Take the little ones by the hand at these 6 ice skating rinks
Spin and glide in the Mountain State!
There’s something about an open rink that frees your soul. Skate indoors or outside, all year or just during winter — and give your kids a gold-medal moment.
Here’s where you and your family can play:
1. Morgantown Ice Arena
At 185 feet by 85 feet, this spacious indoor rink gives you and your kids room — a blessing if you’re a wall-hugging beginner.
Public sessions are Friday and the weekend, with Sundays being Family Day. From 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., a group of 4 can skate for $10 (without rentals) or $20 with rentals. Extra folks are just $2 each.
If you’re an adult skater who would rather avoid crowds, drop by on Mondays and Wednesdays; that’s when the rink is shared with West Virginia University students.
2. South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena
This showy rink abounds with modern comforts.
Right when you walk inside, there’s a heated seating area with a TV and fireplace. Farther down the spacious hallway is an arcade and rental shop, too.
Then, there’s the rink itself: an enormous spread with enough room for hockey teams and Olympic figure skating routines. In fact, it’s where Caroline Leadmon, a quadruple gold medal U.S. Figure Skater, practiced ice dancing!
Check the South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena for the public skating schedule. For $10, you get admission and rentals. Adult hockey is available Sunday nights, too.
3. Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Skate outdoors, surrounded by snowy mountains!
With 47 ski slopes, a snow tube park, and a modern lodge, Canaan Valley Resort has no shortage of things to do. One place you have to try, though, is the ice rink. Warm up by a cozy fireplace, then skate against a backdrop of white plains and the Allegheny Mountains! It’s a storybook scene that really appeals to your imagination.
The rink is open all week while the winter season lasts. You can rent skates, too.
4. Memorial Skating Rink at Wheeling Park
Skate to your heart’s content all week long! You’re not limited to one type of skate, either. The rental shop has figure and hockey boots, plus blade sharpening services.
If you’re an amateur hockey skater, the Memorial Skating Rink has pickup games, too. Play times are 10 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday. You must bring your own protective gear, though.
Memorial Skating Rink stays open October through March.
5. Palatine Park
Skip the ice and try synthetic skating instead!
Every winter, officials at Palatine Park unroll a rink of a different sort. It doesn’t melt, but the giddy sensation of gliding is just the same. Voila — a synthetic “arena!”
The rink typically opens in mid-December and closes by early January. Admission and rentals are free.
6. The Greenbrier
This venerable resort has an outdoor rink for guests and daytime visitors alike.
If you’re headed to The Greenbrier this winter for vacation, bring your skates! Overnight guests can skate for free. You’ll need to pay for rentals, though, if you don’t have your own equipment.
Visitors for the day can skate, too. Admission is $20, not including rentals.
Where do you like to practice those double axels in West Virginia?
This post was last updated on July 28, 2020