Guptill's Arena
Introduction
Guptill’s Arena is an indoor roller skating rink located in Cohoes, NY. It has been recognized by the Guinness book of world records as the largest indoor skating rink in the world. In addition to roller skating, Guptill’s also houses a cafeteria and arcade. Next to the arena is Guptill’s Ice Cream, which serves ice cream during the spring and summer season. Guptill’s is the longest running family owned entertainment business in the Capital Region.
History
Guptill’s Arena has been family owned since it opened its doors in 1951. Charles Guptill Sr. was inspired to build the rink after going roller skating in Albany. He had owned a large plot of land where the building stands today, so Chalres decided to set up his own saw mill in order to supply the wood necessary to build the rink. The entire rink took 400,00 oak boards and 9 tons of nails to build. The total area of the rink is 64,000 square feet, making it the largest indoor rink in the world.
The rink opened up on Valentines day 1951 to a packed crowd. The 1950s were a “Golden Age” for roller skating, and the rink has seen continued success even to today. Back when it first opened Guptill’s used an organ to play live music for people as they skated. The rink still sees many visitors every weekend.
Aesthetic
Guptill’s Arena is a time capsule of the 1950s. The decorations are virtually untouched from when the first people skated there. The walls are lined with vintage painting and electronics, which contrasts greatly from the modern music being played as people round the rink. In the back of the arena there are two real vintage Ford cars from the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.
Other Uses
Other than an entertainment complex, Guptill’s Arena was the site of a boxing match on December 10th, 1967. The match was a heavyweight bout between Dave Zyglewicz and Mike Bruce. Zyglewicz won via technical knockout.
References
https://www.news10.com/news/largest-indoor-roller-skating-rink-guptills-arena-celebrating-65-years/
https://www.timesunion.com/projects/2021/visuals/guptills-turns-70/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-renaissance-of-roller-skating/
https://www.troyrecord.com/2011/02/28/guptills-arena-skates-into-sixth-decade-in-business/