Of all the places we visited in Ida Grove I was downright in awe and surprised, and little giddy, about getting to tour inside the infamous Skate Palace. And of all the buildings in Ida
Of all the places we visited in Ida Grove I was downright in awe and surprised, and little giddy, about getting to tour inside the infamous Skate Palace. And of all the buildings in Ida Grove, this is one of the most iconic and recognized.
When you look up Ida Grove for the first time, initially one of the first pictures you see is Skate Palace. I honestly thought I would never be able to get inside unless I went to an open skate event or attend a wedding here.
The gift that keeps giving
While waiting for Sheila, who currently runs the Skate Palace, and is also known for her amazing cinnamon roles around town, I found out that this was built by Byron Godberson, the same guy who had the chalet and hangar built. You can read about those and more in my previous posts about Ida Grove.
But anyways, being such a humble and gracious person Byron built the Skate Palace so that his kids would have a place to play indoors and roller-skate. However, after his kids grew up, he decided he no longer wanted to maintain the building and instead of trying to find a buyer, he selflessly gifted the Skate Palace, and the property it sits on, to the American Legion. I absolutely love this idea because this ensures a constant source of income for an institution that is the nation’s largest non-profit wartime veterans organization. Meaning the funds spent on every wedding or event held here goes directly to the Legion to help fund their needs and the needs of our brave veterans in the community. How cool is that!
Along with stipulations of having this property gifted to the Legion, is that they are responsible for the upkeep of not only the building but also the landscaping and the pond behind it. This pond is home to many geese and ducks and also an aesthetic water fountain. In fact, while we were outside I noticed a walking trail that a few people were using, along with a mom and kids picnicking at the tables, and a couple sitting in the grass watching the swans.
This along showed me how important and loved the Skate Palace and the park behind it is to the community. The park, which the Legion also maintains, is Cobb park, and we will be visiting this area in one of our upcoming posts, so don’t worry.
To skate, or not to skate
Once Sheila got there, she let us in and gave us a quick tour. Going inside I noticed right away that there was a kitchen where there are basic finger foods prepared for event goers, and the skate floor was set up for a small wedding of about 80 people. Sheila informed us that they had just finished breaking down a wedding of about 150 people, and throughout the summer they have an event scheduled almost every weekend.
In all, this facility can seat over 500 people, so any with large weddings and you want a unique, nostalgic and picturesque venue, then contact Ida Grove’s American Legion for more information. I can tell you that they only charge $600 to rent out the facility which is a steal if you ask me. The rental fee includes tables and chairs, but you bring your own caterer. The Legion set that price for a few reasons, it’s cost effective for those who are on a budget, and if they charged more they risk the Skate Palace sitting empty for half the year, so they would rather allow residents and visitors to enjoy a little bit of Ida Grove history.
That’s how they roll
During the Summer months the Skate Palace is mostly closed to the public, then rented out for weddings and other events. However, open skate is available during the winter time, so check their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SkatePalaceIdaGrove) for more information regarding scheduled times and skate rental fees. And Sheila informed me that every prom is held here, and that it is almost like a right of passage for the next generation to take pride in what the Godberson family has gifted to the community and beyond.
Eric, who scored us this tour, even told us that this place has a certain smell, and that walking in here brings back all sorts of nostalgic childhood memories. And I told him that I can relate, because the roller rink I grew up with in my home town of Council Bluffs STILL has that same smell that sends me right back to the 90s and my little bobble hair-ties.
So, if you are so inclined to drive the hour east from Sioux City, and want a little small-town family fun, then make sure to check out this unique venue. Remember to plan your visit by looking up their open skate schedule on their Facebook page, and happy skating!
