Due to its location, Indiana is home to some of the greatest ice skating rinks in the Midwest. From indoor arenas that have been part of local communities for decades to outdoor winter wonderlands, there’s something for all types and levels of ice skaters in Indiana. Here are the 10 best!
Carmel Ice Skadium has been serving generations of Indianapolis figure and recreational skaters, as well as the Indy hockey community, for over 40 years. The stadium also features a weight room, snack bar, and party rooms. Be sure to join them during their public skate times. Listen to music, socialize with family and friends, and even meet new people! For something a little more interesting, be sure to join them during their Cosmic Skate Nights every Friday and Saturday, in which they turn the lights down low and turn on theatrical lights and special effects.
The Ice Box opened in 1975, and is a place for hockey teams, figure skaters, and regional tournaments and competitions. They also offer public skating opportunities as well, and are open year-round. Their goal is to make ice hockey, figure, and public skating accessible and affordable for everyone in the Hoosier State. The Snack Shop offers a variety of goodies to choose from, including hot and cold beverages. They also offer broomball, a popular ice game that originated in Canada. It’s a place for everyone!
The Pop Weaver Youth Arena & Pavilion is located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. They offer three different levels of Learn-to-Skate programs for anyone who wants to learn how to skate, from age seven to adults. Interested in hockey? There are also Learn-to-Play hockey classes as well! In addition to beginner skate classes and hockey classes, Pop Weaver offers figure skating classes. Pop Weaver is a great place to bring the family year-round!
Located in southern Columbus, Indiana, the Hamilton Ice Arena and Community Center offers a wide variety of ice programs for everything to choose from. Figure skating, group ice skating, and hockey lessons, two hockey leagues, as well as public sessions and programs and campus, there is so much to do! The facility also offers scholarship opportunities as well for young adults.
The Compton Family Ice Arena opened in 2011 on the Notre Dame University campus. The facility houses two ice rinks, and was designed to support the university’s hockey programs, as well as those in the local community. It’s a state of the art facility with barrel-vaulted roof and bow trusses. The building is over 200,000 square-feet, and feature activities such as curling, My Tot and Me classes, as well as Learn-to-Skate classes.
The Merrifield Ice Rink in northern Mishawaka, Indiana, is a great place for the whole family to enjoy a day of skating. The rink offers a variety of ‘theme nights’ such as Game Night, which features classic board games, as well as Cartoon Skates where you can skate alongside your favorite character, followed by a meet and greet! If you’ve never skated before, be sure to take advantage of their beginner skate lessons, and enjoy their weekly family skate nights!
The Midwest Training and Ice Center is the state’s largest training facility, and specializes not only in ice sports (hockey and figure skating), they also specialize in gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, as well as cheerleading. The facility is over 30,000 square-feet with one Olympic-size ice arena, nine locker rooms, a 6,000-square-foot fitness center, a pro shop for all your sporting needs, and a café.
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It’s not New York’s Central Plaza, but it’s definitely close! The Central Park Plaza Ice Rink in northern Valparaiso, Indiana, is a great place for the whole family. The facility has a large, towering arched roof which protects it from the outside elements. It also features a state-of-the-art sound system and colorful, changing lights. On site is also the Indiana Beverage Activity Center where guests can come to warm up with snacks and hot chocolate.
The Frank Southern Ice Arena in southern Bloomington, Indiana, is a great place to bring the whole family for a day of fun! Join them for Saturday night Lunar Skating, which involves the use of strobe and other special effects lighting and features music from the 80s and 90s. Prefer to skate later in the evening? Join them for their Saturday Night Owl Skate nights! No matter what time you come, the Frank Southern Ice Arena is a great place to be to enjoy ice skating!
SportOne Parkview Ice House in northern Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility that opened in early 2010. The facility has three NHL-size ice surfaces, and is the only three-sheet facility in Indiana. The Ice House also offers a full-service restaurant and bar, the Thirsty Penguin Grillhouse, something that others rinks don’t have in Indiana. There is also a Bounce Mania for the kids. The facility offers Learn-to-Skate and beginner hockey classes, as well as public skate sessions and advanced figure skating programs. It’s an all-in facility that has something for everyone!
