Southwestern - (203) Danbury, CT Sportland America (aka Fun Station, Fun Zones...) - 203-778-4386/730-0730 Monroe, CT Skatetyme Roller Rink (aka Skate Time...) - 203-268-4041 Old Greenwich, CT Eastern Greenwich Civic Center (Riverside Center?) - 203-637-4583 Wallingford, CT RollerHaven II - 203-265-2286 Wheel World - 203-284-5822 Waterbury, CT Roller Magic Roller Rink (was High Rollers, 5-D's) - 203-596-9019 Roller Magic Roller Rink (was Waterbury Skating Center) - 203-574-2118 Northern and Eastern - (860) Groton, CT Galaxy Skating Rink (was Groton Skate Center...) - 860-446-2609 Middleton, CT Holiday Skating Rink - 860-346-0777 Plainfield, CT Skate Inn - 860-564-2623 Stratford, CT Long Beach Skateland - 860-378-9033 Vernon, CT Ron-A-Roll Skate Center - 860-872-8400 West Suffield, CT Babbs Roller Skating Rink - (closed)
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Connecticut (203) - Southwestern
Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury
Phone numbers and addresses checked against a CD-ROM directory 1/96,
This should be essentially all the roller rinks in the 203 area code.
Some need to be called to see if they still exit...
====
Danbury, CT 06811
Sportland American (aka Fun Station USA, Fun Zones of Danbury)
40 Mill Plain Road
203-778-4386/730-0730
Mon-Thu 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Kids Skate
Tues 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Adult 18+ Skate
In-line skates permitted
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic Coach
[ web gleanings ]
An adventure in roller skating, video arcades and laser tag is waiting
at Fun Station USA, 40 Mill Plain Road in Danbury. Fun Station has
devoted 24,000 square feet to family fun. Skaters can bring their own
roller skates or in-line skates as long as they are not metal. Rentals
are available for those without their own skates. Skaters can request
songs at the D.J. booth located at the end of the big rink. Fun Station
has a Mom & Me skating program for mothers and their preschoolers.
Also available are two bowling lanes, a train ride and kids climbing
thing, a snack bar and laser tag.
====
Monroe, CT 06468-1107
Skatetyme Roller Rink (aka Skate Time...)
193 Main Street
Monroe is located in southwestern Connecticut between Danbury and
Bridgeport. From Bridgeport, take the Rt 25 expressway north to
where it ends at Rt 111, then continue on Rt 25 for about 1-1/2
miles, the rink should be on the left, just after Judd Road.
203-268-4041
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
====
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Eastern Greenwich Civic Center (Riverside Center?)
Harding Road
203-637-4583
[ net gleanings ]
Auditorium/Gym. Large meeting room. Two small meeting rooms. Kitchen.
Scheduled events include dances, concerts, picnics, fashion, dog,
antique and trainshows, seminars, banquets, bridal and baby showers,
roller skating, square dancing, Weight Watchers, trimnastics and
aerobics classes.
====
Wallingford, CT 06492
Roller Haven II
Barnes Industrial Park
Wallingford is located in southern Connecticut, between New Haven and
Meridan. From I-91, get off at the Rt 68 - Barnes Road exit and head
west on Barnes Road for about 2 miles and look for a Barnes Industrial
Park. The rink is supposed to be in the industrial park near this area.
203-265-2286
Wed 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Adult Night - 70's/80's/requests
Sun 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Artistic/Organ Music Night
Impregnated concrete - Medium - Air Conditioned
Some In-lines Permitted
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS artistic and JO Clubs
[ Robert.Greene@mail.trincoll.edu (Robert Greene) ]
This rink is the successor of RollerHaven in North Haven CT, but is
under different management. The rink is small-to-medium in size and
is open most evenings, with Thursday being the adult night with both
oldies and modern music. The sound system is good and the lights
came from the now-defunct Plainville CT rink.
There is a small, loyal following of adult night skaters and the rink
is not crowded. The average age on adult night is probably 30. The
skating time is totally unstructured (no couples, men-only, women-only
or other special skates).
The rink has an active dance program and also a special "side-winders"
session, catering to those of us who like to skate sideways.
Because the floor is concrete, it hurts to fall and is hard on your
wheels. It's moderately ripply, but once you learn where the dips
are, you're OK. There are four padded iron poles up the middle of
the floor which limit the amount of space in the center of the rink.
Black-booted inlines are not allowed.
[ robert.greene@mail.cc.trincoll.edu (Bob Greene) ]
RollerHaven II of Wallingford, CT has moved a mile down the street
from it's original Wallingford, CT location. It's off the same exit
from Interstate 91 and Route 15.
The original RollerHaven II had a treated cement floor, and I was
hoping that the move would bring either a urethane or even better,
a real wood floor. My hopes were to no avail, as the new floor is
also treated concrete. It REALLY hurts to fall. Oh well, at least
it's still in business.
====
Wallingford, CT 06492-2308
Wheel World
344 North Cherry Street Extension
203-284-5822
Mon 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Adult 18+ Disco
Wed 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Adult 21+ Oldies
Thur 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Organ Music
*** other non-adult session
According the attendent, Bill Fellows plays live on Thursday Nights.
[ web gleanings ]
Wheel World had its grand opening in November 1995. Kathy McNulty, one
of the partners, also is the manager.
====
Waterbury, CT 06704-2412
Rollermagic Roller Rink (was High Rollers, 5-D's)
40 Industry Lane
Waterbury is located in central Connecticut, about 25 miles north of
Bridgeport. This Rollermagic is located in the northeastern part of
Waterbury. From I-84, get off at exit 22 - Rt 69 and head northeast
on Rt 96 for about 2-1/2 miles, then turn left onto Lakewood Road and
right onto Industry Lane. The rink should be about half-way down,
on the right side.
203-596-9019/596-9021
Wed 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Adult-18 Session
(** also lots of open sessions Thursday thru Sunday, call **)
In-lines permitted and for rent.
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
[ (Lorre Smith) ls973@uacsc1.albany.edu - edited]
This rink is tucked in behind what looks like a main suburban commercial
strip. It has a very large snack bar/video game area and a smallish rink.
They rent both in-line and conventional skates, and the crowd seemed to be
about half and half.
We paid $6.00 each admission for a 7:30-11:30 session on a Saturday night,
and there were no "specials" except one ladies only and one men only. The
rest of the night was just pure good skating.
The sound system is very good and a live DJ takes requests all night long.
The DJ played a lot of rap, R&B and dance music, much to the pleasure of a
GREAT group of dancers on the sidelines. It seemed to be a teenage crowd,
with the occasional adult, but the skill level was fairly good, so there
wasn't a lot of thrashing about or falling.
The rink surface is wood, but it appears to have been built on top of a
very solid surface, which seems like concrete. It is marvelous!! The
small size means there is constantly a turn to be made, but it is indeed
a real peasure to keep turning on that great rink surface. The middle
seems to be reserved for the better skaters who are trying out their
trick moves.
Roller Magic has another rink on South Main Street in Waterbury, but I
have only seen the rink, not yet skated on it.
[ NILEITA@mln.lib.ma.us (Nileita Williams) ]
We also went to Waterbury's "Roller Magic" on a Saturday night and
although I agreed with the author of this review in terms of skating
surface and snack bar etc., the management was extremely restrictive.
Perhaps this was because it was a Saturday night and a lot of pre-teens
were there. No backward skating, keep moving...
====
Waterbury, CT 06706-1727
Roller Magic Roller Rink (was Waterbury Skating Center)
60 Harvester Road
Waterbury is located in central Connecticut, about 25 miles north of
Bridgeport. This Rollermagic is located in the southern part of
Waterbury. From I-84, get off at exit 22 - Rt 69 and head southeast
Washington Street for about 8 blocks, then turn left onto South Main
Street. The rink is located on Harvester Road, this is probably an
industrial loop off the right side of Main in this area.
203-574-2118/753-4983
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic, JO and Speed Clubs
This is apparently a second Roller Magic rink, in downtown rather than
suburban Waterbury.
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Connecticut (860) - Northern and Eastern
Hartford, New London, Norwich, Windsor
Phone numbers and addresses checked against a CD-ROM directory 1/96,
This should be essentially all the roller rinks in the 860 area code.
Some need to be called to see if they still exit...
====
Groton, CT 06340
Galaxy Skating Rink (was Groton Skate Center, United Skates, Skatetown USA)
210 Bridge Street
Groton is located on the eastern Connecticut seacoast, across the
Thames river from New London. From I-95, get off at exit 49 - Bridge
Street and turn left at the end of the ramp. The rink should be
right at this corner.
860-446-2609
Thurs 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Organ/Artistic Skating Night
Sun 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Adult Night 50's-90's
Wood Floor - Medium - Air Conditioned
In-lines Permitted
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
[ Robert.Greene@mail.trincoll.edu (Robert Greene) ]
This older rink has seen better days, but is still grand. The floor
is large and though it's in need of a coat of poly, it's very smooth.
Sunday is adult night and a rowdy band of ex-SkateLand East (East Haven)
regulars whip around the floor. This is no place for a new skater.
The average age on adult night is about 22. The music is a good mix
of 70' s, 80's and current, with requests put on almost right away. The
decor and light show is pure 70's (which is when this rink was built)
and fun to watch.
Inlines are allowed, but it's mostly racing-style quads. Skating time
is completely unstructured (no special skates).
Recently, I was witness to a show of tripping amoung the regulars which
I haven't seen since Skateland East in the 70's. There were many minor
injuries. I reinterate, this is no place for a newbie. I don't know if
there is a dance program.
[grr]
Since this posting, the rink has closed and re-opened under the new
name of Galaxy Skateland.
[ robert.greene@mail.cc.trincoll.edu (Bob Greene) ]
I checked out the Galaxy Skating rink. It has reopened the old Groton
Skate Center, which is really great news since the floor is so nice. I
spoke to the new owner, who seemed very sincere about keeping the rink a
nice family place. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and they seemed
to be doing a good business.
====
Middleton, CT 06457-2806
Holiday Skating Rink
547 Main Street
Middleton is located in southern Connecticut, east of Meridan and
south of Hartford. From I-91, get off at exit 22 - Rt 9 and head
southeast on Rt 9 towards Middletown. Turn right onto Rt 66,
Washington Street and after a block, right onto Rt 17A - Main Street.
The rink should be on the left, not far from this intersection.
860-346-0777
In-line skates permitted
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
[ web gleanings ]
John Milazzo has owned this rink in Middletown for 38 years.
====
Plainfield, CT 06374
Skate Inn
Route 12
Plainfield is located in eastern Connecticut, about 15 miles northeast
of Norwich. From I-395, get off at exit 88 - Rt 14A - Cemetery Road,
and head west on Rt 14A. The first intersection is Rt 12 - the rink
is probably somewhere between this intersection and Plainfield.
860-564-2623
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
====
Stratford, CT 06497
Long Beach Skateland
55 Washington Parkway
Stratford is located along the Connecticut seashore just east of
Bridgeport. Skateland is located along the beach between Lordship
Beach and Long Beach. From I-95, get off at exit 30 - Rt 113 -
Lordship Boulevard and head southeast on Rt 113 towards the beach
for about 2 miles. At Oak Bluff Avenue, Rt 113 will turn left, but
continue straight along Stratford Avenue to Stratford Road, then
turn left onto Washington Parkway. The rink sould be about two
blocks down, on the right between Hillside Avenue and Beach Drive.
860-378-9033
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artistic and JO Clubs
====
Vernon, CT 06066-5517
Ron-A-Roll Skate Center
85 South Frontage Road
Vernon is located in central Connecticut, about 12 miles northeast
of Hartford. From I-84, get off at exit 64 - Rt 83. The rink is
on a Frontage Road, which may or may not be near the interchange.
860-872-8400
Tues 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Adult-18 Session - Oldies thru 80's
Wood Floor - Medium - Air Conditioned
In-lines Permitted
RSA Member Rink
USAC/RS Artsitic and JO Clubs
[ Robert.Greene@mail.trincoll.edu (Robert Greene) ]
This rink was an indoor tennis place until it was done over into a
roller rink in the late 80's. The floor is of medium size, though
the building could fit a much larger skating surface. It reminds me
of an aircraft hanger, with huge 75' ceilings and unfinished walls.
Because of it's size, it's often cold inside in winter.
The rink is open most nights and Tuesday is adult night. The average
age on adult night is probably 24. Adult night music is limited and
often ill-chosen. The DJ only rarely takes requests. One can only
stand so much of "YMCA" by the Village People when the DJ (who is the
owner's wife) "threatens" to leave it on all night unless the crowd
participates. Bad for business and the regulars just leave.
Weekends are great for kids and teenagers and are quite crowded.
Ron-A-Roll is a certified day-care facility and runs (from what I
understand) an active daytime enterprise with supervised activities
for little ones.
The floor is quite ripply and bumpy in spots and the roof often leaks
onto the floor during heavy rains, causing the only hydro-planing
accidents I've ever seen on a skating floor. The sound system is good,
quite powerful. Inlines with floor-safe bolts are allowed and it's
about a 50-50 mix between inlines and quads. The skating time is
structured into mostly all-skate, with dedicated couples, men-only,
women-only and backward skating.
====
West Suffield, CT 06093
Babbs Roller Skating Rink
Babbs Road
West Suffield is located in northern Connecticut, between Springfield,
Massachussetts and Granby/Simmsbury Connecticut. The Babbs rink is on
the shore of Congamond lakes. From I-91, get off at exit 40 - Rt 20
and head west towards the airport. Continue on Rt 20 to Rt 187, turn
right to head north on Rt 187 for about four miles, then turn left
onto Rt 168 and follow Rt 168 for about four more miles to Babbs Road.
Turn right onto Babbs Road, The rink could be here, or a mile further
north in the Babbs Beach area. In general, look for signs pointing at
the lakes/recreation area, it's not directly visible from the road.
860-668-7073
Closed
Wood Floor - Pretty Smooth
Snack Bar - Games - No Smoking
In-line Skates permitted and available for rent
[ lainer@map.com (Ellen Lainer) - edited from form ]
Babb's is a nice, older rink which is located at the Congamond lakes,
a quaint lakeshore resort area. It is convenient for the kids in the
area and for us adults. I love the place, it's not as cosmetically
nice as Agawam, but it is quaint and fun. Plus, it's a lot closer
than the Springfield area rinks.
The skating floor is wood and pretty smooth, though I'm not sure of the
dimensions. There is a snack bar and a few video games, smoking is only
permitted outside of the building. They are open Saturdays and Sundays
to the general public. I don't believe there are any special adult
sessions. The rink can also be rented for birthdays and other occasions.
[ lainer@map.com (Ellen Lainer) ]
On June 30th [1996], Babbs will be closing its doors. Apparently, the old
building is in need of major electrical updating (to the tune of $30,000).
I was hoping that the town would take it over, or that some wealthy soul
would buy and renovate the place, but it doesn't seem to be happening.
I just starting going to Babbs this year, as I am a new resident to the
area. I am saddened to see it close.
[ web gleanings ]
Babbbs Beach was a summer lake resort operated by the Babbs Family.
As recreation trends changes, the resort became less active and
Nelson Babb Jr. eventually donated the property to the town, on the
provsion that he could retain his residence and lease the rink back
for a nominal sum. The town operated a recreation program at the
beach until recent budget cutbacks. Babbs, 77, was content to
operate the roller rink and donated the proceeds to various self-
help charities.
The rink did close in in June 1996, and there was an auction to sell
off all the skating related equipment in September. A newspaper
article mentioned that some people were interested in operating the
facility as a rink, but made it sound more like wishful thinking than
serious. It also implied that the town would rather have a parking
lot or soccer field at the lake than a commercial operation.
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RELATED RESOURCES:
-
George Robbins Roller Rink Directory
-
United States Roller Rink References
-
More About United States Roller Rinks
-
Roller Skating Rinks World Wide