Roller King captured the hearts of Modesto for over 30 years. See what made it so special

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Roller skating took over the United States between 1930 and 1950, then again between 1970 and 1980, and Modesto was no different.

When Roller King opened its doors in 1974, owner Bob Erickson began a legacy that would shape the Modesto community for years.

Once located at 2000 W. Briggsmore Ave, the rink was a Modesto icon — offering skate lessons, public skate sessions, snacks and arcade games seven days a week. The rink was regarded as “one of the largest in the state,” according to a Modesto Bee story from 1979, with over 16,000 square feet of skating surface.

The rink could accommodate over 1,000 skaters at a time and was the prototype for the soon-to-be chain of Roller Kings, which later opened in Roseville, Livermore and Reno.

Roller King was filled with laughter and family and holds a special place in the hearts of Modesto residents.

“My dad taught me and my brothers to skate there, I had so much fun and felt so free and happy skating there,” Karina Jacobo, who grew up in Modesto, said.

With the Briggsmore location’s success, Erickson built a second Roller King on Floyd Avenue in 1980, though the rink closed 11 years later in 1991.

In 1985 Erickson sold the business to Cecilia and Steve Locke, who operated the rink until its closing in 2005.

In an October 1980 edition of the Modesto Bee, Steve Locke was sure skating’s popularity would last.

“Roller skating is so popular we’re convinced there’s a market for two rinks in Modesto. Some evenings we have had as many as 1,400 to 1,500 people at a time on the one rink,” Locke said.

The rink hosted parties and events and had something for all ages, from 6 to 60 years old, as the 1975 advertisement says. During its first anniversary celebration week, deals including a $3 large pizza and 10-cent sodas brought in eager skaters.

Many remember skating at the Roller King as an affordable activity. Coupons in the Modesto Bee’s daily paper offered “$1 Family Skate Night”, which was good for a family of six.

Skate-a-Thon was another Roller King tradition, with 24 hours of skating to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Registered skaters accumulated sponsors who were asked to pledge at least 20 cents an hour. In 1979 the fundraiser raised just over $22,000.

Becki Nicholes remembers taking her Girl Scout troop to skate after spending time at the rink as a teenager.

“I had so many great times there and was a pretty good roller skater, I went there many times as a teenager,” Nicholes said.

The rink also hosted competitive teams, including a speed skating club, a roller hockey club and an artistic roller club — a club dedicated to the sport of artistic roller skating, similar to figure skating. The three clubs had spots for beginners and advanced skaters who competed regionally and often came home with trophies.

Despite years of success, the 2000s opened a difficult chapter for Roller King. In a 2005 Modesto Bee article, Cecilia Locke said the rink began to compete with other entertainment venues, including Brenden Theaters and John’s Incredible Pizza.

Admission was $3.50 per person and the Locke’s were hesitant to raise prices despite rising insurance and operating costs.

In November 2004, Erickson sold the building, though the initial sale later fell through, giving owners and loyal skaters a glimmer of hope. The rink officially closed in July 2005.

Though Roller King became just a memory, roller skating lives on in Modesto.

A group called “Modesto Skates” formed during the pandemic in 2020 and still meets to roller skate every Sunday at Johansen High School, according to their Facebook page with over 4,000 members.

In 2015, 10 years after the rink’s closure, the group “Bring Back Roller King” formed with one goal in mind — to bring back Roller King. The Facebook group accumulated over 5,000 followers and even held in-person events. The group tabled at Modesto Nuts games spreading their message. While their time was short-lived, they hold out hope for a public skating rink.