FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Sixty-four years after opening, the Gold Coast Roller Rink closed its doors for good at 1 a.m. Monday, ending an era in Fort Lauderdale.
Generations of South Florida skaters have rolled along to ear-pounding music at the barnlike structure on Federal Highway since 1947, having fun at summer camps and parties or on dates.
Recommended Videos
"It was OK for us to be out at night with our friends, so it was a great place to meet up," said skater Angela Jenkins.
Jenkins went to Gold Coast during high school in the 1970s. Now, she supervises summer campers there, and she said her visits bring back fond memories.
"We ordered a pizza, and that was a big time back in the day. We could order our own pizza," she said.
Heather Calderin came to work at Gold Coast Roller Rink 14 years ago because she loves to skate and she loves children. She has supervised lots of fun activities at the so-called "purple palace."
"I grew up with these little kids, and they all know Miss Heather. You know, I'm fun," she said.
But it isn't fun knowing time is running out.
"It's getting emotional now, but I'm going to miss this place a lot. I'm going to really, really miss it," Calderin said.
"It's so sad to hear that they are closing," Jenkins said. "This is their time to come and congregate and meet up with their friends and be in a place that they like."
Workers said the building will be torn down, and a pet lodge will go up in its place.
"It's time for everybody to move on," Calderin said.