Loopnet. Sorry for this photo is not clear. I zoomed it and it is not perfect. Hard to see the former rink's sign. I would like photos please!
Below are series of evolution of businesses. All courtesy of Google Map. From top to bottom: 2011, 2014, then 2019. Notice something different? Yes, more than just the rink building with different businesses. The 2014 had no business but looked like workers worked inside getting ready for the Grass Wagon to open up. But also look at the left side! Poof! Those buildings are gone! Actually the Tan color got darker in each generation. Rink above had lightest, the Grass Garden is darkest.
Below are series of evolution of businesses. All courtesy of Google Map. From top to bottom: 2011, 2014, then 2019. Notice something different? Yes, more than just the rink building with different businesses. The 2014 had no business but looked like workers worked inside getting ready for the Grass Wagon to open up. But also look at the left side! Poof! Those buildings are gone! Actually the Tan color got darker in each generation. Rink above had lightest, the Grass Garden is darkest.
Courtesy of Grass Wagon. Wow! From skating to dancing. Nice! Those models...
Wheels of Fun Skating Center 110 South 29th St, Council Bluffs, IA
Wheels of Fun Skating Center 110 South 29th St, Council Bluffs, IA (Rebooted)
This rink was opened in the year 2000 by Bill Probst after his sister's husband suggested to go into roller rink business and that was what he wanted to do and for his love of people wanting to do something. That was because Bill had to reopen the rink after a serious fire destroyed the original rink he and his wife built burned down in the 1990s. And financial loss so Bill work harder to get money back through his other venues to have the new rink rebuilt and doubled the size hence, it was opened up in 2000. He had to sell the property after the fire but bought back to open it up.
The original was built in 1966 and ran for about 30 years before the fire. Then reopened in year 2000 till 2007.
Unfortunately, after he renovated in 2002, Bill died suddenly on Sunday April 20, 2003. Because of his death, it really changed the landscape of that business and how he visioned it. They say the original is excellent, the reboots or sequels are terrible. No offense but without Bill, the dynamics of the business changed and felt empty without Bill Probst. Therefore, they closed by 2006 and up for sale in 2006 according to Loopnet. Bill was 78 years old. His wife had to operate and she got tired because of age but also the decline was blamed on children were able to go skateboarding in the city skate park during warm seasons which hurts Wheels of Fun Center.
You will see the photos showed two buildings that are adjoined. That is because Bill had another venue right next door including a G-store (Grocery store).
After everything was auctioned off and the building sold to a high-tech company that bought the entire complex, they are leasing the former rink to another tenant. This time, both were or are event centers.
Ever since it is an event center. Twice. Lehmann's and the now nice one-- The Grass Wagon.
The rink itself was smaller originally. When Bill bought it it was smaller but he added the size of the building. Originally it was around 7,000 Square feet but Bill Probst doubled the size by adding 7,000 SF! That was doubling the size to end up with 14,211 Square Feet rink. That is still consider small but average size of a standard rink.
The Interior.
Since there are no photos of the rink before the fire in 1990s, and no photos of after the rebuilt. I can assume with one photo I could find was with teenagers skating in an article. As for the rebooted version, it had purple padded walls surrounded the rink. It also had Sky Blue Concrete floor. The padded walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling but part of it showed White. I could not see the rest of the facility what it was like. Any disco lights? I only saw they had those ceiling tube lights.
The Exterior.
The original in 1966 was smaller. around 7,000 Square feet and the appearance was quite different. I have no idea what the original was like but the rebooted version showed a terrible photo that was taken by the train tracks far from the block. It was kitty corner spot where it was taken. Should have used a zoom camera. Likely the realtor used phone camera. Old 2000s style camera!
Google Map could not go any further back before 2007 unfortuantely.
The rebooted rink even had a faux Hip Roof around to make it appeared taller but it was really Gable roof warehouse style buildings. The twin buildings were so different. The narrower but taller awkward warehouse was Bill's other venues but now it is a high tech company warehouse. That roof they have is a Salt-Box. Both are still not matchable. It is like a Mutt-and-Jeff in that aspect.
They did removed the fake Hip roof with shingles and exposed to more nicer Tan colored building with the next door. It is the same color as it was the rink back then.
Lehmann's had a simple appalling canopy and a hard to see huge sign with too much words on it. They had too thin and too small fonts. This time with Grass Wagon, much better sign and design. Very professional and attractive and I am sure they are doing quite well. The new canopy they have looks much better above the doors.
2-sided kitchen, 5 rest rooms, office, eating area and sprinkler system.
Side note- old warehouses and factory behind the rink were torn down and they are a lot nicer area next door. All grass.
The Stats:
Original Wheels of Fun Center (1966 to 1990s) -
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 7,000 SF +/- Built: N/A Demolished: Destroyed by fire in 1990s.
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center (2000-2007) -
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Light Blue Coated Polyurethane Coated Poured Concrete.
Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: 14,211 SF Built: 1990s, Converted in 2000 and 2003.
Demolished: None. Rebuilt in 1990s and still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable (they had a faux Hip roof frontage.)
Acres: 2.1 Acres
Operated:
Original Wheels of Fun Center: 1966 to 1990s
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center: 2000 to March 10, 2007 (Auction).
Reason for Closure:
Original Wheels of Fun Center: Fire destroyed and forced to sell after fire.
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center: Declining number of patrons, blamed on skateboards during warm season.
Wanted: Information regarding a lot of information including dates of open, closed, type of floor, rink size, exactly when fire happened. Also photos!
Sources: The Daily Nonpareil A, Bill Probst Obituary, Loopnet, Grass Wagon,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Wheels of Fun Skating Center 110 South 29th St, Council Bluffs, IA (Rebooted)
This rink was opened in the year 2000 by Bill Probst after his sister's husband suggested to go into roller rink business and that was what he wanted to do and for his love of people wanting to do something. That was because Bill had to reopen the rink after a serious fire destroyed the original rink he and his wife built burned down in the 1990s. And financial loss so Bill work harder to get money back through his other venues to have the new rink rebuilt and doubled the size hence, it was opened up in 2000. He had to sell the property after the fire but bought back to open it up.
The original was built in 1966 and ran for about 30 years before the fire. Then reopened in year 2000 till 2007.
Unfortunately, after he renovated in 2002, Bill died suddenly on Sunday April 20, 2003. Because of his death, it really changed the landscape of that business and how he visioned it. They say the original is excellent, the reboots or sequels are terrible. No offense but without Bill, the dynamics of the business changed and felt empty without Bill Probst. Therefore, they closed by 2006 and up for sale in 2006 according to Loopnet. Bill was 78 years old. His wife had to operate and she got tired because of age but also the decline was blamed on children were able to go skateboarding in the city skate park during warm seasons which hurts Wheels of Fun Center.
You will see the photos showed two buildings that are adjoined. That is because Bill had another venue right next door including a G-store (Grocery store).
After everything was auctioned off and the building sold to a high-tech company that bought the entire complex, they are leasing the former rink to another tenant. This time, both were or are event centers.
Ever since it is an event center. Twice. Lehmann's and the now nice one-- The Grass Wagon.
The rink itself was smaller originally. When Bill bought it it was smaller but he added the size of the building. Originally it was around 7,000 Square feet but Bill Probst doubled the size by adding 7,000 SF! That was doubling the size to end up with 14,211 Square Feet rink. That is still consider small but average size of a standard rink.
The Interior.
Since there are no photos of the rink before the fire in 1990s, and no photos of after the rebuilt. I can assume with one photo I could find was with teenagers skating in an article. As for the rebooted version, it had purple padded walls surrounded the rink. It also had Sky Blue Concrete floor. The padded walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling but part of it showed White. I could not see the rest of the facility what it was like. Any disco lights? I only saw they had those ceiling tube lights.
The Exterior.
The original in 1966 was smaller. around 7,000 Square feet and the appearance was quite different. I have no idea what the original was like but the rebooted version showed a terrible photo that was taken by the train tracks far from the block. It was kitty corner spot where it was taken. Should have used a zoom camera. Likely the realtor used phone camera. Old 2000s style camera!
Google Map could not go any further back before 2007 unfortuantely.
The rebooted rink even had a faux Hip Roof around to make it appeared taller but it was really Gable roof warehouse style buildings. The twin buildings were so different. The narrower but taller awkward warehouse was Bill's other venues but now it is a high tech company warehouse. That roof they have is a Salt-Box. Both are still not matchable. It is like a Mutt-and-Jeff in that aspect.
They did removed the fake Hip roof with shingles and exposed to more nicer Tan colored building with the next door. It is the same color as it was the rink back then.
Lehmann's had a simple appalling canopy and a hard to see huge sign with too much words on it. They had too thin and too small fonts. This time with Grass Wagon, much better sign and design. Very professional and attractive and I am sure they are doing quite well. The new canopy they have looks much better above the doors.
2-sided kitchen, 5 rest rooms, office, eating area and sprinkler system.
Side note- old warehouses and factory behind the rink were torn down and they are a lot nicer area next door. All grass.
The Stats:
Original Wheels of Fun Center (1966 to 1990s) -
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 7,000 SF +/- Built: N/A Demolished: Destroyed by fire in 1990s.
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center (2000-2007) -
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Light Blue Coated Polyurethane Coated Poured Concrete.
Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: 14,211 SF Built: 1990s, Converted in 2000 and 2003.
Demolished: None. Rebuilt in 1990s and still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable (they had a faux Hip roof frontage.)
Acres: 2.1 Acres
Operated:
Original Wheels of Fun Center: 1966 to 1990s
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center: 2000 to March 10, 2007 (Auction).
Reason for Closure:
Original Wheels of Fun Center: Fire destroyed and forced to sell after fire.
Rebooted Wheels of Fun Center: Declining number of patrons, blamed on skateboards during warm season.
Wanted: Information regarding a lot of information including dates of open, closed, type of floor, rink size, exactly when fire happened. Also photos!
Sources: The Daily Nonpareil A, Bill Probst Obituary, Loopnet, Grass Wagon,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.