Following a late Thursday announcement via social media about the Indian Lake Rollarena building being sold and the decades-old skating rink closing its doors, owner Daniel Moore clarified details about the announcement.
A deal to sell the Rollarena property has not yet been formally consummated, with no record of a property transfer on file with the Logan County Auditor’s Office as of Friday afternoon. However, sources have told the Examiner such a business transaction is possibly in the works.
Daniel Moore spoke to the newspaper Friday afternoon, Aug 22, and said he and his wife, Lena, are not related to the Moore family with whom they entered into a lease-purchase agreement to buy the business in 2020.
Daniel said he and the Moore family, who own the Rollarena building and property, came to a mutual agreement Thursday, Aug. 21, to sell the property to an individual or group with the wherewithal to save the building, which has significant deferred maintenance.
He relayed that the roof and skating rink floor need to be replaced, which he estimated would cost about $250,000, in addition to another $50,000 of necessary general building repairs.
“It was just too much,” he said.
Daniel, whose lease-purchase agreement on the property expires Oct. 1, also said he is not at liberty to identify any potential buyer(s) as the sale process is still ongoing and not finalized.
“We were going to have to leave (at the end of the lease) anyway,” Daniel said.
He implied in a late Friday afternoon Facebook post that he was a little taken aback that the business closure had to occur before the end of his lease term, but said via a phone conversation in a calm and understanding manner, “It’s just business.”
Daniel was adamant that there were no hard feelings between he and the other Moore family
“I knew what I was getting into (accepting the lease agreement in 2020).”
Daniel said the goal in 2020 was the same as now — to save the iconic Rollarena structure. He added, the present-day decision to sell was not done out of profit motive, but to preserve the iconic rink.
He said both Moore families did all they could to achieve that goal, but we “came up short.”
An Indian Lake landmark that has served the community for more than 86 years and provided lifelong memories for many is closing its doors.
Daniel and Lena Moore, owners of the Indian Lake Rollarena since 2020, announced via social media that the business’ building at 330 Taylor Ave., Russells Point, has been sold and that the iconic local skating rink is closing.
The Facebook post read in part, “Indian Lake Roller Rink has served the area for over 86yrs of roller skating good times.”,
“However good times don’t last forever. But 86yrs thats a roll.”
Any parties booked will be refunded, according to the post.
The Moores thanked the community for its support.
Rae D. Brown of Lakeview purchased the Rollarena property from Kevin Moore et alia on Feb. 6, 2020, according to the Logan County Auditor’s website. No more recent transactions about the property are currently available on the auditor’s site.
Information about the new owner’s plans for the Rollarena building and property was not immediately available.
A history of the Rollarena provided by Mary Mortimer with the Logan County History Center is below.
Check back for updates.
Logan County history: Indian Lake Rollarena
Indian Lake has a long history of roller skating; including rinks at Wicker’s Resort and at Sandy Beach. In 1939, Harry and Arlene Lawrence built the Indian Lake Roller Rink at 330 Taylor Ave in Russells Point. Madge Voltz was also an early partner. At the time, the rink was only opened in the summer as the building was heated by a pot belly stove. Roller skates had wooden wheels and organ music was played live by various musicians.
In 1960, they closed the rink for seven months for a grand remodeling. They resurfaced the 80’ x 150’ skating surface with an 8” composition of plastic. At the time only a few other roller skating rinks in the nation had plastic floors. They advertised that “700 – 800 skaters can roller skate on a floor which needs no powder and is free from noise.” The Indian Lake Roller Rink was one of five named the nation’s finest by the United Roller Rink Operators of America, New York.
They also installed new railing around the rink padded with rubber bumpers and new ¾ inch carpeting around the rink. The ceiling was constructed of aluminum and acoustical materials. The highlight of the remodeling was the new lighting. A dimming board with four dimmer units was installed to control the lighting in the ceiling, walls, and canopy lights. Lawrence said, “The automatic changing of color over the rink really gives a new enjoyment to roller skating.” Recessed fluorescent lights were used in the walls with vivid reds, greens and yellows. Lawrence also installed ventilating fans, and three new heating units.
In 1953, Charlie and Janice Moore met and started dating at the roller rink when they were both 17 years old. In 1954 they married and two weeks later they started working at the roller rink. In 1965, Charlie and Janice Moore leased the roller rink and in 1975 purchased it from Harry Lawrence.
In 1976, the Moores updated the roller rink with the removal of the railing and the red carpet around the floor area. They installed new candy-striped carpeting on the paneled walls to a height of 6’ and on the support posts to absorb the noise. They enlarged the refreshment area to accommodate 50 customers, installed a new heating system, and redecorated the restrooms. For spectators they installed 36 round hassocks, upholstered in various-colored carpeting. The Benjamin Logan Middle School band under the direction of Ron Pepple polished and relaced 500 pairs of rental skates for the Moores.
Charlie and Janice were like second parents to many area children. In the late 1960s the Moores sent buses to communities in Logan and adjoining counties on Friday and Saturday to pick up skaters. After the rink closed for the night they bused all the kids back home. Countless relationships and marriages got their start at the Indian Lake Rollerarena. The rink has been a popular site for numerous events, birthday parties and fund raisers over the years.
The Moores fully enjoyed the years they spent at the roller rink and stated in 1986, “we enjoy interacting with the youngsters and other patrons and some of the moments range on the emotional scale from comical to touching. This makes what they call work a lot of fun.”
The Moores along with their children, Sheila, Lora, and Kevin owned and operated the Indian Lake Rollerarena for over 40 years. The Indian Lake Rollearena is still in business after more than 80 years offering roller skating fun for the whole family.
Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History.
The History Center is open for tours Wednesday – Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
