While the Grand Forks area has a ton to offer during the warmer months, winters in North Dakota also provide opportunities for several outdoor winter sports, such as sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating. Whether you enjoy ice skating indoors or outdoors, The Forks is home to a multitude of ice skating venues, from small local outdoor rinks to large indoor arenas. The team at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks has created this list of five different ice skating settings that locals and visitors alike can enjoy.
Blue Line Club Arena
The Blue Line Club Arena is actually comprised of two arenas — the Eagles Arena and Blue Line Club Arena. They are connected to each other by a concession stand. Along with freestyle ice skating, these arenas also host youth hockey, adult hockey, figure skating, and high school hockey teams. With two sheets of ice and eight locker rooms, you can bring a large group to enjoy an afternoon of ice skating. You can also let the kids ice skate while you snack on a treat or two at the concession stand.
ICON Sports Center
This 91,500-square-foot state-of-the-art youth ice arena was developed in 2014 and boasts several amenities for those who absolutely love to ice skate. The ICON Sports Center features two official USA Hockey sanctioned size rinks. There’s plenty of room for everyone who wishes to glide across the ice. With 10 locker rooms, space for over 600 spectators at each rink, and a community room for special events and activities, you can bring along anyone who wishes to skate and those who simply want to enjoy being spectators.
Constructed in 2014, the ICON Sports Center has become a central location for both Canadians and Minnesotans to share in some ice skating, hockey, and other sports-related activities. Each rink has enough space for more than 400 spectators as well as a viewing deck above each seating area. Many local, regional, national, and even international tournaments and competitions have taken place here. No worries about hearing what’s going on in the other rink as there’s a sound barrier placed between the two arenas.
Don’t forget about the two concession stands — one on the upper level and one on the lower level. No matter which floor you’re on, there are snacks and drinks readily available.
Lincoln Drive Park
Did you know that Lincoln Drive Park used to be a neighborhood? That’s right, before the Red River flood of 1997, this area was a growing community in Grand Forks. Now, Lincoln Drive Park is a year-round place for families to enjoy the great outdoors, regardless of the weather. During winter, residents of Grand Forks can ice skate to their heart’s content. Plus, there’s a community room that doubles as a warming house, so you can warm up for a spell and then get right back out there on the ice. Each Christmas, the Lyons Club uses the park as a drive-through holiday light display which raises money for their club.
Along with ice skating, there’s also a cross-country ski trail and a sledding hill. During the rest of the year, you can take your dog for a walk, play a game of frisbee golf, share a picnic with friends, walk or bike along the trails, and so much more.
Riverside Park
Riverside Park was also once a devastated area of the 1997 Red River Flood. The City of Grand Forks has taken some preventive countermeasures in order to protect this area should a major water event like this occur again. The park is surrounded by a flood wall and a dike protection system has also been installed in order to protect the area from spring floods.
For winter enthusiasts, Riverside Park is home to an outdoor hockey rink that’s available for public ice skating. There’s a community room that becomes a warming house during the winter months. No reason to stay in the freezing cold the whole time you’re ice skating. You can plan on ice skating for hours while stopping once in a while to shake off winter’s chill in the warming house.
If you are planning an afternoon of ice skating, there are other amenities you can enjoy too. Concessions, ice fishing, playground equipment, and of course, restrooms are available.
East Grand Forks Civic Center
Located in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and built-in 1974, the East Grand Forks Civic Center hosts a wide range of youth and high school hockey games, competitions, and tournaments. It has also hosted a few synchronized skating competitions. The Civic Center is known as a community event center in East Grand Forks, drawing in visitors and spectators from both Minnesota and North Dakota. Events that have taken place here include musical concerts, arts and crafts shows, and other special fairs and exhibits.
Ice season at the Civic Center begins on October 30 and is open to all members of the public. If you’re bringing your children and their friends, or simply enjoying an hour of ice skating on your own, take advantage of the multitude of amenities. There are six locker rooms for changing if needed, as well as two concession stands when you need to give your feet a rest from ice skating. There are also three restrooms available and plenty of seating if you are supervising your children as they’re enjoying the ice.
We’ve just shared five ice-skating locales that you and your family or friends can enjoy together. When you find yourself bored in the middle of winter, consider visiting one of these ice skating rinks for an afternoon or two. Which one of these indoor or outdoor arenas would you choose to stop by first? Do you prefer ice skating indoors where it’s nice and warm, or outside where you can appreciate the frosty winter weather?
Do you have a favorite ice skating rink, arena, or venue? If you’d like, we’d be happy to add it to our list. We’re always looking for local recommendations from our customers and friends. Simply contact us and let us know.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
