Photos: Skate County in Tucson celebrates 50 years of roller skating
Skate County opened its first Tucson location at 7980 E. 22nd St. in 1972. It opened Skate Country North at 4646 N. Oracle Road (a BevMo most recently), moving to 2700 N. Stone Ave. (now at Beacon Group warehouse). By the 1980s, the group had nine locations in four states.
The company sold or closed most of the locations in the 1990s. Robert Snellstrom brought Skate Country East in 1992. It's still going strong in 2022, 50 years after its founding.
Find out more about Skate Country here.
Acting up for the camera at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
All the girls crowd around the guy at the roller skate counter at Skate Country East, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
A couple skating at Skate Country East, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
A 1972 newspaper announcing the opening of Skate Country in Tucson.
Girls crowd the benches to lace up their roller skates at Skate Country East, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
Waiting for that special someone at Skate Country East, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
Hanging out and eating was part of the fun at Skate Country East, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
The DJ blows the whistle and calls foul (maybe on his own pants) while spinning 45s at Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St., Tucson, in 1973.
Mary Jo Campbell, left, helps Kandy Campbell, 4, with her skates at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
Johny Campbell, 7, has the hair ready for a spin around the rink at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975
A group tries to skate in unison at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
Cameron Corey, 8, gets ready to take the floor at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
A group on the floor at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
Vicki Poorman, Robin Benson and Bonnie Fitzgerald lace up at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975.
Dress for success: An employee repairs skates at Skate Country North, Tucson, in 1975
Going airborne during disco night at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Let's not do that again: Wednesday Night Fever at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Disco night at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Slow dancing while everyone else watches at disco night at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
DJs take their disco music seriously during Wednesday Night Fever at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Showing off during disco night at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Wednesday Night Fever (disco night) at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
Disco night at Skate Country North, 4646 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, in August, 1978.
The Noon session of open skating at Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St, Tucson, in August, 1981.
The Noon session of open skating at Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St, Tucson, in August, 1981.
The Noon session of open skating at Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St, Tucson, in August, 1981.
Canyon View Elementary School students enjoy a skate party at Skate Country during the 1987-88 school year, which was the school's first year in existence.
Adult Night open skating at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, in March, 1994.
Adult Night open skating at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, in March, 1994.
Del Soucier keeps an eye on roller skaters while spinning tunes at Adult Night open skating at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, in March, 1994.
Keith Long, Jerry Bowman and Steve Williams at Adult Night open skating at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, in March, 1994.
Adult Night open skating at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, in March, 1994.
Todd Autenreith helps his son Scotty, 3, learn to skate at Skate Country in 1998.
Gabriel Osollo, 12, plays foosball against Ryan Heiser, 10, at Skate Country. In 1996.
Marke Aguilar, 7, falls near a mural at Skate Country North at 2700 N. Stone Ave in 1998. During the Summer hours, about 175 kids skate each day.
teven Williams and his sister Shelby Williams skate around the roller rink at Skate Country East on Nov. 15, 2007.
Cecilia Leyva, 13, skates around the rink during the Humane Society Stake-A-Thon at Skate Country on April 4, 2009.
Marlene Leer, right, cleans skates as Kevin Armstrong, left, helps daughter Olivia put on her skates at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St., on Nov. 20, 2011.
Owner Bob Snellstrom watches activity on the rink at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St., on Nov. 20, 2011.
Lance Ryberg skates with his daughters on the big rink during his daughter's birthday party at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St., on Nov. 20, 2011.
Lance Ryberg, right, and party goers eat pizza during his daughter's birthday party at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St., on Nov. 20, 2011.
Roxie Elliott works on a crossword puzzle while her boyfriend skates during adult skate night at Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St. on Sept. 28, 2007. Elliott said she "used to skate years ago" but has since stopped as she's gotten older, but her boyfriend has been trying to get her to skate with him.
Camp Director Scott Zorn lends a hand to Sydnie Grabell, 8, at Skate Country, 7980 E 22nd St. in Tucson. Zorn led a field trip group from the Tucson Jewish Community Center's Winter Wonder Days and Spectacular Sports camps.
Skaters whip by as a youngster waits for the contest being played to end and the resumption of open skating to retake the floor at Skate Country East, Tucson, AZ., Saturday, May 27, 2006.
Roller skates await to be used at the event "Skaters gonna skate" on March 21, 2014 at Skate Country in Tucson.
Rose Waterman (left) and Stephanie Pederson (right) take off their skates early on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Skate Country.
From right: Gigi Swiney, Rebecca Ripley, Suzi Berrie, Elizabeth Slick and Taylor Duran skate in a chain early on March 22, 2014 at Skate Country. They are all members of the roller derby team called "Renegade Roller Girls of Tucson."
Floor guard Nick Hayes dances to the music as he monitors the skaters and keeps the traffic flowing at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Rental skates get restocked between sessions during an afternoon at Skate Country, 7980 E 22nd St., Tucson.
Five-year-old Cleo Knipe is dressed for her day out on the floor at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Candice Pocase and her skates light up the floor at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Birthday girl Gabriella Medina-Alejandres, left, Abigail Ruelaz and Maddy Hummer get booted up for the party at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Gaby Perez readies a batch of returned skates at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Ava Welcher tries her hand at skating backwards during the reverse skate at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Competitors head into the final turn of the speed skating races at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
DJ Alec Johnson reads the rules to the crowd lined up and waiting to get out on the floor during an afternoon session at Skate Country, 7980 E. 22nd St.
Ashaun Papworth gets video of herself and friends dancing to the Cupid Shuffle, part of the dances to end a session at Skate Country, 7980 E 22nd St.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Skate Country has survived a pandemic, recessions and numerous changes over the years. In 2022, the rink on Tucson's east side officially turns 50 years old.
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