Fun Spot, Oregon’s family-owned roller skating rink, will be holding a big

Fun Spot, Oregon’s family-owned roller skating rink, has been the spot for fun for half a century.

celebration as the facility celebrates its 50th Anniversary on Friday Aug. 6.

According to Jodi Ziegler, events coordinator/office manager, the party will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a mini car show as well as plenty of games for children.

“We will have cars from the 1960s and older here as well a plenty of games, concessions, face painting and music for everyone to enjoy,” Ziegler said.

At 6:30 p.m., the rink will host an exhibition derby by the Glass City Rollers, Toledo’s premier roller derby team. “Immediately following the exhibition, you can skate with the Glass City Rollers,” Ziegler said. “They are every exciting to watch and fun to hang with.”

Open Skate will begin at 7:30 p.m. with music from the `50s and `60s. Music from the `70s and `80s will be played from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The last hour, from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m., will showcase music from the `90s to current favorites.  “For those who do not want to put on roller skates, we will also have an open dance floor,” Ziegler said. “We really want everyone who ever skated here or those who may be visiting the first time to come out and have a great time. The rink has been owned and operated by the Kish family for 50 years and that really is a major accomplishment. Fun Spot has outlived many other Oregon businesses and we want people to know the rink is still open and providing good clean fun as it has for 50 years.”

There will be giveaways every 15 minutes as well as door prizes, Ziegler said. Admission for the 50th Anniversary party is $10 which includes early admission, skate rental, and the Glass City Rollers exhibition.

According to Joyce Kish, Fun Spot’s current owner, the building was built in 1960 by her late father-in-law Al Kish.

“It was his dream to own a roller rink,” Kish said. “Years ago, they had a roller derby group that traveled around the country and he always wanted to have his own rink where he could hold roller derby events as well as have people skate and have fun.”

Fun Spot originally was open for a couple of years at Pearson Metropark prior to the building being built at 525 Earlwood, Kish said.

“It is a unique building,” Kish said. “Al got the design for the building from Florida and that is how it got the dome shape. It really was something new at the time.”

The rink was an instant success, Kish said, adding the place was always crowded.

“When it opened, it had huge crowds,” she said. “I skated there for years before I met and married my husband, Alfred Kish. We did not have computers and video games back then so it was ‘the’ place to hang out with friends.”

Alfred took over the business in 1994, when his father passed. Joyce took over in 1999, when Alfred passed away.

Since its opening, Fun Spot has hosted Big Band dances, private dances, receptions and tons of birthday parties. The building is still available for all types of events, Kish said.

“The business is not like it used to be and it is harder to keep it going,” Kish said. “We are in the center of a ballpark, new arena, COSI, etc. Oregon also has a fantastic sports program so kids have many options now. We are trying to come up with new ideas, to re-invent it and keep the interest in it.”

“It really is a good place,” she added. “We do not have fights or other negative issues. We are a safe and fun place and we want to be a place where kids want to come and have fun. Parents should not worry about leaving their kids here. We monitor everything.”

Fun Spot, which is air conditioned, holds Open Skates Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $6 and skate rental is $2 for regular skates, $3.50 for inline skates.

The arena is open on Wednesdays, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. for Dollar Skate. Admission and skate rental are $1 each. The time for Dollar Skate will change to 7-9 p.m. beginning the last week of August due to school starting, Ziegler said.

“Wednesdays really are a great time to get out and skate or learn to skate for only $1,” Ziegler said. “Skating is really good exercise and we need to get our kids up and off their sofas, away from video games, and moving.”

For adults looking to get some great exercise, Fun Spot also hosts ExerSkate every Monday from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The cost is $25 for a four-week session, $50 for eight weeks.

For more information, call Jodi at 419-693-1421 or 419-356-5294. Fun Spot is also on Facebook (visit Fun Spot Arena). Tickets are available for the 50th Anniversary at Fun Spot, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

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