Roller skating is returning to High Ridge.
Northwest High School graduate Ziggy Ziegler has worked to restore the old Skate Center roller rink at 2400 Gravois Road in his hometown, and the facility, now called the Wheelin’ Skate Center, will open this weekend.
Ziegler plans to hold an open house from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday to show off the newly renovated rink. The event will include a bounce house, local food vendors, a DJ and information about new skating programs at the rink.
Later that evening, the rink will have its first open skate session from 7-9 p.m.
Ziegler said the new roller rink will be home to youth roller hockey programs; adult three-on-three ball hockey beer leagues; learn-to-skate instructional sessions; private party rentals; and even country line dancing and cornhole tournaments.
Ziegler said he’ll use his hockey connections to build up a community of skaters at the rink. He is the head coach and president of Northwest High School’s roller hockey program. Prior to that, he coached the high school’s ice hockey program for 12 years and coached with the Meramec Sharks ice hockey club for six years. Ziegler also coached at St. Louis Community College for two years.
“Hockey has always been my passion, and it’s been my passion to help kids, get kids off the streets and out of trouble,” Ziegler said. “I wanted to create a place where parents felt comfortable dropping their kids off, knowing they’re in a safe place. I can’t control everything, but we’re going to do our best to make sure there’s no nonsense: no bullying, no fighting, no drug use.”
The center has arcade games, a concession stand, and a small shop to buy skates, hockey sticks, and other related items.
Soon, Ziegler said, a restaurant will open in the same building, serving pizza, pasta and salad. The restaurant will have a service window for pick-up orders and an indoor dining area for skaters.
“It will be 100 percent fun,” he said.
Renovations
Ziegler said the old Skate Center, originally owned and operated by Randolph “Randy” Kline, was aging when he took over the facility. Before it was a skate rink, the center was a bowling alley for a number of years.
Ziegler took down all the drop ceilings in the rink, making the center “look bigger and wider,” he said.
The facility has new, fresh paint and new arcade machines, like a hurricane simulator, air hockey table and several claw machines.
He also cleared the parking lot of excess brush to make the rink more visible from nearby Hwy. 30.
Most importantly, Ziegler said, the center has new roller rink flooring. The sport court flooring has padding underneath it to soften falls for newer skaters.
Skate nights
Ziegler said the roller rink hours of operation are still in the works, but it will likely be open seven nights a week, beginning at 5 p.m.
The rink is a perfect place to hold school fundraisers, church group event, birthday parties, tournaments or other gatherings, Ziegler said.
He said he plans to organize ’80s and ’90s themed nights, and 21 and up nights “where older generations can come out and not have to worry about the kids.”
“We really plan on doing something every night, just for the fact that I want to keep the momentum and everything going,” Ziegler said. “Come out and have fun.”