Sall's Garden 1403 Second Street, Greeley, Colorado
Warnoco North Roller Rink 1403 Second Street, Greeley, Colorado
To see Warnoco West profile, click on the name.
This roller rink had two lives-originally as Sall's Garden then Warnoco North. There is a bit of confusion that there was a Warnoco West which is at another location.
The building is quite unique with 1920s Quonset hut style with brick walls. One of the earliest Quonset huts anywhere. The frontage was very unique style that the roof line on the bricks curved down but curved outward after the roof ends giving its flair due to the Late Art Nouveau but not yet Art Deco style.
The rink originally was Sall's Garden which was actually an entertainment center. A pioneer in entertainment complex that many rinks today and non-rinks have. Remember the defunct Funscape? That was a non-rink entertainment center. Sall's Garden had a roller rink, a swimming pool, and a carousel. This occurred when they opened in 1921.
In 1935, Warrack Norcross purchased the complex and renamed it as Warnoco as a combination of his name. "War" as it from Warrack and "no" is from his last name, Norcross and "co" stands for company. He was ahead of his time that many companies since 1980s named "co" in many business owners' last names. Warnoco stands for "Warrack Norcross Company" which is pretty interesting.
During the 1930s, the rink size was reduced and used little bit during that decade. Skating during winter and dancing during summer.
Three years after World War II ended, a newly rebuilt rink was built with Maple hardwood with curved corners. The size was 160 by 80 feet. Short but wide rink. (Hockey rink is 200 by 85 for NHL, 200 by 95 for Olympics). This occurred in 1948.
1996, the skating rink closed public sessions and it became Warnoco Sports Center. But J.W Norcross, likely his son, sold the Warnoco North to Greeley Urban Renewal Authority which evidently shuts down that year.
The town's roller derby team wanted to make a purchase to this rink but the contract said NOT TO RE-PURPOSED AS A ROLLER RINK! The derby team was so disappointed as it needed a home for their derby team. (Many roller derby teams cross the country do not even have a home rink to use at roller rinks so they are using alternatives such as at convention centers, sports centers, school gyms, and basketball courts. They are even wanting to own rinks to keep it alive).
Looks like Greeley Urban Renewal Authority did not want Warnoco North to be a skating rink. Why not? By 2009 in an article they were still trying to figure out. Looks like it would be demolished and reuse material.
It was because the Norcross family put a clause in the deed that they did not want anyone else to run the rink below par that hurts the family name or even use the name. To most people including myself it is ridiculous! Have they ever heard of keeping legacy on? Apparently not. My opinion, let someone else buy and built as something else for few years then sell it then new owner buys it and rebuilt as a rink again. Because that is a loophole! Why? The deed did not say that specifically. According to Google Map, the building still stands as it was and the date as you can see in the photograph, May 2018. Apparently the Authority still could not do anything about it. Looks like storage though because you can see a huge box sitting inside beyond the windows you can see in the photograph shown above this commentary.
There is a conflicting report. The Google Map says it was stamped on May 2018 that the rink building still stands. However, in a newspaper article, it did say it was torn down in 2010! Does they mean 2019? I let you decide by reading it here.
Rink Size: Vary. Original as Sall's- unknown. 1930s: reduced size. 1948 to close-170' X 80' (13,600 SF) Floor: Original as Sall's- likely wood. 1948 to 2006: Maple, clear coat. Floor Layout: Original as Sall's-unknown but 1948 to 2006, curved corners.
Building Size: N/A Built: 1921. (abandoned since). Partial torn down but map says its intact.
Roof: Quonset Hut. Brick built.
Operated: As Sall's Garden: 1921 to 1935
As Warnoco North: 1935 to 1996
Reason for Closure: Sall's Garden: N/A
Warnoco North: N/A-son and Warrack's widow put in deed not to allow next
generation as roller rink.
Wanted: Information regarding photographs of interior both Sall's and Warnoco North. All I see a lot of exterior.
Sources: FRRP, Web Urbanist, Greeley Tribute, Northern Colorado Gazette,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Warnoco North Roller Rink 1403 Second Street, Greeley, Colorado
To see Warnoco West profile, click on the name.
This roller rink had two lives-originally as Sall's Garden then Warnoco North. There is a bit of confusion that there was a Warnoco West which is at another location.
The building is quite unique with 1920s Quonset hut style with brick walls. One of the earliest Quonset huts anywhere. The frontage was very unique style that the roof line on the bricks curved down but curved outward after the roof ends giving its flair due to the Late Art Nouveau but not yet Art Deco style.
The rink originally was Sall's Garden which was actually an entertainment center. A pioneer in entertainment complex that many rinks today and non-rinks have. Remember the defunct Funscape? That was a non-rink entertainment center. Sall's Garden had a roller rink, a swimming pool, and a carousel. This occurred when they opened in 1921.
In 1935, Warrack Norcross purchased the complex and renamed it as Warnoco as a combination of his name. "War" as it from Warrack and "no" is from his last name, Norcross and "co" stands for company. He was ahead of his time that many companies since 1980s named "co" in many business owners' last names. Warnoco stands for "Warrack Norcross Company" which is pretty interesting.
During the 1930s, the rink size was reduced and used little bit during that decade. Skating during winter and dancing during summer.
Three years after World War II ended, a newly rebuilt rink was built with Maple hardwood with curved corners. The size was 160 by 80 feet. Short but wide rink. (Hockey rink is 200 by 85 for NHL, 200 by 95 for Olympics). This occurred in 1948.
1996, the skating rink closed public sessions and it became Warnoco Sports Center. But J.W Norcross, likely his son, sold the Warnoco North to Greeley Urban Renewal Authority which evidently shuts down that year.
The town's roller derby team wanted to make a purchase to this rink but the contract said NOT TO RE-PURPOSED AS A ROLLER RINK! The derby team was so disappointed as it needed a home for their derby team. (Many roller derby teams cross the country do not even have a home rink to use at roller rinks so they are using alternatives such as at convention centers, sports centers, school gyms, and basketball courts. They are even wanting to own rinks to keep it alive).
Looks like Greeley Urban Renewal Authority did not want Warnoco North to be a skating rink. Why not? By 2009 in an article they were still trying to figure out. Looks like it would be demolished and reuse material.
It was because the Norcross family put a clause in the deed that they did not want anyone else to run the rink below par that hurts the family name or even use the name. To most people including myself it is ridiculous! Have they ever heard of keeping legacy on? Apparently not. My opinion, let someone else buy and built as something else for few years then sell it then new owner buys it and rebuilt as a rink again. Because that is a loophole! Why? The deed did not say that specifically. According to Google Map, the building still stands as it was and the date as you can see in the photograph, May 2018. Apparently the Authority still could not do anything about it. Looks like storage though because you can see a huge box sitting inside beyond the windows you can see in the photograph shown above this commentary.
There is a conflicting report. The Google Map says it was stamped on May 2018 that the rink building still stands. However, in a newspaper article, it did say it was torn down in 2010! Does they mean 2019? I let you decide by reading it here.
Rink Size: Vary. Original as Sall's- unknown. 1930s: reduced size. 1948 to close-170' X 80' (13,600 SF) Floor: Original as Sall's- likely wood. 1948 to 2006: Maple, clear coat. Floor Layout: Original as Sall's-unknown but 1948 to 2006, curved corners.
Building Size: N/A Built: 1921. (abandoned since). Partial torn down but map says its intact.
Roof: Quonset Hut. Brick built.
Operated: As Sall's Garden: 1921 to 1935
As Warnoco North: 1935 to 1996
Reason for Closure: Sall's Garden: N/A
Warnoco North: N/A-son and Warrack's widow put in deed not to allow next
generation as roller rink.
Wanted: Information regarding photographs of interior both Sall's and Warnoco North. All I see a lot of exterior.
Sources: FRRP, Web Urbanist, Greeley Tribute, Northern Colorado Gazette,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.