For more than a decade, I have been driving my youngest daughter to ice skating lessons, show rehearsals, and figure skating shows at Iceland ice skating rink on Del Paso Boulevard in Sacramento. Built in 1940, its deco exterior, old fashioned wooden interior, and tiny size made it seem like a wonderfully quaint home away from home. I announced at least one ice skating show there, and ran a spotlight and the spotlight crew for many many shows.

Most of Iceland's skaters and coaches spent this past weekend two hours away, in Santa Rosa at the Redwood Empire ice rink (Snoopy's Home Ice) competing in the Crystalline Classic showcase competition. Most had finished their individual competitions on Saturday (my daughter earned a second place in her dramatic), but a few had one individual competition on Sunday. Nearly all were competing in the "Large Group" category Sunday. Nine would win that competition as Hairspray on Ice (my daughter played the Tracy character, padded for the role). Others were in the group which took second place.

At around 4:15 am Sunday, cellphones started ringing. Iceland had burned down. The place they learned to skate, some returning years later to coach, the place all had rehearsed their performances, was gone. Those who had good highspeed computer internet watched the reporting online from Sacramento TV stations.

The competition announcer told everyone at the competition of the fire. The competitors became fired up. The audience (not just from Sacramento) yelled "DPH" each time a skater from Iceland was announced. (DPH = Del Paso Heights, the former upper middle class, then ghetto, now enterprise zone/art area of "uptown" Sacramento.)

Most of us swung by Iceland before we returned to our homes. Maybe she'll be rebuilt, maybe bigger...

But the sadness remains.


My daughter Sydney posing with Adam Randall on the rink at Iceland before the last Holiday show.

What a shame 

What a sad story. I'm so sorry that you lost a place that held so many memories. Art Deco buildings hold a special place in my heart and I hate to see another one gone.

We don't have many Art Deco buildings here but im always impressed with St Andrews House.

A building my daughter trained to skate in burns down. Sure it's got glorious architecture, but it burned to ashes. I'm sad. Thanks for the oversized threadcrap. And thanks for quoting it, to make sure that even though that post is blocked, I get to see it anyway.

Why, exactly am I here?

Even from the ruins, you can tell it was a pretty nice building, at least the zamboni made it.