When the temperatures drop in eastern Idaho, it’s common to see temporary ice rinks set up on ponds, in parking lots and even front lawns. They’re so temporary, though, because once the temperatures rise, the ice melts. However, there is a longer lasting rink in Sugar City that stays open above the freezing point.
Rink 99 began last year and has some new features to make the ice last longer this season.
Matt Pyles, the owner of Rink 99 says they worked with the city of Sugar City to put what’s called a chiller under the ice so it will last longer, even if it warms up outside.
"What that does is it makes ice for us. We put water on there and it's 50 degrees outside. We can still have ice,” Pyles said.
Rink 99 is open to skaters of all skill levels and provides skating aids like walkers for people who are uncertain. Pyles believes people should have fun outside during the winter months.
“People get depressed and sad in the wintertime because they never leave their apartment or their house because they're cold,” he said. “They just go to work, or they just go to school and then they go right back to their apartment or right back to their house. We believe that you can be really happy in the wintertime. And one of those ways is by skating and trying something new and you can do it just fine.”
To find out more about rink 99, click here.