Love blooms at the roller rink. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)
“I had several birthdays there and even landed my first boyfriend there. It was the pinnacle of my sixth-grade year when he asked me to ‘go with him.’ We, of course, had no idea where we were ‘going,’ but it sounded cool and he even held my hand. He was such a gentleman — or scared silly,” says Amanda Kelley.
Mason, Taylor, Jack and Hayden in 2016
This May, four students at Merriman Park Elementary celebrated their birthdays at White Rock Skate. From left, there’s Mason Busch, 8, Taylor Kellogg, 7, Jack Bowlin, 8, and Hayden Cassidy, 7.
“They got to invite the entire first grade class of Merriman Park and they loved every second of it. It was one of the best parties we have had and the staff was beyond amazing,” says Jenny Kellogg, Taylor’s mom.
Ramie in the 1980s
Ramie Jennings (right) laps the rink as a child in the 1980s at White Rock Skate.
“Honestly, there is not a lot I remember from my childhood. However, I’m pretty certain I could draw you the floor plan of how the skating rink was laid out. I have fond memories of the hokey pokey, hundreds of birthday parties and wishing the cute boys would ask me to a couple’s skate. From a little kid to a young pre-teen, I spent some of my best days at White Rock Skate,” she says.
Sophia, Bella and Sofia in 2014
Sophia Rodriguiz (left) and Bella Hill (right) helped Sofia Fundaro (center) celebrate her ninth birthday at White Rock Skate in 2014.
“This is so sad. My grandkids have gone there every Friday and Saturday night since they were 5 and 6 years old. I used to go also to chaperone them until they were old enough to stay there by themselves. This place, to me, is like a big family,” says Isabel Alcantar.
Limbo from 2008. The Limbo, Hokey Pokey and races were highlights of every skate session at White Rock Skate Center.
See photos from closing night here.
