Monday, April 26, 2004
The center added a laser-tag arena and a climbing wall.
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Olympic Fun Center at 4070 E. State St. has been reborn.
The roller-skating rink was severely damaged by an electrical fire July 16, 2003, and had to be razed.
Owners Joe and Dawn Smith of Youngstown have rebuilt it bigger and with more to offer.
It officially opens to the public at 8 p.m. Friday.
"We're getting a lot of phone calls," Dawn Smith said, citing that as an indication that people are eager to see the center reopen. Many parties have already been booked, she said.
Additions
It cost $1.3 million to put up a new building that is 4,900 square feet larger than the old 30,000-square-foot structure. The contents cost an additional $500,000.
Dawn Smith said the rink has added an indoor laser-tag arena and a 20-foot rock-climbing wall, features that weren't in the old structure.
Most of the rebuilding was covered by insurance, but the Smiths had to pick up the cost of the laser-tag arena and climbing wall.
"I'm very excited. I've had too much time off," Dawn Smith said, adding that she and her husband are being stopped constantly by people asking when the center would reopen.
The new center is booked for a private party Thursday night and will first be open to the public from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday.
The center will be open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
Other days are reserved for private parties.
For more information on skating times or reservations, contact the center at (724) 981-3374.