ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) -- San Diego County’s largest ice-skating facility is closing for good.
Officials with Ice-Plex Escondido announced Thursday that the facility, located on 555 N. Tulip St., is shutting down effective immediately.
Since 1995, Ice-Plex was a destination for San Diegans looking for a place to ice skate or play hockey. The facility, with its two Olympic-sized ice rinks, offered classes and public ice skating sessions that ran 7 days a week.
In a statement on their website, Ice-Plex officials said, “This was not an easy decision. Our hockey and skating communities have been strong partners to us throughout the years, and we have worked hard over the last few months to find an alternative way to keep the facility open. Unfortunately, that solution has not emerged.”
Officials said the facility has been operating “at a substantial loss” in the past few years, and they’ve struggled to maintain the equipment and other systems needed to keep the facility running.
The pandemic-related closure also affected the facility’s ability to stay afloat, and despite numerous efforts, officials could not find ways to keep the Ice-Plex open.
“We close our doors with a heavy heart and would like to extend our deepest thanks to our athletes, customers, staff and volunteers, who have been responsible for creating a welcome and competitive environment at Ice-Plex. You have brought joy to our lives. Your dedication to sport, community and individual achievement will not end with Ice-Plex,” officials said.
