the Skyborn Drive-in Theatre opened by Delber Kinsel owned and operated the drive-in theatre until his death in 1957. Then Kinsel’s widow first sold the theater business in 1958 to Sidney C. Brant & Associates of Cincinnati for $110,000. Chakeres Theaters, which was the final owner of the property, purchased the business in 2009, and operated the drive-in theatre until it closed at the end of the 2015 season.
Skyborn Skateland, which was originally owned and operated by Skyborn Skateland Inc., a company owned by Delber Kinsel and his wife, opened its doors in 1956. by building it that year but a year after the rink opened, Delber Kinsel was killed in an automotive accident (in 1957) so his widow sold the rink to Joe & Nancie Nemanich in 1962. But after Delber's death, the business was leased to Bob and Marty. Clearly Delber's widow first sold the theater in 1958 then the rink in 1962.
Later, 14 August 2002, Ripp Family Enterprises LLC purchased the 18,662-square-foot roller skating rink and operated the business until 1 October 2010 when Erica Collins and her husband assumed the operations of the roller skating rink but the couple defaulted on the lease-to-purchase agreement in June 2015, and David Ripp regained full oversight of the property the following month and closed it.
Leasing was common at the rink. Because of Delbar's death, the lease were produced for Bob and Marty (last names are unknown) for a three years stint from 1956 to 1959. Followed by Louis Thompson and Dale Keefer from1959 to possible 1962.
Then the Delber's widow sold the rink in 1962 to Joe and Nancie Nemanich who operated till 1994. then Ken and Holly Derrick from 1994 to 2002.
The Derricks sold it to Ripp Family Enterprises LLC (David and Carolyn Ripp owned company) in 2002. The Ripps operated themselves until 1 October 2010 when they leased the business to Erica Collins and her husband but in June 2015, they Defaulted the lease agreement from the Ripp's. It was leased to owned agreement which means if paid off, they would have become new owners. But they defaulted in June 2015 and the following month, the Collins continued to fail to produce payments, The company, Ripp Family Enterprises LLC assumed total control of the rink but it did not say exactly when they closed. They may have immediately and sold to the developers who wanted zoning changes.
The town of Bath board of trustees voted to allow zone changes to industrial for a construction company to raze and built their own facility.
There were many owners and leased operators and you will see managers too. Even sort of overlapped. See below.
Timeline of Ownership through the years including leasing--
1956 to 1956: Delber Kinsel and his wife. Only 2 weeks. (Owner).
1956: Delber Kinsel's widow very brief time. (Owner).
1956 to 1959: Bob and Marty (last names were ?) (Leased).
1959 to 1962: Louis Thompson & Dale Keefer (Leased).
1962 - 1994: Joe & Nancie Nemanich (Owners).
1994 - 2002: Ken & Holly Derrick (Article in 1997 said he bought it in 1994.) (Owners).
2002 - 1 October 2010: David and Carolyn Ripp (Owners up to 2015 because of Erica Collins leased it).
1 October 2010 to 30 June 2015: Erica Collins (Leased to Purchase agreement, defaulted).
1 July 2015 to close: David and Carolyn Ripp (Owners).
There were quite a bit of managers along the time. They were in order of successors:
1956 to 1957: Delber Kinsel and his wife (later she managed self)
1957 to 1959: Bob and Marty
1959 to 1964: Louis Thompson & Dale Keefer
1964 to 1979: Gareld Arnett
1979 to 1984: Mike Walters
1984 to late 1980s: N/A.
Late 1980s to 1999: Bob Beam
1999 to 2002?: Dwaine Wheeler and Ken Derrick
2002 to 2010: David and Carolyn Ripp?
2010 to July 2015: Erica Collins
July 2015 to July 2015: David Ripp.
The Interior.
It had beautiful Non-Painted Maple Rotunda floor that they had for 60 years. The rink floor was 80 Feet wide by 170 Feet long, almost full NHL Sized rink. This is consider a large rink floor.
The Organ:
I do not have any information at this time.
The Exterior.
Truly classic 1950s design of Segmental Arch building with fake Mansard roof line in front and part of front sides of the building. It appeared to be large according to the photo. It was on the large side with 18,662 Square Feet building. The colors on the outside may have changed because I saw and posted photos of more recent times. 60 years is long time and changes. See photos for better descriptions as they say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Enough said.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80' x 170'. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: 18,662 SF. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: April 2018, demolish for industrial use.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Faux Mansard.
Acres: 2.0500 AC. (rink only, add more for drive ins).
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1956 to July 2015.
Reason for Closure: Ripp Family Enterprises LLC, the owner of the rink (David Ripp) did not want it anymore, wanted get rid of it, and new owner wanted zoning changes and voted the changes. Now a recycling plant.
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 [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Fairborn Daily Herald - Zoning changes, little bit of history and reason for changes. PDF
Loop Net - Property record. PDF
Re/Max - Property Record.
Rink-Time - Date of establishment.
Four Square.
History Pin - very brief history on the rink and before the rink was built.
Facebook - link to see the rink on the final day under the Collins Management video (3 minutes).
Facebook - Remembering Skyborn Skateland group.
Skates U.S. - David Ripp's family company manufacturer of both ice and roller skates. (page show 3 models only for roller skates). (I do not see link directly to Snyder Skate Company, another of Ripp's family business).
YouTube credits are shown above.
Date of issue: 21 Oct 2021.
For office use only: 30/2
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
First, on May 17, 1950, the Skyborn Drive-in Theatre opened by Delber Kinsel owned and operated the drive-in theatre until his death in 1957. Then Kinsel’s widow first sold the theater business in 1958 to Sidney C. Brant & Associates of Cincinnati for $110,000. Chakeres Theaters, which was the final owner of the property, purchased the business in 2009, and operated the drive-in theatre until it closed at the end of the 2015 season.
Skyborn Skateland, which was originally owned and operated by Skyborn Skateland Inc., a company owned by Delber Kinsel and his wife, opened its doors in 1956. by building it that year but a year after the rink opened, Delber Kinsel was killed in an automotive accident (in 1957) so his widow sold the rink to Joe & Nancie Nemanich in 1962. But after Delber's death, the business was leased to Bob and Marty. Clearly Delber's widow first sold the theater in 1958 then the rink in 1962.
Later, 14 August 2002, Ripp Family Enterprises LLC purchased the 18,662-square-foot roller skating rink and operated the business until 1 October 2010 when Erica Collins and her husband assumed the operations of the roller skating rink but the couple defaulted on the lease-to-purchase agreement in June 2015, and David Ripp regained full oversight of the property the following month and closed it.
Leasing was common at the rink. Because of Delbar's death, the lease were produced for Bob and Marty (last names are unknown) for a three years stint from 1956 to 1959. Followed by Louis Thompson and Dale Keefer from1959 to possible 1962.
Then the Delber's widow sold the rink in 1962 to Joe and Nancie Nemanich who operated till 1994. then Ken and Holly Derrick from 1994 to 2002.
The Derricks sold it to Ripp Family Enterprises LLC (David and Carolyn Ripp owned company) in 2002. The Ripps operated themselves until 1 October 2010 when they leased the business to Erica Collins and her husband but in June 2015, they Defaulted the lease agreement from the Ripp's. It was leased to owned agreement which means if paid off, they would have become new owners. But they defaulted in June 2015 and the following month, the Collins continued to fail to produce payments, The company, Ripp Family Enterprises LLC assumed total control of the rink but it did not say exactly when they closed. They may have immediately and sold to the developers who wanted zoning changes.
The town of Bath board of trustees voted to allow zone changes to industrial for a construction company to raze and built their own facility.
There were many owners and leased operators and you will see managers too. Even sort of overlapped. See below.
Timeline of Ownership through the years including leasing--
1956 to 1956: Delber Kinsel and his wife. Only 2 weeks. (Owner).
1956: Delber Kinsel's widow very brief time. (Owner).
1956 to 1959: Bob and Marty (last names were ?) (Leased).
1959 to 1962: Louis Thompson & Dale Keefer (Leased).
1962 - 1994: Joe & Nancie Nemanich (Owners).
1994 - 2002: Ken & Holly Derrick (Article in 1997 said he bought it in 1994.) (Owners).
2002 - 1 October 2010: David and Carolyn Ripp (Owners up to 2015 because of Erica Collins leased it).
1 October 2010 to 30 June 2015: Erica Collins (Leased to Purchase agreement, defaulted).
1 July 2015 to close: David and Carolyn Ripp (Owners).
There were quite a bit of managers along the time. They were in order of successors:
1956 to 1957: Delber Kinsel and his wife (later she managed self)
1957 to 1959: Bob and Marty
1959 to 1964: Louis Thompson & Dale Keefer
1964 to 1979: Gareld Arnett
1979 to 1984: Mike Walters
1984 to late 1980s: N/A.
Late 1980s to 1999: Bob Beam
1999 to 2002?: Dwaine Wheeler and Ken Derrick
2002 to 2010: David and Carolyn Ripp?
2010 to July 2015: Erica Collins
July 2015 to July 2015: David Ripp.
The Interior.
It had beautiful Non-Painted Maple Rotunda floor that they had for 60 years. The rink floor was 80 Feet wide by 170 Feet long, almost full NHL Sized rink. This is consider a large rink floor.
The Organ:
I do not have any information at this time.
The Exterior.
Truly classic 1950s design of Segmental Arch building with fake Mansard roof line in front and part of front sides of the building. It appeared to be large according to the photo. It was on the large side with 18,662 Square Feet building. The colors on the outside may have changed because I saw and posted photos of more recent times. 60 years is long time and changes. See photos for better descriptions as they say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Enough said.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80' x 170'. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: 18,662 SF. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: April 2018, demolish for industrial use.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Faux Mansard.
Acres: 2.0500 AC. (rink only, add more for drive ins).
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1956 to July 2015.
Reason for Closure: Ripp Family Enterprises LLC, the owner of the rink (David Ripp) did not want it anymore, wanted get rid of it, and new owner wanted zoning changes and voted the changes. Now a recycling plant.
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 [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Fairborn Daily Herald - Zoning changes, little bit of history and reason for changes. PDF
Loop Net - Property record. PDF
Re/Max - Property Record.
Rink-Time - Date of establishment.
Four Square.
History Pin - very brief history on the rink and before the rink was built.
Facebook - link to see the rink on the final day under the Collins Management video (3 minutes).
Facebook - Remembering Skyborn Skateland group.
Skates U.S. - David Ripp's family company manufacturer of both ice and roller skates. (page show 3 models only for roller skates). (I do not see link directly to Snyder Skate Company, another of Ripp's family business).
YouTube credits are shown above.
Date of issue: 21 Oct 2021.
For office use only: 30/2
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.