Guptill's Arena in Cohoes, New York

At 50,000 square feet, Guptill’s Arena is the the largest indoor roller-skating rink in the world. Construction of the massive space began in 1946 and was completed in 1951, opening on Valentine’s Day. All together, the rink has 400,000 oak boards that have been fixed into place with a total of nine tons of nails. Today, crowds still line up to skate the original wood floors. Overall, the venue appears almost exactly as it did in the 1950s. The site's original electronic sign still lights up with skate instructions, including "All Skate," "Ladies Only," "Reverse," and "Couples Moonlight." A now-vintage car still sits on display, and even the bright orange booths in the concession area remain. The Guptill family, whose fourth generation now runs the business, wants to keep things how they are, and how they have always been, keeping the rink's nostalgia alive. The original murals and messages displayed on the walls of Guptill’s Arena are still in place today, including a blonde women shouting, “Youth in Action!" On site, there is a designated practice area and a kiddie skating rink to cater to the newest skaters. The star of the show is the main rink, complete with a turning disco ball.

May 14, 2025 - 22:02
 0
Guptill's Arena in Cohoes, New York

At 50,000 square feet, Guptill’s Arena is the the largest indoor roller-skating rink in the world. Construction of the massive space began in 1946 and was completed in 1951, opening on Valentine’s Day. All together, the rink has 400,000 oak boards that have been fixed into place with a total of nine tons of nails. Today, crowds still line up to skate the original wood floors.

Overall, the venue appears almost exactly as it did in the 1950s. The site's original electronic sign still lights up with skate instructions, including "All Skate," "Ladies Only," "Reverse," and "Couples Moonlight." A now-vintage car still sits on display, and even the bright orange booths in the concession area remain. The Guptill family, whose fourth generation now runs the business, wants to keep things how they are, and how they have always been, keeping the rink's nostalgia alive.

The original murals and messages displayed on the walls of Guptill’s Arena are still in place today, including a blonde women shouting, “Youth in Action!" On site, there is a designated practice area and a kiddie skating rink to cater to the newest skaters. The star of the show is the main rink, complete with a turning disco ball.