After More Than 70 Years This Idaho Roller Rink Still Spins Skaters Under A Wooden Ceiling
The skating floor at one Idaho rink used to be the floor of an old school. Somebody pulled up old boards from a high school and junior high, then gave them a second life under rolling wheels.
That alone would earn my attention. Then you learn the same family-started rink has been spinning skaters since 1956, which pushes it past the 70-year mark.
I like how a place this old still runs public sessions, birthday parties, and Halloween costume nights. Rental skates come with admission, and nervous beginners can even rent a walker for balance.
I can’t imagine a better excuse to lace up again after a few long decades away, even if your knees file a complaint. So where is this rink, and how did a school floor end up there?
A Magic Valley Rink That Never Stopped Rolling
Southern Idaho has plenty of big outdoor thrills, from canyon views to river trails. Skateland in Twin Falls offers a different kind of thrill, the kind with eight wheels and a disco ball attitude.
The rink goes by Magic Valley Skateland too, a nod to the region it has served for generations. It sits on the east side of town, an easy hop for families across the Magic Valley.
Inside, the setup is refreshingly simple. There’s a big wooden skating floor, a concession stand, arcade games, and a room for private parties.
Public skating sessions run through the week on a seasonal schedule. The rink also hosts birthday parties, private events, lessons, and a calendar of holiday specials.
None of that sounds flashy, and honestly, that’s the appeal. It’s a place built around one joyful idea, going in circles to music with people you like.
Plenty of Idaho attractions chase the newest trend every few years. This one has mostly stuck to skating, and the result feels like a time capsule that still keeps its doors open and its wheels turning.
The Parrott Family Laced Up Back In 1956
Dwight Eisenhower was president when Pat and Anita Parrott bought a roller rink in Twin Falls. The year was 1956, and the couple started running it right away.
That original rink did not sit on Kimberly Road. It operated from a downtown Twin Falls location for its first couple of decades.
Think about how much has changed in Idaho since then. Interstates arrived, the Magic Valley grew, and entertainment moved from jukeboxes to phones.
Through all of it, the rink kept the same basic mission. People came to skate, laugh, wobble, and try not to grab a stranger for balance.
The rink still proudly uses the phrase Since 1956 to describe itself. That short line carries a lot of weight for a family business in a small Idaho city.
Seventy years is a long run for any local business. For a roller rink, a type of venue that has vanished from many American towns, it feels even more impressive.
Plenty of grown-ups in town likely skated their first wobbly laps under Parrott ownership, and some now bring their own kids.
Why The Rink Packed Up And Moved To Kimberly Road
Old buildings can be lovable and stubborn at the same time. By around 1981, the downtown rink building needed repairs that made staying put a tough choice.
So the owners did something bold. They moved the whole operation to a new building on Kimberly Road.
Relocating a rink is not like moving a lemonade stand. You need a huge open floor, plenty of room for skates and seating, and a space that can handle a crowd of rolling kids.
The move set up the next chapter for decades of Twin Falls skaters. The current building has been home base for more than 40 years now.
That’s longer than many people in town have been alive. For a lot of Magic Valley families, Kimberly Road simply is where skating happens.
The most interesting part of the move was not the address, though. It was what the owners decided to put on the floor, and that choice tied the new rink to an old piece of local school history.
Spoiler alert, it involved a lot of very well-traveled wood.
A Skating Floor With A School Diploma
Here’s a fun fact to share at your next family gathering. The skating floor at Skateland came from the floors of the old O’Leary high school and junior high.
When the owners built the new rink, they reclaimed that wood and turned it into the rink floor. Former school hallways and classrooms became a place to practice crossovers.
I love that detail because it’s so practical and so sentimental at once. Good wood got a second job instead of heading to a landfill.
It also means some Twin Falls folks may be skating over boards their parents once walked across between classes. That’s a pretty unusual way for local history to stick around.
Wood floors have a long tradition in roller rinks. They offer a smooth, slightly forgiving surface that many skaters prefer over concrete or tile.
Rinks with real wood floors have grown harder to find in many places. In Idaho, this one carries extra bragging rights because the wood already had a story before the first skate wheel ever touched it.
Go ahead and call it the most educated floor in the Magic Valley.
Rental Skates Come Included, Fancy Wheels Cost A Little Extra
Good news for anyone who left their skates in a 1990s closet. Regular rental skates come included with admission at Skateland.
That keeps the outing simple. You pay to get in, grab your size, and head for the floor.
Want something with a little more zip? Specialty options like speed skates or inline skates are available for an additional fee.
Inline fans should know that choice matters. Rollerblades and classic quad skates feel very different under your feet, so pick whichever one your balance trusts.
Of course, you’re also welcome to bring your own skates if you have a favorite pair. Many skaters prefer gear that already fits like a well-worn sneaker.
The rink also has a dress code and rink rules for everyone on the floor. Give those a quick look before you go, especially if you’re bringing a group of excited kids.
Rules may feel boring, but they help keep a busy floor moving in the same direction. Nobody wants to be the person zooming the wrong way during a crowded couples skate.
Wobbly First-Timers Get A Helping Hand
Every great skater started out clinging to something. At Skateland, that something can be a skate walker instead of the nearest wall.
Beginners can rent these assistive walkers to help with balance. They’re a lifesaver for little kids, nervous teens, and grown-ups returning after a very long break.
The rink also offers skating lessons for people who want real progress. Learning the basics from someone who knows the floor beats guessing your way around the turns.
Then there are merit badges. Skaters can earn them as they build skills, which gives kids a fun goal beyond simply staying upright.
I like how that turns skating into a small adventure. A child who earns a badge has something to be proud of and a reason to come back.
Adults benefit too, even without the badge. Picking up a forgotten skill in your thirties or sixties feels surprisingly good once the wobbles fade.
Give yourself a few laps to warm up, and your feet may remember more than you expect. The first slow lap is usually the hardest one.
Snack Bar Fuel Between Laps
Skating burns more energy than it looks like it should. Luckily, Skateland has a concession stand ready for refueling.
It’s the classic rink setup, built for quick breaks between songs. Grab a snack, rest your ankles, and watch the floor for a few minutes.
Party packages at the rink can include pizza, hot dogs, fountain drinks, and ice cream. That lineup covers about every birthday kid’s dream menu.
Private parties also have the option to open the concession stand. That’s handy if your group plans to skate during a time when it would otherwise be closed.
Nobody comes to a roller rink expecting fine dining, and that’s fine. Pizza and a cold fountain drink after an hour of laps hit just right.
Keep in mind that payments on-site are cash only. Plan ahead so a hungry kid doesn’t end up staring at the ice cream while you dig through your car for change.
There are ATMs on-site, but bringing cash saves a step. A little planning keeps the snack break short and the skating time long.
Air Hockey Rivalries Off The Skate Floor
Not everyone wants to skate the entire session. Some folks need a break, and some just want to settle a family score.
Skateland covers that with arcade games, air hockey, and foosball. It’s a nice off-floor option for siblings, cousins, and competitive parents.
Air hockey has a special magic at a roller rink. Something about clattering pucks and skate music makes the whole place feel like a Saturday.
Foosball brings a different kind of rivalry. Spinning those little rods can get just as intense as any race around the rink.
These extras also help mixed groups. A grandparent who isn’t ready to lace up can still join the fun at a game table.
I appreciate that balance. A roller rink outing can include the whole family without forcing everyone onto wheels.
Kids who tire out early still have something to do, and the bragging rights last all the way home. Fair warning, though, an air hockey loss to a nine-year-old may come up at dinner for weeks.
Choose your opponents wisely, or at least practice your defense.
Birthday Parties With A Built-In Soundtrack
Birthday parties are a huge part of life at Skateland. The rink offers both birthday and private party options for groups.
That makes sense. A roller rink solves the classic party problem of keeping a crowd of kids busy for two hours.
Party packages can include food like pizza, hot dogs, fountain drinks, and ice cream. Combine that with skating, and most of the planning handles itself.
Groups can also choose private parties for bigger events. Think youth groups, sports teams, school classes, or a family reunion with a competitive streak.
Here’s my favorite part. Parents get to host without turning their living room into a sticky disaster zone.
Details and package options change over time, so check with the rink before you book. Ask about dates, group size, and what each package includes.
Popular weekends can fill up, especially around school breaks and holidays. A little early planning gives the birthday kid a spot under the lights and a story to tell at school on Monday morning.
Bonus points if the guest of honor gets a solo lap.
Costumes, Countdowns, And Holiday Skate Sessions
October brings capes, crowns, and the occasional inflatable dinosaur on skates. Skateland hosts a Halloween Costume Party, and it’s exactly as fun as it sounds.
Skating in costume adds a whole new level of challenge. Long capes and big masks make even simple laps feel like an action movie.
The rink also throws a New Year’s Eve party. Counting down the year on skates beats sitting on the couch flipping channels.
Holiday breaks get attention too. Skateland offers extended skating hours during Spring Break and around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
That’s a gift for Idaho parents. When school is out and the kids are bouncing off the walls, a few hours of skating can work wonders.
Special hours shift by season and holiday, so always check the latest schedule. The rink keeps separate schedules for fall, winter, spring, and summer, plus holiday changes.
A quick check before driving saves a wasted trip across town. And if you’re planning a costume, maybe test-skate it in the driveway first.
Tails and wheels don’t always get along.
Grown-Ups Get Their Own Throwback Night
Kids shouldn’t have all the fun. Skateland hosts Throwback Thursday events specifically for adults over 21.
That’s a brilliant idea. Plenty of grown-ups in the Magic Valley grew up skating and simply never had a good excuse to return.
An adults-only session changes the vibe. You can skate at your own pace without dodging a dozen speedy fourth graders.
It also takes away some of the embarrassment of starting over. Everyone else on the floor is probably rediscovering their balance too.
A throwback night fits a rink with this much history. The place has been around since 1956, so nostalgia is basically part of the building.
Dates for adult nights can vary, so check the event calendar before planning around one. Grab a friend, a spouse, or a coworker who claims they were a legend in middle school.
Then hold them to it. Few things are funnier than watching a self-described skating champ discover that muscle memory has limits.
Bring good humor, soft knees, and maybe a backup plan for the couples skate.
Bring Cash, Grab A Punch Pass
Old-school rink, old-school payment. On-site payments at Skateland are cash only.
Don’t panic if your wallet is empty. ATMs are available at the rink for convenience.
Still, bringing cash makes things smoother, especially with a carload of kids. Admission, specialty skate fees, and snacks all go faster when you’re ready.
Regular skaters have another option. Punch-pass admissions and gift certificates are available online or at the rink.
A punch pass works well for families who skate often. Gift certificates also make an easy present for a birthday kid, a grandchild, or a friend who loves to roll.
Military ID holders get complimentary admission, which is a generous touch. Summer discount skating passes also become available in April, a handy timing note for families planning warm-weather fun.
Prices aren’t wildly expensive for a family outing, but exact costs can change, so check before going. If you’re planning a full summer of skating in Idaho, grabbing one of those passes early just makes sense.
Your future self will thank you in July.
Finding The Rink And Timing Your Visit
Getting there is the easy part. Skateland sits at 2100 Kimberly Rd, Twin Falls, ID 83301.
Kimberly Road is a main route on the east side of town. Visitors from Kimberly, Jerome, Burley, and other Magic Valley towns can reach it without much fuss.
Timing takes a little more planning. Public sessions mostly fall on evenings and weekend afternoons, and the rink closes some weekdays.
Schedules change with the seasons too. The rink keeps separate fall, winter, spring, and summer hours, plus special holiday times.
The rink suggests checking its answering machine or official website for the newest schedule. That’s solid advice before any drive, especially if you’re coming from farther across Idaho.
Pair your visit with time around Twin Falls if you’re making a day of it. The Snake River Canyon and Shoshone Falls area make a great daytime outing before an evening session.
Spend the afternoon looking at waterfalls and canyon walls, then switch to skate wheels after dinner. That’s a pretty great Magic Valley day by any standard.
Seventy Years Later, The Wheels Keep Turning
Few places in Idaho can say they’ve been making kids grin since 1956. Skateland can, and it still does it with skates, music, and a floor full of history.
The rink isn’t trying to be a giant entertainment complex. It’s a family-run skating spot that knows exactly what it is.
That’s the charm for me. You get reclaimed school-floor wood, birthday parties, costume nights, and air hockey all under one roof.
It suits young families, nervous beginners, returning adults, and anyone who wants a low-key night out. Walkers, lessons, and merit badges help newcomers, while specialty skates keep experienced skaters happy.
Bring cash, check the seasonal schedule, and set realistic goals for your first lap. Wobbling is part of the deal.
A roller rink that survives seven decades deserves a visit, even just once. You might leave with sore calves and a big smile.
You might even find yourself planning the next trip before the skates come off. For a Twin Falls family outing with deep roots, Skateland keeps rolling right along.
