Whether you prefer indoors or out, close to the rail or out on the ice, Austin has plenty of places to get your skate on. Head to these spots for the most fun on wheels:
INDOORS
Austin Roller Rink—This rink located behind Cafe 1626 in far South Austin offers skating and arcade games during the summer from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays ($5), 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays ($10), noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays ($8) and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays ($7). Adult skate night (18 and up only, BYOB) is on Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to midnight ($5).
Austin Sports Arena—This multisport facility offers roller skating on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. Skating lessons are offered Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Chaparral Ice—If you prefer your skating on ice, head on over to this rink during public skating hours. On Mondays through Thursdays, public skating
lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays, you can skate from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and then from 1 to 5 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, public skating hours
go from noon until 4 p.m. On a few Friday nights later in the summer, you can skate from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Chaparral Ice also offers skating lessons and camps. Admission costs $6 and skate rental is $4 (kids 5 and under skate for $5 on Saturday and Sundays, including skate rental, and free in the afternoons during the week with paid admission). Free skating lessons are available on Saturdays at noon for beginners ages 6 and up (you still need to pay admission and skate rental). Group rates are also available.
Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex—The MYEC offers roller skating on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Adults are $4, kids are $3, skate rental is 50¢ and the fee for observers is 99¢. Fridays are Family Fun
Days, with $3 for adults, children and observers (including skate rental). For groups of 10 or more, admission plus skate rental is $3.50 and for groups of 75 or more, the fee is $3 per person. The MYEC also offers adults-only nights, bowling, an arcade, movies and a food court. Call (512) 472-6932 to confirm skating times and for more information.
Playland Skate Center—Open since 1973, this 27,500-square-foot facility has been a crowd pleaser for generations of Austinites. Open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer, Playland also offers Family SK8 Night on Thursdays in June and July from 7 to 9:30 p.m. for $5 admission and skate rental (regular price is $8). Hours also include Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 1 to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Playland offers “Skate Mate” rentals (which look like a walker and help new skaters with balance) and admission to a large playscape in the back for an additional fee. Lastly, Tuesday nights are adult-only hours, starting at 7 p.m. Playland also has arcade games and a snack bar.
OUTDOORS
Austin BMX & Skate Park—It’s rare to drive by this skate park, close to Shoal Creek and House Park, without seeing it bustling with activity. The park is open from dawn until dusk, and during the summer it’s great to get there as early as possible to avoid the heat. The bowl and various ramps are designed
for all skill levels. FREE.
Benbrook Ranch Park—This park, which opened in 2008, offers soccer and softball fields, trails, a disc golf course, a playscape and a skate park. FREE.
Mabel Davis District Park—Opened in 2005, this popular 12,000-square-foot skate park was the first to open in Austin. There is a playground, trails, basketball courts, picnic areas and a pool nearby. FREE.
Northeast Metro Park—Located in Pflugerville, this park has soccer and baseball fields, multiple playgrounds and a skate/BMX park which opened in 2012. The skate/BMX park is located the furthest back from the road, and is open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. There is a water play area closeby. FREE.
Patterson Park Miniramp—Patterson Park has a miniramp right next to one of the parking lots. There is also a shady playground and neighborhood pool nearby. FREE.
Shayla Dame Skate Park—This 14,000-square-foot skate park is located behind the Clay Madsen Recreation Center in Round Rock. It is open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. FREE.
Veloway—The Veloway is 3.1-mile paved concrete loop exclusively for bicycles and rollerblading. There is also a secondary 1-mile loop available by
taking a right next to the entrance. No foot traffic is allowed. The loop is open from dawn to dusk. FREE.
About the author: Nicole Basham is a native Austinite and soccer-playing mom, Nicole uses her 8-year-old son as an excuse to rediscover her hometown through his eyes. In Thoreau’s words, her mission is to “suck out all the marrow of life,” or in her son’s words, to cultivate in him a love of “advenchers”.
