The Old York Road Skating Club at 8116 Church Road in Elkins Park closed for good in July of 2019.
According to local historian Chuck Langerman, the rink was built in 1949 and the Old York Road Skating Club was founded seven years later.
The rink was partially enclosed with three walls and a ‘star-lit’ roof since its opening. In 1962, the facility was upgraded to a fully enclosed indoor rink and opened yearly from August until April.
According to a Cheltenham resident who drove the rink’s Zamboni in his youth, Olympic hopefuls trained at Old York Road as well. He shared a personal story and a tribute to former manager John Hoffman:
Many things happened in those lonely, early hours, including defending young skaters from what was to this day the largest angry raccoon I’ve ever seen, the discovery of a half-read child porn novel in the top drawer of the secretary’s desk, and learning the secrets of well-cleaned windows (newspaper). There were good things, too. There were many chances to enjoy the stillness of a space that few ever saw while it was still. I privately took girlfriends on rides over the ice and privately mourned the sudden loss of John Lennon. However, despite a lifetime of claiming I was once an actual Zamboni driver — no better training in patience for a teenager exists! — the best part of that job was my boss, John Hoffman. I never got to express my gratitude properly before he passed. He gave me a ton of great (and some not-so-great, but funny!) advice, ranging from “just put a few paper towels in the dispenser, otherwise they’ll pull them all out!” to a reaction to my then-singular interest in whatever WYSP played.
“Sit down,” he said. It was just him and me in those wee hours, so I found myself trapped listening to what at the time for me was the slowest, least interesting song intro ever, perfectly and painfully reproduced by the club house’s unreasonably good speakers.
Three minutes and one second later, I looked up at the big man, speechless. “Son, THAT is why he’s The King.” RIP John, and thanks.
The rink’s current condition and its potential future
The 27,000 sf property has been listed for sale for $2,000,000 since July 30, 2021, and Cheltenham Township is hoping to return it to a recreational purpose. Last year, York Road Realty Co., L.P. proposed the site’s demolition to construct a multi-use self-storage facility with retail spaces on the first floor and an indoor/outdoor recreational area with four pickleball courts.
A revised request for zoning relief to erect a four-story self-storage facility was heard by the Zoning Hearing Board on Monday, February 13. The appeal from March 13 can be found here.
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.