Denver’s new $10 million roller rink brings back the disco ball

Dust off your knee pads. Denver has a brand-new roller rink, and it has a disco ball. Rainbow Dome, a $10 million roller rink, opened Friday night, Oct. 23, at 1660 Federal Blvd. in the Sun Valley neighborhood. Denverite described opening night as “vibrant melodies, dazzling neon lights, bouts of laughter, words of encouragement, hoorays — and a lot of happy tears.” Even if you haven’t skated since a middle school birthday party, you’ll get the idea.

Rainbow Dome has been years in the making. It started as a pop-up skate party run by owners Frankie Toan and Therin Zimmerman. With help from angel investors, a crowdfunding campaign, a state revitalization tax credit and foundation grants, the pair bought and remodeled a 29,000-square-foot building that used to be a furniture store with a mechanic shop underneath. The skating happens down below, where the mechanics once worked.

The rink is also alcohol-free, so you’ll be buying sodas instead of beers. That might be a good thing, since a round of drinks on wheels rarely ends well. On opening night, DJs filled the place with disco music, and tickets for the grand opening sold out.

Want to roll in? Rainbow Dome is at 1660 Federal Blvd., just north of Empower Field at Mile High. Check its website or social media for skate session times and prices before you go.