Top two courtesy of Star City Skate Center. Very neat logo. Like the stars in the star. Very 1980s look.
Courtesy of WDBJ 7 News. Showing it is set to close. Seen on TV news.
All three above courtesy of Star City Skate Center. Their website.
All rest are of Star City Skate Center Facebook page.
Star City Skate Center, 140 Hershberger Road, Roanoke, VA
This roller rink just recently closed on July 31, 2019 (at this time of writing -- October 27, 2019) and their website is up. It says it is closed to public. This still qualifies as a dead rink because it is not open.
Unfortunately, this rink is a victim of crime related. It ended at a sad note. You see, the rink had a problem early Sunday Morning December 23, 2018, just day before Christmas Eve. There were reports of shooting and the police were called to the scene-the Star City Skate Center. There were 200 teens and adults at 1 AM. This might have led to the closure of the rink to the public. The Star City Skate Center is still operational but it is for parties and other fuctions but not-open-to-the-public anymore. So, this is why this rink qualifies on Dead-Rinks website. As many do not want to remember that bad ending. Like with night clubs and bars when there are huge fighting or shooting, they usually shut down by their state liquer license department. Even non-alcholic bars like with the former Nowhere City in DeWitt, NY that there was a huge fight that brought 57 police cars (both Dewitt Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff's) were there to break a fight that was a gang fight over a girl. The next day, the fight carried over to a nearby dying shopping mall.
Likely this is what happened to Star City: gang-related. Perhaps. With a gun! That is awful! According to FOX News that it was a song that sparked a fight. A song? Yes, songs can change a mood. Last night I really took a perspective on music effect on people when they were playing locally near my home with my friends, I noticed when the song began, one by one, people get into the mood to that song by dancing, jumping, waving hands, and the devil signs. This shows me vibrations and the sound can influence. Sometimes it is not good when there are bad songs and even so-called "good" songs when you are not clearly understand what it really means. Depends on the music. it is purely my opinion! Thank you.
So, this is why it happened at this rink. It was bad. When the song came on, according to a witness, it sparked a gang to make gang signs and people heard gunshot but the police could not find anyone with a gun or shooting (remember they can test your hands for gunshot powder. They could not find any. All 200 were held by police and questioned but no arrest were made. According to search, I could not find any more updates this year relating to the violence at the rink. So, this is why the owner closed because of it. Nowhere City was asked to close after that violence too. Many bars and clubs around the country did the same after a violence. We at Dead-Rinks are against violence and against human trafficking as well. This was a big news that went on national news such as FOX News and international news such as UK Daily mail.
Back to the rink. It was a Gable roof building that has Red red bricks. That is a rare building with brick for a modern rink. There are windows up front to the road but entrance was on the side front.
The interior was rather look bright with Maple wood floor with roller derby and roller hockey floor. The interior appeared to be plain design. Looks more like an arena than a typical roller rink interior. It was all Snow White on the walls and ceiling with Royal Blue half-walls and walls. No murals, no logos, nothing. It also housed an interior playground. The new owner who bought it in 2009-ish had added outdoor playground. A small one. There was a basketball basket there even before the new owner. Just one basket, no full court outside. It behaved more like a recreation center. it sits between Walmart and the new fire station.
They apparently had a remodel with ceiling panels. You will see the before and after. The before photo is c. 2015 but the most recent was found on their website. The windows really brightened up inside.
The floor was clear coated polyurethane coated maple wood floor that is curved! Beautiful floor.
I do not have much photos to offer from the rink interior. Their Facebook page did say they were closing August 1, 2019. Website still up as of 23 November 2019.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear coated Polyurethane Maple with colored coated center.
Floor Layout: Curved with roller hockey and derby outlines.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A (Appeared to be 1950s-60s because of the look).
Type of Building: Brick built, arena-like.
Roof: Gable
Operated: ? to July 31, 2019 (Public). Closed to public, August 1, 2019. Still operational as private only for parties/recreational.
Reason for Closure: Related to a gang fight both inside and outside on December 23, 2018.
Wanted: Information regarding exact date of open, photos of rink before current owner.
Sources: FOX News, McLeod Enterprises (Owner), WDBJ 7, WDBJ 7 - set to close,
Star City Skate Center, Daily Mail (UK), WSLS News, Facebook,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This roller rink just recently closed on July 31, 2019 (at this time of writing -- October 27, 2019) and their website is up. It says it is closed to public. This still qualifies as a dead rink because it is not open.
Unfortunately, this rink is a victim of crime related. It ended at a sad note. You see, the rink had a problem early Sunday Morning December 23, 2018, just day before Christmas Eve. There were reports of shooting and the police were called to the scene-the Star City Skate Center. There were 200 teens and adults at 1 AM. This might have led to the closure of the rink to the public. The Star City Skate Center is still operational but it is for parties and other fuctions but not-open-to-the-public anymore. So, this is why this rink qualifies on Dead-Rinks website. As many do not want to remember that bad ending. Like with night clubs and bars when there are huge fighting or shooting, they usually shut down by their state liquer license department. Even non-alcholic bars like with the former Nowhere City in DeWitt, NY that there was a huge fight that brought 57 police cars (both Dewitt Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff's) were there to break a fight that was a gang fight over a girl. The next day, the fight carried over to a nearby dying shopping mall.
Likely this is what happened to Star City: gang-related. Perhaps. With a gun! That is awful! According to FOX News that it was a song that sparked a fight. A song? Yes, songs can change a mood. Last night I really took a perspective on music effect on people when they were playing locally near my home with my friends, I noticed when the song began, one by one, people get into the mood to that song by dancing, jumping, waving hands, and the devil signs. This shows me vibrations and the sound can influence. Sometimes it is not good when there are bad songs and even so-called "good" songs when you are not clearly understand what it really means. Depends on the music. it is purely my opinion! Thank you.
So, this is why it happened at this rink. It was bad. When the song came on, according to a witness, it sparked a gang to make gang signs and people heard gunshot but the police could not find anyone with a gun or shooting (remember they can test your hands for gunshot powder. They could not find any. All 200 were held by police and questioned but no arrest were made. According to search, I could not find any more updates this year relating to the violence at the rink. So, this is why the owner closed because of it. Nowhere City was asked to close after that violence too. Many bars and clubs around the country did the same after a violence. We at Dead-Rinks are against violence and against human trafficking as well. This was a big news that went on national news such as FOX News and international news such as UK Daily mail.
Back to the rink. It was a Gable roof building that has Red red bricks. That is a rare building with brick for a modern rink. There are windows up front to the road but entrance was on the side front.
The interior was rather look bright with Maple wood floor with roller derby and roller hockey floor. The interior appeared to be plain design. Looks more like an arena than a typical roller rink interior. It was all Snow White on the walls and ceiling with Royal Blue half-walls and walls. No murals, no logos, nothing. It also housed an interior playground. The new owner who bought it in 2009-ish had added outdoor playground. A small one. There was a basketball basket there even before the new owner. Just one basket, no full court outside. It behaved more like a recreation center. it sits between Walmart and the new fire station.
They apparently had a remodel with ceiling panels. You will see the before and after. The before photo is c. 2015 but the most recent was found on their website. The windows really brightened up inside.
The floor was clear coated polyurethane coated maple wood floor that is curved! Beautiful floor.
I do not have much photos to offer from the rink interior. Their Facebook page did say they were closing August 1, 2019. Website still up as of 23 November 2019.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Clear coated Polyurethane Maple with colored coated center.
Floor Layout: Curved with roller hockey and derby outlines.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A (Appeared to be 1950s-60s because of the look).
Type of Building: Brick built, arena-like.
Roof: Gable
Operated: ? to July 31, 2019 (Public). Closed to public, August 1, 2019. Still operational as private only for parties/recreational.
Reason for Closure: Related to a gang fight both inside and outside on December 23, 2018.
Wanted: Information regarding exact date of open, photos of rink before current owner.
Sources: FOX News, McLeod Enterprises (Owner), WDBJ 7, WDBJ 7 - set to close,
Star City Skate Center, Daily Mail (UK), WSLS News, Facebook,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.