MASON CITY ñ Skateboarders and inline skaters will soon have an indoor skate park again in Mason City when the Soundboard Skate Park opens at 115 S. Delaware Ave. Above: Darren Miller comes off a grind at the Ray Rorick Skate Park.
Story, photos and video by Joe Buttweiler.|
MASON CITY ñ North Iowa skateboarders will once again have an indoor park in which to outdo each other in outrageous tricks.
The Soundboard Skate Shop, which is expected to open May 20 at 115 S. Delaware Ave., will also have skateboarding merchandise, a TV and video game console, and eventually live entertainment, said new owner Nick Briggs-Leaman.
The main attraction will be the half-pipe, said the 21-year-old Briggs-Leaman, who plans to have the Soundboard open from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer.
It is in the former site of YGH indoor skatepark, and previously housed Bert & Ernie’s Skateshop.
Briggs-Leaman said he is opening the Soundboard so North Iowa skateboarders can have an indoor park, a place to hang out, and a store to buy skateboarding equipment.
He said he eventually hopes to have bands play at the Soundboard, although that won’t be until fall when the business is open more days of the week. After May 20 he expects the skate park will be open Friday nights and Saturdays during the summer. After Sept. 8 it will be open weekdays after school and from noon until 9 or 10 p.m. on Saturdays.
“I have always liked the idea of having an indoor skate park. I grew up a big skateboarder,” said Briggs-Leaman, who said he was born in New York but has lived in Mason City since the age of 4. “It will be a place for kids to come and chill out and relax.”
Brandon Moore said he’s looking forward to going to Soundboard “to learn some more stuff ñ skateboarding tricks,’’ and do some in-line skating.
Justin Hain, who like Moore was at the Ray Rorick Skate Park on Wednesday evening (May 11), said the indoor park will be a great place to go in the winter.
Briggs-Leaman said that to the best of his knowledge there are no other indoor skateboarding parks still operating in Iowa. He said he is looking for a potential co-owner to help man the shop during the summer.
While Mason City has the popular outdoor Ray Rorick Skate Park, located north of 15th Street and east of Pierce Avenue, many skateboarders want a place to go when it’s rainy and enjoy having an alternate site, Briggs-Leaman said.
Besides live entertainment in the fall, he hopes to have other special events such as all-night skate sessions and dodgeball nights.
Admission to the indoor skate park will be $10 a day, or $5 per three-hour session. Sessions will be from noon to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, call (641) 425-5116.
Watch video:
Darren Miller comes off a grind at the Ray Rorick Skate Park. Skateboarders and inline skaters will soon have an indoor skate park again in Mason City when the Soundboard Skate Park opens at 115 S. Delaware Ave.
