Desert Ice Castle Celebrates Grand Opening

There will be no more long drives to Ontario, Los Angeles or San Diego for those desert residents who like to play ice hockey or practice figure skating.

Ice hockey in the desert has returned.

The Desert Ice Castle officially opens its doors Friday, and people hit the rink almost as soon the the ribbon was cut.

The rink is located at 68-600 Perez Road.

Negotiations to buy the site started in October 2009.

It was purchased in April 2010.

The first 200 people who showed up in line were allowed in for free through 6:30 p.m.

The doors then opened to the general public at 7:30 p.m.

The mayor and members of the city council were joined by the Desert Ice Castle’s developer, Anthony Liu, for the ribbon cutting.

Frank Carroll, the director of figure skating, who has trained past Olympians such as Dorothy Hamill and Michelle Kwan, was there, as was Jeff Larson, who has been named the director of ice hockey.

He’s a 40-year veteran of ice hockey as a player and a coach.

The Desert Ice Castle features an NHL regulation-sized rink with seating for 150 people.

City officials said this facility will draw in additional sales and transient occupancy tax revenue.

Competitions will be held there, and that means more people visiting the Valley.

“Just being able to get in the extra practice is always stuff that helps me and other players,” said Rob Ivy, a member of the Orange County Hockey Club.

Skate session will cost $6, and skate rentals will cost $2.