Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Taken in 2018. You see the vehicles, that was a used car dealership in front of the rink. Source: Google.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Beautiful picture by Loop Net. I feel like I am in 1970s when I am looking at this photograph but it was taken in 2016 by Loop Net. This was a lakebed hence you can see the hill. Source: Loopnet.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. A nice close up! Source: Business Journal.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. This is my favorite. Very western themed in fact, you can even see a wagon parked inside the building! See it on the right side. I love the theme.. All western! It does look like an old town inside the building! Only if the Gaslight Village would have been built indoors.. it would have survived.. Oh well. Also the interior décor such like this reminded me of the 49th Galleria which was a rink and a non-rink entertainment center called Old Chicago. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: Western Rollarama.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 May 1974.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 June 1974.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. News report rink closed. Source: Fox 19 Now.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Listing by Loopnet. You can see the date of issue for sale at the time. Source: Loopnet updated 7 September 2021. Digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks for reducing waste space.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Being sold after the family attempted to sell to a new roller rink investor. Petition failed as well. Source: Cincinnati Business Courier. 9 August 2019.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Larry Roell's obituary. You noticed they requested the remembrances made to St. Jude's Children Hospital, the very same that raised over 200 Million Dollars in September 2021 when the hospital's own patient-turned-to P.A., Hayley Arceneaux (sorry for being personal, a real cutie!) to send her to space as part of Inspiration4 Mission. Source: Meyer Geiser Funeral Home. Photo is edited to focus on obituary by Dead-Rinks.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Now as The Gymnastic Center. All Snow White color. Yes, they painted over the beautiful Red Bricks. I am so disappointed they did not keep the frontage with that look. It is sad. Source: Google.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Now as The Gymnastic Center. All Snow White color. Yes, they painted over the beautiful Red Bricks. I am so disappointed they did not keep the frontage with that look. It is sad. Source: The Gymnastic Center.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Now as The Gymnastic Center. Roughly the same spot as the photo number 7 from top. The wagon is gone, the Western themed town all painted White and some Royal Blue. It would be hard to restore back to original if anyone bought this place and turn it back to a Western style rink. Notice new rails. It is all wood rail instead of Iron-Wrought pipe rails. Source: The Gymnastic Center.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH. Now as The Gymnastic Center. All changed inside. Open space is where the roller rink was. It is sad. Source: The Gymnastic Center.
Western Rollarama 5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati, OH
Western Rollarama was a known roller rink and a unique one at 5166 Crookshank Road in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a rink for sure I would love to skate at. Unfortunately, I missed my chance as they were closed in 2019.
One source said they first opened in 1971 however, I look at what that competitor said, it was not true that the date of the opening was in 1971. Nowhere else to be found! Better Business Bureau stated it was 1975. It was Lawrence Roell who founded and operated this awesome western themed roller rink.
While Larry Roell owned and operated the rink, Donna Roche was the manager.
Larry passed away on 19 January 2019 while still owning the rink. He was 89 years old! I am surprised that he did not groom his brother's children or someone to take over. Sadly the children sold the rink because they did not want the rink business.
According to the Obituary, Larry was never married and had no children of his own. His brothers had children.
This rink was very unique because of its exterior and interior design. Exterior was very Colonial style as the interior was very Western style. Mashing both together and it worked well for Larry for many years. 48 years long!
Now it is a gymnastic center called TGC--aka The Gymnastic Center. They purchased the former rink in July 2019 for 715,000 USD. They started the renovation on August 7, 2019.
I found out on Loop Net, the first time they entered the rink/building up for sale was not when Larry died. It was further back to 24 September 2016! So, Larry actually was trying to tell it that time. It does look like that way. This is perhaps why the children did not want to buy their uncle's business. Larry never had his own children.
Larry, thank you for defending the Constitution of the United States of America and our Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Larry was a Korea War solider.
The Interior.
Very interesting interior. What caught most skaters and even myself seeing photos, Larry had the interior in a Western themed. On one side of the wall it was all Western themed façade. Wall to wall. One would be a skate rental in a storefront look, while next one was a different look for snack bar, you get the idea. Themed rinks were all the popular in 1960s and early 1970s. Totally different than 1980s to today rinks. Much less theme but those since 1980s had their own theme that is too common. Like in 1990s with the graffiti look I did not like. It is much cleaned up today.
Well, back to the rink. It was perfect name for this rink, Western Rollarama. It is a fantasy for children to believe they are in the Wild Wild West on horses but they are roller skating. I totally gets that because for people like me, I would dream of snowmobile racing while skating at the rinks. It helped me to built up muscles so that I can lean on real snowmobiles when I raced actual sleds. That is a fact. Got a couple of trophies for racing. If you want to know what I mean by leaning while racing in an oval track. Check on YouTube.
Speaking of oval. This rink was non-painted, with a urethane coat protected on Maple floor that is a Rotunda style. This makes this place unique really. It goes with this awesome Western theme. I love it. It fits with all those fake buildings inside under 2 story high steel trusses building. Only one floor.
The current owner of the gymnastic center said they are keeping a bench and a disco ball hanging up there as a memory for everyone. If the owner remember skating, could have kept that as a rink. My humble opinion.
The Exterior.
As I said 2 story high, this rink building had windows on first floor and second floor. I am not sure if they actually had second floor up front as many roller rinks did have.. usually operator's owned rink would live on second floor. Anyway, because of the Colonial style with Red Bricks and stormer shingles on the sides of windows, it did not match to Western style. Except for the huge sign above the front door. Now, that is a Western style theme.
The brick look Colonial was so Eastern at the time of the Wild West of 1810s to 1890s. It was a fusion in style. Could have opted for all gray wood planks on the exterior to make it look so weathered Western theme.
It had a beautiful front yard. Truly rolling hill but slightly. It had a huge property-- 4.74 Acres of land! Could have room for expansion. I would have if I bought it in 2019 if I had the money.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, clear coated Polyurethane, Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: 25,452 SF. Built/Renovations: 1960/1971 (for rink), August 7, 2019 (gym). Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Red Colonial Bricks - Walled Colonial themed Storefront - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: 4.74 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- Fall 1971 to Feb 16, 2019 (Single owner all that time!)
Reason for Closure: Owner passed, Children of operator did not want to keep operating, decided to sell.
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:
Loop Net - real estate records
Loop Net - PDF version.
Better Business Bureau - record.
Business Journal - TGC purchased the former rink.
Fox 19 Now - Rink closed due to Larry's death.
Change - Petition to save the rink.. (but it is bit too late).
Please support St. Jude's through Inspiration4 Mission! And support gorgeous Hayley Arceneaux as a P.A. at St. Jude.
Date of issue: 23 September 2021.
For office use only: 20.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
One source said they first opened in 1971 however, I look at what that competitor said, it was not true that the date of the opening was in 1971. Nowhere else to be found! Better Business Bureau stated it was 1975. It was Lawrence Roell who founded and operated this awesome western themed roller rink.
While Larry Roell owned and operated the rink, Donna Roche was the manager.
Larry passed away on 19 January 2019 while still owning the rink. He was 89 years old! I am surprised that he did not groom his brother's children or someone to take over. Sadly the children sold the rink because they did not want the rink business.
According to the Obituary, Larry was never married and had no children of his own. His brothers had children.
This rink was very unique because of its exterior and interior design. Exterior was very Colonial style as the interior was very Western style. Mashing both together and it worked well for Larry for many years. 48 years long!
Now it is a gymnastic center called TGC--aka The Gymnastic Center. They purchased the former rink in July 2019 for 715,000 USD. They started the renovation on August 7, 2019.
I found out on Loop Net, the first time they entered the rink/building up for sale was not when Larry died. It was further back to 24 September 2016! So, Larry actually was trying to tell it that time. It does look like that way. This is perhaps why the children did not want to buy their uncle's business. Larry never had his own children.
Larry, thank you for defending the Constitution of the United States of America and our Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Larry was a Korea War solider.
The Interior.
Very interesting interior. What caught most skaters and even myself seeing photos, Larry had the interior in a Western themed. On one side of the wall it was all Western themed façade. Wall to wall. One would be a skate rental in a storefront look, while next one was a different look for snack bar, you get the idea. Themed rinks were all the popular in 1960s and early 1970s. Totally different than 1980s to today rinks. Much less theme but those since 1980s had their own theme that is too common. Like in 1990s with the graffiti look I did not like. It is much cleaned up today.
Well, back to the rink. It was perfect name for this rink, Western Rollarama. It is a fantasy for children to believe they are in the Wild Wild West on horses but they are roller skating. I totally gets that because for people like me, I would dream of snowmobile racing while skating at the rinks. It helped me to built up muscles so that I can lean on real snowmobiles when I raced actual sleds. That is a fact. Got a couple of trophies for racing. If you want to know what I mean by leaning while racing in an oval track. Check on YouTube.
Speaking of oval. This rink was non-painted, with a urethane coat protected on Maple floor that is a Rotunda style. This makes this place unique really. It goes with this awesome Western theme. I love it. It fits with all those fake buildings inside under 2 story high steel trusses building. Only one floor.
The current owner of the gymnastic center said they are keeping a bench and a disco ball hanging up there as a memory for everyone. If the owner remember skating, could have kept that as a rink. My humble opinion.
The Exterior.
As I said 2 story high, this rink building had windows on first floor and second floor. I am not sure if they actually had second floor up front as many roller rinks did have.. usually operator's owned rink would live on second floor. Anyway, because of the Colonial style with Red Bricks and stormer shingles on the sides of windows, it did not match to Western style. Except for the huge sign above the front door. Now, that is a Western style theme.
The brick look Colonial was so Eastern at the time of the Wild West of 1810s to 1890s. It was a fusion in style. Could have opted for all gray wood planks on the exterior to make it look so weathered Western theme.
It had a beautiful front yard. Truly rolling hill but slightly. It had a huge property-- 4.74 Acres of land! Could have room for expansion. I would have if I bought it in 2019 if I had the money.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, clear coated Polyurethane, Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: 25,452 SF. Built/Renovations: 1960/1971 (for rink), August 7, 2019 (gym). Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Red Colonial Bricks - Walled Colonial themed Storefront - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: 4.74 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- Fall 1971 to Feb 16, 2019 (Single owner all that time!)
Reason for Closure: Owner passed, Children of operator did not want to keep operating, decided to sell.
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:
Loop Net - real estate records
Loop Net - PDF version.
Better Business Bureau - record.
Business Journal - TGC purchased the former rink.
Fox 19 Now - Rink closed due to Larry's death.
Change - Petition to save the rink.. (but it is bit too late).
Please support St. Jude's through Inspiration4 Mission! And support gorgeous Hayley Arceneaux as a P.A. at St. Jude.
Date of issue: 23 September 2021.
For office use only: 20.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.