Courtesy of Google Map. Original home of Terrance Roller Rink.
All courtesy of fans of Terrace Roller Rink fan page on Facebook.
Terrace Fun Spot NE 56th & Hubbell Ave, Altoona, IA (Relocated)
Terrace Roller Rink 2401 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA (Original)
This rink you may find a bit confusing. Fear not for that they originally had it on 2401 Hicksman Road, Des Moines, Iowa then they relocated to NE 56th and Hubble Ave in Altoona, Iowa. I do not know why they relocated. Perhaps it has to do with heavy entertainment section of town with a huge local amusement park, Adventureland and two doors down, the casino resort. Many fast food restaurants in area and a huge gas station with now closed 1950s theme diner. Google Map showed between 2009 and present.
The original had very unusual design. It was a blowing bubble which was somewhat common in 1970s. There were two places in Syracuse, NY area had those. And no, I am not talking about the Dome at the University. The relocated had expanded into adding tennis, big stage event space for people renting venue to stage a band or a party. The location was not clear exactly where this NE 56th and Hubble Ave was. It was clearly has to be renamed as Adventureland Ave for NE 56th Street. Hubble, of course, it is a boulevard in that area with the median runs right up North of Adventureland Ave.
The original was much smaller. It was more simple in design than the bubble version. Each stats below represents each of their location.
Russ and his wife, Nalda Knapp owned this entertainment center.
Terrance Roller Rink --
The Interior.
I have no information regarding how the interior looked.
The Exterior.
The original had been in very common appearance building with Flat-Roofed but it was three-tiered roof. The front was much lower than the middle but highest Flat Roof was where the rink used to be. Original appearance I do not know what it was like but the updated was showing a bike shop and now, remodeling the frontage to add a Google Architecture appearance with new door entrance. The Bike shop had Chocolate Brown color. Apparently the admissions section and office were up front, the middle were snack bar, DJ booth, lockers, bathrooms, el etc. And the high part was where the rink was. Interesting design though.
Due to reading information, I more likely believe it is currently where the huge gas station is located on the corner kitty corner from the parking lot of Adventureland theme park.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Flat, three-tiered.
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1960 to August 1977.
Reason for Closure: Relocated to new spot.
Wanted: Information regarding photos, why closed? Exact dates.
The Terrance Fun Spot --
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like. No photos available. It had six tennis courts, roller rink, snack bar, lockers, etc. They had two separate type of facilities. Three outdoor tennis courts. Tennis was the popular activity in 1970s as a fad. Two stories/storys with 50' x 60' arcade center.
The Exterior.
They had air bubble design. That was very unusual design. In 1970s many places had this and two in Syracuse, NY had those. One for a golfing range on one side of the county while he other more than 30 minutes away, tennis courts on a small ski hill on a historic Route 5 trail road near where my family's historic farm was located.
The 120' x 160' stick built building was a two story. It is Gabled roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: Smaller than 118' x 155' Floor: Likely concrete due to air bubble roof. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 118' x 155' air bubble, 120' x 160' stick-built. Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Air Bubble Building. Also Steel Free-Span warehouse-like building
Roof: Air Bubble! And Gable with the Steel Free-Span warehouse-like building.
Acres: N/A (for sure bigger land)
Operated: August 13, 1977 to N/A.
Reason for Closure: N/A (could be cost of electricity for blowing bubble stay inflated, competition with Adventureland, casino, and other entertainment venues in area.)
Wanted: Information regarding photos! Both interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed and why closed?
Sources: Facebook, Ankeny Press Citizen,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Terrace Roller Rink 2401 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA (Original)
This rink you may find a bit confusing. Fear not for that they originally had it on 2401 Hicksman Road, Des Moines, Iowa then they relocated to NE 56th and Hubble Ave in Altoona, Iowa. I do not know why they relocated. Perhaps it has to do with heavy entertainment section of town with a huge local amusement park, Adventureland and two doors down, the casino resort. Many fast food restaurants in area and a huge gas station with now closed 1950s theme diner. Google Map showed between 2009 and present.
The original had very unusual design. It was a blowing bubble which was somewhat common in 1970s. There were two places in Syracuse, NY area had those. And no, I am not talking about the Dome at the University. The relocated had expanded into adding tennis, big stage event space for people renting venue to stage a band or a party. The location was not clear exactly where this NE 56th and Hubble Ave was. It was clearly has to be renamed as Adventureland Ave for NE 56th Street. Hubble, of course, it is a boulevard in that area with the median runs right up North of Adventureland Ave.
The original was much smaller. It was more simple in design than the bubble version. Each stats below represents each of their location.
Russ and his wife, Nalda Knapp owned this entertainment center.
Terrance Roller Rink --
The Interior.
I have no information regarding how the interior looked.
The Exterior.
The original had been in very common appearance building with Flat-Roofed but it was three-tiered roof. The front was much lower than the middle but highest Flat Roof was where the rink used to be. Original appearance I do not know what it was like but the updated was showing a bike shop and now, remodeling the frontage to add a Google Architecture appearance with new door entrance. The Bike shop had Chocolate Brown color. Apparently the admissions section and office were up front, the middle were snack bar, DJ booth, lockers, bathrooms, el etc. And the high part was where the rink was. Interesting design though.
Due to reading information, I more likely believe it is currently where the huge gas station is located on the corner kitty corner from the parking lot of Adventureland theme park.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Flat, three-tiered.
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1960 to August 1977.
Reason for Closure: Relocated to new spot.
Wanted: Information regarding photos, why closed? Exact dates.
The Terrance Fun Spot --
The Interior.
I have no idea what it was like. No photos available. It had six tennis courts, roller rink, snack bar, lockers, etc. They had two separate type of facilities. Three outdoor tennis courts. Tennis was the popular activity in 1970s as a fad. Two stories/storys with 50' x 60' arcade center.
The Exterior.
They had air bubble design. That was very unusual design. In 1970s many places had this and two in Syracuse, NY had those. One for a golfing range on one side of the county while he other more than 30 minutes away, tennis courts on a small ski hill on a historic Route 5 trail road near where my family's historic farm was located.
The 120' x 160' stick built building was a two story. It is Gabled roof.
The Stats:
Rink Size: Smaller than 118' x 155' Floor: Likely concrete due to air bubble roof. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 118' x 155' air bubble, 120' x 160' stick-built. Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Air Bubble Building. Also Steel Free-Span warehouse-like building
Roof: Air Bubble! And Gable with the Steel Free-Span warehouse-like building.
Acres: N/A (for sure bigger land)
Operated: August 13, 1977 to N/A.
Reason for Closure: N/A (could be cost of electricity for blowing bubble stay inflated, competition with Adventureland, casino, and other entertainment venues in area.)
Wanted: Information regarding photos! Both interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed and why closed?
Sources: Facebook, Ankeny Press Citizen,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.