intake – Page 2 – Roller Skate in East Texas!

June 2, 2014

10 Reasons to Spend Your Summer Roller Skating

School is out and summer break is here. This is, of course, the time for vacations, but how are you going to spend your days when you are aren’t out of town? Simple – spend them roller skating with us at one of our East Texas roller rinks. Why, you ask? Well, let us give you 10 great reasons to come see us this summer.

Two words – air conditioning!! These Texas summers are excruciatingly hot, but it is nice and cool inside our roller rinks.
Too much sun is bad for you and can cause premature aging.
FREE admission! We have summer coupons available on our website for you to print and use to get free admission. We’ll be uploading new coupons every month, so make sure you are using the right one for your visit, but there is no limit to how many you can use. Print off a bundle and bring your friends!
Wayyy Back Wednesday. Our $1 nights have moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays this summer. So, join us on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m for $1 admission, $1 drinks, $1 hot dogs and $1 pizza slices!
Fantastic roller skating parties! We love hosting special late skates and other events at Skate Ranch, so be sure to check our Facebook page and website for dates and themes.
Skate Lessons! Skate Ranch is offering a six weeks of skate lessons through the summer, making it your chance to learn how to skate or to improve and become more confident.
Christian Skate Nights – On the fourth Sunday of every month, we host a special Christian skate night. It is the perfect opportunity for youth group field trips.
Great snacks – our concession stand has a variety of delicious snacks and beverages to keep you feeling great.
Roller skating is a cardiovascular exercise with the same benefits of jogging, but it is low impact and does not hurt your joints. So, you’ll be burning a significant amount of calories just by roller skating away the afternoon.
It’s Fun!

Join us all summer long for great roller skating fun, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our summer hours.

May 28, 2014June 6, 2015

Join Skate-O-Rama in Celebrating the Texas Blueberry Festival

The Annual Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacagodoches is in its 25th year. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the whole city, including Skate-O-Rama, is participating in 25 days of Blueberries. Counting down 25 days until the Blueberry Festival on June 13th and 14th, different businesses throughout Nacogdoches are hosting special events and deals in honor of the Blueberry Festival, and Skate-O-Rama’s days are Saturday and Sunday, May 31st and June 1st.

We’ll be hosting one big party that weekend full of wonderful prizes, games and discounts. Every paid admission gets the opportunity to spin the wheel and win prizes – every spin wins. You can also enter to win a new pair of skates, a $100 value. We will actually be giving away two pairs, one for a boy and one for a girl, and you do not need to be present to win. Parents can enter to win birthday party packages, an $80 value, and family fun packs, a $50 value, but you do need to be present in order to win these packages.

Be sure to like our Facebook page before you come see us, so that you can print a coupon to give you a discount on admission. One coupon can discount up to four admissions! We are so excited to be a part of the Blueberry Festival celebration, and we hope that you enjoy our festivities, too.

May 19, 2014

Birthday Parties on a Budget

When planning a birthday party, it can be challenging to keep the costs at a minimum. From the invitations to the cake and party favors, we’d love to share a few tips to help you plan a spectacular birthday party without going over your budget.

Make your own invitations. There are so many different templates available online that you can use, or just type something on Word and add a few photos. This may be a little more time consuming, but you can create a fantastic, custom invitation with little money spent.
Bake your own cake or cupcakes. This could easily be one of the best ways to save money on a birthday party. Bakeries charge $40 or more for a birthday cake, but you can make cupcakes from scratch or a box and decorate them as you wish. There are so many ideas on Pinterest for beautifully decorated cakes at home, or you can make it an activity for the kids and have them decorate their own cupcake.
Host the party at a time of the day that is not close to lunch or dinner, then you only need to provide some snacks and not invest in a full meal.
Create games and other entertainment using things you already have. A scavenger hunt is always a great idea and very popular with the kids. You can also create an obstacle course, have the kids do some kind of craft project and show the movie of the party’s theme.

Of course one great way to host a party on a budget and not spend a bunch of time with DIY invitations, entertainment and party favors is to have a roller skating party at Skate Ranch or Skate O Rama. Our birthday party packages are as low as $70 – the lowest of any other party venue around – and they include snacks, invitations and entertainment. One thing that our party packages do not include is a huge mess that you have to clean up. Instead, you get to pack up all the presents and leave the mess with us!

Whatever you choose, we hope your kid’s birthday party is spectacular!

May 16, 2014

May Events at Skate Ranch

We are getting ever so close to the end of the school year, and we know that the kids are getting antsy. What is the best way to help them burn off all the excited energy they have these days? Bring them to Skate Ranch, of course! In addition to our regular roller skating sessions, we have two fun events coming up these final weeks in May.

Friday, May 23 – Usually our Homeschool Skates are held on the last Friday of every month, but May’s event is on the 23rd – the second to last Friday. We open in the afternoon to give homeschoolers the opportunity to take a field trip to the roller rink. Not only do the students get to meet other homeschool kids, but the parents get the chance to network with other parents of homeschoolers. We are open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is only $3 or you could use your Kids Skate Free passes for free admission.

Friday, May 30 – We are hosting a huge end of the school year party from 7 p.m. to midnight. This is not your ordinary late skate. We will be having two guest DJ’s, Dj Lil Ke and Dj Krisco G, and they will be playing music to keep you pumped all night long. This is a glow party, so we’ll be turning on the black lights and the entire roller rink will resemble a glowing neon sign. We’ll have games, prizes and activities – it’s a party you don’t want to miss. Admission is $12.

Remember that May 30th is also the start of our new summer hours and our summer passes. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our upcoming events or our East Texas roller rink.

May 10, 2014

Skate-O-Rama Shows Their School Spirit

We are so excited to be showing our support for the Nacogdoches Independent School District next week. If you are in the mood for a great time that benefits a great cause, come to our East Texas roller rink on Thursday for an amazing fundraiser, and then visit us on Saturday at the 1st Annual Summer Spectacular.

McMichaels Dance Team

There is hardly a better fundraiser than one that supports the kids in our community. Join us on Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. to help raise money for the McMichaels Middle School dance team. Admission is only $5 and that includes regular skate rental.

1st Annual Summer Spectacular

It may not be summer yet, but we are close, and we are honored to be a part of the first Annual Summer Spectacular. This inaugural event will be hosted by the Nacogdoches ISD Parent Resource Center on Saturday, May 17, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Parent Resource Center (609 Mound St., next to TJR Academy of Fine Arts). We’ll be on hand to answer all of your questions about our summer hours, summer passes and give you more information about birthday parties, skate rentals and more. In addition, there will be outdoor games, face painting, refreshments and lots of fun at the Summer Spectacular. It’s also an educational opportunity for parents, where you can:

Learn about summer programs for children
Check out community services available for families
Find out how children 18 and younger can get free meals this summer
Learn cures for the “I am bored!” child

As a Nacogdoches family fun center, we feel it is extremely important to be an active part of the local community. We are honored to help you host an amazing fundraiser for your organization or offer our support in any way we can. So, come help us raise money for the McMichael’s Dance Team next Thursday and then visit us on Saturday at the Summer Spectacular.

April 26, 2014

End of School Year Late Skate at Skate Ranch

There is hardly a better reason to throw a party than the end of another school year; so, come celebrate with Skate Ranch. We are hosting a Glow Party late skate on Friday, May 30, 2014 from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Grab all of your favorite neon clothes, as well as your friends, and come spend the night skating at our Lufkin roller rink. We’ll have glow sticks and other glow-themed prizes available for you to win. We’ll also host different games and themed skates. Basically, this is the perfect opportunity to let loose and blow off all of the steam from the past academic year. Admission is only $12.

Summer Roller Skating Hours

May 30, 2014 is not only the date of our end of the school year late skate, it also marks the beginning of our new summer roller skating schedule. We are doing things a little differently this year, including offering free passes online through our website and our Facebook page. Each month, we’ll have a new coupon posted online for you to print, and you can print off as many as you want. Yet, they do have an expiration date, so make sure you have the current pass when you come visit us. We’ll also have new hours:

Monday – Closed, but open for private parties
Tuesday – Closed, but open for private parties
Wednesday – 12-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Thursday 12-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Friday 12-4 p.m., 5-7 p.m., and 7-10 p.m.
Saturday 12:30-5 p.m.in Lufkin and 12-7 p.m. in Nacogdoches, and 8-11 p.m. at either location
Sunday 12:30-5 p.m.

April 21, 2014June 6, 2015

Avoid the Texas Heat and Spend the Summer Roller Skating

It’s hard to believe that summer is just one month away, and while you are likely making plans for summer camps and vacations, we don’t want you to forget to make time for roller skating as well. It’s the perfect summer activity as it is indoors, meaning you can get out of the scorching summer heat, and it’s still active, giving your kids the opportunity to burn off some energy. Our two East Texas roller rinks, Skate Ranch and Skate-O-Rama, will both have extended hours through the summer, giving you plenty of opportunities to roller skate every week.

Free Roller Skating Passes

New this year, we’ll have free passes online for you to print. Summer passes will be available to print off our website or Facebook page starting on May 30th. At the beginning of each month of summer we will put a new coupon/pass out for you to print, and there is no limit to the number of passes you print. Yet, they will have monthly expiration dates. So, make sure you print off the current pass before you come skate.

We will also distribute information cards to the schools, and you can still use your Kids Skate Free passes.

Summer Skating Hours

Beginning May 30, 2014, our new schedule at both roller rinks will be:

Monday – Closed, but open for private parties
Tuesday – Closed, but open for private parties
Wednesday – 12-4 p.m.: $5 admission, and 6-8 p.m.: Way Back Wednesday is taking the place of Take It Back Tuesday for our dollar night skating
Thursday 12-4 p.m.: $5 admission, and 6-8 p.m.: $4 admission
Friday 12-4 p.m.: $5 admission, 5-7 p.m.:$3 admission, and 7-10 p.m.: Teen Night with $7 admission
Saturday 12:30-5 p.m. in Lufkin and 12-7 p.m. in Nacogdoches: $6 admission, and 8-11 p.m.: Family Fun Night with $7 admission or the $29 family fun pack
Sunday 12:30-5 p.m.: $6 admission

Remember that admission does not include skate rental. Check our website and/or Facebook page for updates to our schedule, as well as printing our passes!

We are looking forward to a fun-filled roller skating summer! If you have questions or want more information about parties, don’t hesitate to contact us.

April 15, 2014

The New and Improved Skate-O-Rama

If you haven’t yet come to see the newly renovated Skate-O-Rama, then you must pay us a visit soon. We closed for a couple of months at the end of 2013 to undergo massive and much-needed, renovations. The result? A bright, vibrant and exciting roller skating rink in East Texas. This is the perfect destination for birthday parties, fun family nights or just anytime you feel the need to get out of the house and have a good time.

The renovations included gutting the entire facility and starting anew. We have new carpet, a new kitchen and new bathrooms. Basically, the only thing that was not replaced was the roller rink itself, but it did get spruced up. The new paint and carpet have brightened up the entire facility, and you won’t even recognize it anymore.

We have updated the eating areas:

And the party area as well:

We also have given the skate rental counter a new look:

And, of course, the rink itself:

We are very excited to share these before and after pictures with you, but you cannot experience the excitement in the atmosphere simply from a photo. You need to come see us in person. We have skating sessions on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For specific hours, you can check our schedule, and we cannot wait for you to see it and let us know what you think.

March 30, 2014

Skating Parties are Perfect for End of Season Celebrations

These Spring months are a popular time for birthday parties as well as end of season celebrations for sports. Kids have spent the past three months learning team building skills through soccer, football, baseball, lacrosse and other team sports. Yet, come April/May the seasons start concluding, and what better way to celebrate than by having an end of season party at the roller rink.

Party Venues in Eastern Texas

Skate Ranch and Skate-O-Rama offer some of the most affordable party packages in Eastern Texas. In fact, when you take into consideration everything you need to purchase in order to host a party at home or at a park as well as your time investment, having your party at one of our roller rinks can actually be cheaper.

All of our party packages include two hours of skating time as well as access to our party area. We provide pitchers of soda and snacks of your choice (basically you can choose popcorn, hot dogs or pizza based on the party package you prefer). We provide all of the tableware that you might need – plates, cups, napkins, etc. Then the icing on the cake is that you get to go home and leave the mess to us.

Party times are available on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays and you can book online for added convenience. So, whether you are celebrating a birthday or the end of your sports season, there is no question that a skating party would be a tremendous hit with everyone.

March 18, 2014

Roller Skating for Toddlers

The 2014 Winter Olympics concluded a few weeks ago, and one of the most popular events is the figure skating. While watching these amazingly talented athletes, you can’t help but think “They make ice skating look so easy.” And while that is part of the beauty of the sport, skating is easy for these Olympians. In most cases, they began skating on the ice at only 3 years old (or sometime around then). Starting that young makes skating second nature to them. They are completely comfortable on the ice, and skating comes just as easily as walking. The same “start them young” concept applies to roller skating as well.

Although you may not be training a future Olympians, if you want your kids to take to skating with ease and confidence, you have to start them young. We’ve seen skaters as young as 2 on the rink before. Basically, as long as they are walking without difficulty, you can introduce them to skates. There are tools to help make the transition from walking to skating as smooth as possible, including skates that attach to the shoes and skate mates. Skate mates (pictured to the left) help keep your young skater balanced by giving him/her something to hold on to while skating, and we have them available at our Texas roller rinks on a first-come, first-served basis for $3.

Every week, we provide the perfect setting for you to introduce your young kids to skating with our ‘Lil Bit Skate. The ‘Lil Bit Skate takes place Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon at both Skate Ranch and Skate-O-Rama, and it is restricted to kids 11 years old and younger, plus their families. The rinks will be filled with kids the same age and the same skate level as your own, so you don’t have to worry about big kids going too fast or weaving around your young skater. Admission is only $3 for the ‘Lil Bit Skate, and your Kids Skate Free passes are valid during this time.

If you have any questions about the best methods for introducing your young toddler to skating, please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be delighted to help.