Facebook, (Growing up in East Tennessee). So far, I can find this but no photo of the rink building or rink? Now is that located at an antique shop? Who knows.
USGS. This was taken in 2002. Just before demolish. I see THREE paths or roads to get to the parking lot. See newer photo to compare location. Its Sonic Drive-In location now. Next photo is Google Map. Now you will see it is NOT Lowe's as many said. I know what the newspapers say you read. Did you have a Mandela Effect?
Courtesy of Don Cox on Facebook. Ad to celebrate 9th anniversary at this rink in 1985. Don researched correctly the year because he may have kept the papers OR looked up for the calendar online. I usually do that and it was on a Wednesday in 1985 and counted backward to 1976 for 9 years then add 28 years from 1976 to the year they closed which was the year 2004.
Courtesy of LeeAGraff. Real funny commercial. Really. Still.. I think some things could have edited out. And looks like the girl behind that kid spokesperson at the very end of the commercial was trying to hide her face. She could have asked not to be in it. Right?
Tennessee Valley Skate Center 7515 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN
Tennessee Valley Skate Center was on 7515 Chapman Highway in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was located right next to the West Governor John Sevier Highway. It was operational till around 2006 when they sold the rink to Lowes but the hardware store did not built on where the rink was. I believe it was Sonic Drive-In was built on where the old rink was. You can see on the map photos.
Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Adkins opened the rink on Saturday March 6, 1976. It ran for 28 years. They closed on August 20, 2004. Demolished, and now a Lowe's center with many restaurants including Sonic Drive-Ins where the rink was exactly located as well there is a Wendy's, Chic-Fil-A, McDonalds, and a car wash is located. The rink originally had a huge property that now Lowe's owns.
The Interior.
It had Orange and White colors there and on the wall, it looked like an oversized checkers, well, at least part of that on the end wall. The floor was Maple, clear coated, Polyurethane coated.
The Exterior.
I do not know because I never saw a picture of the rink! They torn down before Google ever took picture of it. Only I could see is the top of it. Sigh... anyone? Free-Span Steel Truss Steel (?)-Walled Warehouse - like Building with Gable roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple, clear coated, Polyurethane coated. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1975. Demolished: 2004 to make way for Sonic-Drive-Ins (Lowe's center)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel (?)-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- Saturday March 6, 1976 to August 20, 2004.
Reason for Closure: N/A. (Sold to Lowe's, now Sonic Drive-Ins restaurant on exact location).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Knox News - History of Chapman Highway, one clip about rink closed up; Yelp; Judy's Book;
Swank Pad - History about Chapman Highway;
Date of issue: 02 April 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Adkins opened the rink on Saturday March 6, 1976. It ran for 28 years. They closed on August 20, 2004. Demolished, and now a Lowe's center with many restaurants including Sonic Drive-Ins where the rink was exactly located as well there is a Wendy's, Chic-Fil-A, McDonalds, and a car wash is located. The rink originally had a huge property that now Lowe's owns.
The Interior.
It had Orange and White colors there and on the wall, it looked like an oversized checkers, well, at least part of that on the end wall. The floor was Maple, clear coated, Polyurethane coated.
The Exterior.
I do not know because I never saw a picture of the rink! They torn down before Google ever took picture of it. Only I could see is the top of it. Sigh... anyone? Free-Span Steel Truss Steel (?)-Walled Warehouse - like Building with Gable roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple, clear coated, Polyurethane coated. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1975. Demolished: 2004 to make way for Sonic-Drive-Ins (Lowe's center)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel (?)-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- Saturday March 6, 1976 to August 20, 2004.
Reason for Closure: N/A. (Sold to Lowe's, now Sonic Drive-Ins restaurant on exact location).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Knox News - History of Chapman Highway, one clip about rink closed up; Yelp; Judy's Book;
Swank Pad - History about Chapman Highway;
Date of issue: 02 April 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.