HAMMOND | For nearly six decades, generations of area teens made the social scene at The Roller Dome Skating Rink. On Saturday, that piece of the city’s history goes on the auction block.
Kraft Auction Service of Valparaiso begins the bidding at 11 a.m. for the 18,180-square foot building at 730 Gostlin St. Built in 1952, the skating rink has undergone several transformations over the years.
The once-popular rink closed in 2008 and was converted into an indoor soccer facility as that sport gained in popularity. However, the building has remained closed since September 2012.
“It’s a good commercial building. There is a great amount of history in this classic hot spot,” said auctioneer Jonathan Kraft.
“There’s a roller rink, an indoor soccer field, storage rooms, dining area,” Kraft said of the property that sits on 1.07 acres and has a paved parking lot. “It’s ready to be another attraction for Hammond.”
An adjacent single-family home built in 1910 is also part of Saturday’s auction, he said.
“There are three bedrooms, a full bath with an original claw foot bath tub, dining room, living room, front porch and full basement, and a small fenced-in backyard,” Kraft said. “Someone could buy the skating rink and live right next door.”
Both properties will be sold as-is, he said.
The top bids at Saturday’s auction for the skating rink and the house will be presented to the owner for confirmation. A $5,000 non-refundable payment is due at the auction for each parcel and closing is in 30 days. The property, owned by the Mitchell family since 1972, is being held in a Lake County land trust.
Kraft said the buyer or buyers can present a personal check or pay with cash, Visa or MasterCard. There is a 3 percent service fee for credit cards.
A variety of arcade machines, building fixtures and equipment also go up for bid at the auction, he said.
Prior to the auction, private showings of The Roller Dome Skating Rink and the adjacent home are available by calling Kraft at (219) 973-9240.
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