Suzanne Stewart,
Staff Writer, Pocahontas Times
Silver Creek Resort is known as a place for lots of wintertime fun – skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Now, it has added ice skating and hockey to the roster with its addition of a synthetic ice rink.
Installed by Foster’s Marketing Group of Buckhannon, the 5,600 square foot rink has plenty of room for beginners-to-pros to skate or play hockey while they are visiting in the county.
FMG director Travis Foster said the new rink will expand the recreation at Silver Creek to visitors and locals who are looking for something new to do.
“It’s a synthetic rink, but this one is a multi-sport one, so you can ice skate and play hockey,” he said. “The kids love playing hockey. They don’t get an opportunity to play hockey anywhere, but now they do and it’s a great thing for them.”
Foster explained that there are a lot of benefits to having a synthetic rink. The maintenance is much easier – no need for a Zamboni – and the rink is usable year-round.
“You can skate in negative ten-degree weather or you can skate in a hundred-degree weather,” he said. “We actually set it up for the World Marching Band Association in Buckhannon in July last year and it was ninety-nine degrees. Kids were sweating, and they were playing hockey.”
Since the rink is out in the elements, it will be subject to snow and real ice, but Foster said that just adds to the experience.
Synthetic rinks are becoming more popular because the maintenance is stress free and it’s more environmentally safe.
“You don’t have to have the additives in the ice and that’s what makes our rinks environmentally safe,” he said. “Being able to keep the pumps going to be able to support it and to help keep it cold is a hassle. This is maintenance free.”
In addition to the rink, there are skate huts that families can rent to get out of the elements while they watch their kids skate or need to take a break from hitting the rink themselves.
“They’re styrofoam with roofs on them and are kind of a square igloo,” Foster said.
The rink offers skate rentals and tickets online at www.therinkwv.com where those interested in trying out the rink can select a time slot, purchase tickets and get the paperwork out of the way so they can enjoy the ice.
