Martinsville Mini Coliseum - Martinsville VA

Roller Rink added wood ramps for skateboard sessions

Prior to 1976, the location was a roller rink known as “Interskate III.” The owner got busted flying in 600 lbs of marijuana and a kilo of coke on a private plane in late 76.  The rink was sold to new owners in Jan 77, but they only kept it running til September, when it went out of business.

In 1978, it became the Mini Coliseum and added restaurants, concerts, and events.  Owner Hobart Woods responded to kids who wanted to bring their skateboards on the rink by building "a series of ramps and jumps" and turning Saturday mornings and Sunday nights into skate sessions.

"We bought the plywood and built the ramps from my own designs," Woods told the Martinsville Bulletin.

The Coliseum was sold in November 1979 and became the Koger-Air factory that still stands today.