Crisp Vermont air filling your lungs, the sound of skate blades carving across fresh ice, and the Green Mountains rising in the distance as you glide under the stars. This is ice skating in Vermont the way it’s meant to be experienced: outdoors, under an open sky, surrounded by the kind of natural beauty that makes winter feel magical rather than just cold.
If you want to experience one of the Mad River Valley’s favorite traditions, the Skatium deserves a spot on your list. And when you stay with us at our
Mad River Valley Lodging, you’re just minutes away from lacing up and gliding across the ice.
A Community Treasure Reimagined
The Skatium’s story is one of local pride and determination. In 1992, a small group of Valley residents came together to build a rink where local kids could play hockey and learn to skate. After nine months of labor, the Skatium opened in downtown Waitsfield. Over the years, the facility expanded to include safety boards, lighting, dressing rooms, and a growing base of figure skaters alongside the hockey players who first called it home.
Unfortunately, outdoor ice rinks in Vermont face a particular challenge: maintaining ice without refrigeration means depending entirely on cold weather. Every winter thaw meant losing the ice surface, sometimes for days or weeks at a time. Recently, a new group of Valley residents stepped forward to revitalize the Skatium, sharing the vision of the original founders and believing that, in a location with long winters and limited recreational and social opportunities for its youth, it is important to provide skating as a recreational activity to residents and visitors.
Their work paid off. The 2024 renovation gave the Skatium new energy, new features, and a fresh start, all while keeping its heart rooted in the community that built it.
What’s New: The 2024 Renovation
Step onto the ice today, and you’ll notice right away how much care has gone into its transformation. The rink now uses a flexible liner that helps maintain ice during warmer spells, and it features two ice surfaces: one for stick and puck and one for open skating. This setup lets hockey players and casual skaters enjoy their time safely side by side.
The building has been refitted with a warming area for putting on skates, complete with benches and space to relax between sessions. You’ll also find new rental skates in sizes from kids’ 6 to men’s 14, a skate sharpener, and a new sound system that adds a festive touch during evening skates. Outside, a fire pit area welcomes families and friends to gather, warm up, and share a few stories under the lights.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Skatium
The recent upgrades are just the beginning. Plans are already in motion for the next major phase: a refrigerated concrete pad system that will help maintain reliable ice throughout the winter. This upgrade is designed to prevent frost heaving and extend the skating season, giving the community more consistent ice even during warm spells.
The vision also includes new buildings for the facility with space for an office, snack bar, lobby, changing rooms, storage, and even affordable housing above. If you’d like to help make this vision a reality or support rink operations for the season, consider
making a donation.
More Than Just Skating
The Skatium isn’t only about skating. Throughout the winter, the rink hosts community nights, themed skates, and local gatherings that bring neighbors together. Under the lights, with music playing and mountains in the background, it’s easy to see why locals call it one of the Valley’s most magical winter spots.
For many visitors, it’s a great change of pace from skiing. Not everyone in your group may be interested in spending every day on the slopes, and ice skating provides an alternative that’s still active and outdoorsy but less physically demanding than a full day of skiing. It’s also significantly more affordable, making it a great option for families watching their vacation budget or groups looking to mix in some lower-cost activities.
Planning Your Visit to the Skatium
Planning a visit to the Skatium is straightforward, though it’s worth noting that as an outdoor facility dependent on winter conditions, operations can vary based on weather. The rink typically operates winter-only, with hours that accommodate both weekday and weekend visitors.
Location: 40 Slow Road, Waitsfield, VT 05673
Admission and Rentals: The Skatium keeps pricing affordable to ensure skating remains accessible to locals and visitors alike. Daily tickets and season passes for their upcoming season are available directly through their website.
Hours: After opening day, the standard hours are:
Friday: 2 – 10pm
Saturday: 1-10pm
Sunday: 1-8pm
These vary throughout the season and may be adjusted based on ice conditions. Always check their website or
Facebook page before heading over to confirm they’re open and see the current schedule.
Contact: (802) 496-8845 or
[email protected]
Your Winter Basecamp: Mad River Lodges
One of the best parts of staying at Mad River Lodges is how close you are to everything the Valley offers. The Skatium is just minutes away, making it easy to fit in a skate after
skiing at Sugarbush or exploring Waitsfield Village.
Hit the slopes in the morning, enjoy lunch by the fire back at your lodge, then head out for an evening skate under the night sky. Or if you’re traveling with young kids, spend the afternoon skating together while the sun sets behind the mountains.
Family Winter Activities in Vermont That Create Memories
When families ask us about things to do in Vermont in winter beyond skiing, the Skatium always makes the list. There’s something about ice skating that appeals across generations. Grandparents can participate alongside grandchildren. Teenagers who might roll their eyes at other “family activities” often get into skating. And for young children, the thrill of gliding across ice for the first time is pure magic.
The Skatium’s family-friendly atmosphere removes the intimidation factor that can sometimes come with trying new winter sports. Unlike skiing, where lessons can be expensive and progression takes time, skating is relatively easy to start and immediately fun, even if you’re wobbly.
For visitors from areas without easy access to outdoor skating, the Skatium offers something truly special: a chance to join a cherished Vermont tradition.
Plan Your Ice Skating Adventure
Ice skating in Vermont at the Skatium is a reminder of what makes Vermont winters so special. Whether you’re a confident skater or haven’t laced up in years, whether you’re visiting with a large family group or just looking for a romantic evening activity, the Skatium welcomes you. The newly renovated facility makes the experience better than ever, with improvements that enhance comfort and safety while preserving the open-air, community-focused atmosphere that’s always defined this special place.
Ready to experience one of the Mad River Valley’s most beloved winter traditions?
Book your stay at Mad River Lodges and discover why locals have been gathering at the Skatium for over 30 years.
The ice is waiting, the fire pit is crackling, and the mountains provide the backdrop. All you need to do is show up.
