Readers share their favorite memories of Incredi-Roll in West Allis and other roller rinks

After Incredi-Roll in West Allis announced its closure June 12, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked readers to share their memories of both Incredi-Roll and other roller rinks.

The main reasons for the rink's closure after 30 years in business were inflation and the effects of a shooting outside of the roller rink in February, according to Incredi-Roll owner Cory Hundley.

As for the memories, many weighed in.

Shane Rios, from Hales Corners, said Incredi-Roll was his first job. He recalls working at all the hockey sessions and said he was there when they first started the hockey program.

Here's what other people shared on their memories of Incredi-Roll:

Laura Rockingham, from Nashotah, said she used to go to Incredi-Roll on Saturday mornings for skating lessons; she would then stay for open skate with her friends afterward. She remembers skaters doing the limbo, red light green light, and the chicken dance. She also mentioned "the gift store to buy fun trinkets I didn’t need."

Bill and Cheryl, from New Berlin, said their son and other kids played organized roller hockey there when they were 7 to 12 years old. "Making close friendships with other community families and traveling across the Midwest to play other teams was truly special," Bill and Cheryl wrote. "Representing the rink in the National Roller Hockey Championship tournament in Des Moines, Iowa every year was very cool. (The) owner (Cory) and his wife were very supportive."

The couple noted that Incredi-Roll had a different name during this time, Wisconsin Skate University. It had two other WSU locations ― one in Greenfield, near 27th and College Avenue, and one in Brookfield, at 12900 N. Lisbon Road.

A few readers shared their memories from Wisconsin Skate University:

Shawn Rios, from Wauwatosa, said he used to go to WSU back in the '90s. "I played for several roller hockey teams at Skate America (which later became Incredi-Roll). Now as a grown-up, I’ve taken my family there several times. I got to watch them learn how to roller skate, and play all the skate rink games: red light green light, the dice game, and limbo. I am genuinely going to miss this place."

Lindsay Stayton, from Milwaukee, said she had a lot of birthday parties at Skate University. "It used to be called Sk8 University, I believe. I had many birthday parties there. My favorite nights were the glow nights. So many childhood memories while circling the floor in used skates. Many “romantic” middle school songs skated to and laughs with friends."

Steve Kubiak, from Racine, said he used to go to Skate University in the '80s. "My grade school years in the 1980's were peppered with memories of winning Friday night skate parties at Skate University on 27th and College. I remember seeing the video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for the first time there. Lots of good fun and good memories!"

For those who didn't attend Incredi-Roll, we asked about their skating memories growing up:

Glenn Berry, from Fond du Lac, who now resides in Brooklyn, New York, said he used to DJ at Roll'n Hill Roller Rink in Fond du Lac in 1983. "My Brother whom is a professor at Marquette and I started DJing at Roll'n Hill Roller Rink in Fond Du Lac in 1983. Our dance nights became so popular they put in a small disco and had multiple DJ areas then."

Berry remembers people with disabilities being part of a Wednesday session and said they would "play the Ghostbusters' theme over and over for them as they danced and skated with glee."

Jeanne Siegenthaler, from Hartland, shared her memories on skating at the Monroe Roller Den in Monroe.

"We took a bus there the first Saturday of every month in middle school," Siegenthaler wrote. "I loved the disco lights, learning to skate backwards, spin in a circle in the middle of the floor. Oh, and waiting for the couple's skate. Who would ask you to skate to Air Supply or the Bee Gees? We looked forward to this and made friends from other towns."

Contact Adrienne Davis at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Readers share their favorite Incredi-Roll and skate memories