Playland Skate Center — Attraction in Austin

I am an intermediate skater, and I really want to love this place but can't due to the skating rink mismanagement. This is a review of adult skate night on Saturday. It is treacherous without proper management because it is way too crowded and the flow of traffic is poorly managed!

Most actually good rinks have it so that: 1) there is a rule against skating particularly fast or skating with feet well into the air; 2) faster skaters skate on the outside and slower skaters skate on the inside,with jam skaters entirely inside the inner ring (not in the flow of moving traffic; and 3) that people who can't skate at all stay in the middle or other designated practice area. Unfortunately, at Playland on Saturday Feb 1, 2025, there was total chaos with fast skaters flying in the inner, middle, and outer lanes, skating dangerously close to other skaters. There were fast/advanced skaters practicing kicks in the air, which is forbidden at other rinks I've been to, even forbidden at rinks that were not as packed as Playland was on 2/1/2025. So even in empty rinks they typically ban people skating with their skates above knee height or practicing kicking type moves. There were skaters practicing kicks while skating fast in the inner lane. There were jam skaters dancing in one spot in the traffic flow, not at all moving, interrupting the flow. This is the worst part: there were people who can't skate all at moving perpendicular to traffic trying to get off the rink, which was extremely dangerous. Re: that last point, these super slow people who can't skate were penguin waddling entirely perpendicular to the flow of traffic going from the inner lane to the outer lane and caused many falls throughout the night. I would often have to put my arm out to prevent these people from gliding in front of me at a perpendicular angle to the flow of traffic. If you skate fast, you can avoid these clowns, but at one moment, I was in the middle lane, skating at medium speed, when a foolish woman penguin waddled in front of me causing me to crash and have a knee injury. I really wish I sped up and pushed her out of the way. They need to better manage the number of people in the rink, and do not let skaters who can barely skate in the main section. If they can't calmly glide from the inner to outer lanes without halting the flow of traffic, the safety/ref skater needs to get them off the floor. These skaters are dangerous, and I'm sure they've injured so many people here. It seems like Playland doesn't have any way to track how many people are on the skating floor at any given time, and Playland management does nothing to prevent people who cannot skate from skating perpendicularly against the flow of traffic. They do nothing to measure occupancy of the rink against capacity, and so there's really no limit to the amount of people who get crammed on the rink. When you go here, you sign a waiver, but you cannot sign away rights regarding gross negligence. Gross negligence would include over packing the rink! Management was well aware of all three issues described on 2/1/2025 (1: skaters doing dangerous moves, high-risk skating, or going way too fast, 2: fast skating in the inner, middle, and outer lanes alike, and 3: slow skaters skating against the flow of traffic or stopping in the middle of the very crowded flow of traffic) because they kept interrupting the music to plead with people to follow the rules, but the offending skaters were not removed from the floor, creating a negligent, dangerous situation. I've been to many rinks across the US, and this is the first time I've ever seen a rink mismanaged like this, and, not surprisingly, the first time I've been injured at a rink.

The venue itself is decent, but there's no parking. So after you waste time trying to park, you'll have to deal with a poorly managed rink and downright dangerous skaters or people who can't skate at all. It was not a good usage of my time, really. After only an hour and fifteen minutes, I went home because I had had enough, even though I paid to skate...

As someone who likes to frequent skating rinks, one of the most exciting parts about the experience is seeing all of the eccentric, colorful people that come to inhabit it and make it what it is. It's truly hard to recreate the unfettered happiness that they share while soaring on their wheels and having the time of their lives simply by enjoying one of their favorite activities.

Shockingly, and in Austin of all places, this rink somehow managed to fail to reflect any of those things. Instead, it found a way to suck all the fun and joy out of the activity of rollerskating alone. If you are an Austinite who prides themselves on the experiential thrill of "keeping their city weird" (or simply a visitor that appreciates those things), then I regret to inform you that this, unfortunately, is one of those places where that uniqueness has surreptiosusly died and can no longer be found.

Both the guests that come in and the employees that work here seem absolutely miserable, and it is more akin to that of a rain-soaked funeral procession than a parade highlighting the unflinching zest of humanity. And to add insult to injury, the bland, undiverse music is as about threadbarren as the shoddy skates they provide. In an effort to "keep things safe," this woefully fun-policed locale has competely lost its identity.

Playland Skatecenter or "Pins and Wheels at Playland", as it is currently known, has lost any and all luster it once had as an epicenter of cultural enrichment from its establishment in the worst possible way. Actively discouraging people from participating in the art that they built from the ground up is not only a massive betrayal, but it is possibly one of the biggest spits in the face you can give them. And to anyone with eyes, or even a modicum of knowledge about the history of rollerskating, can clearly see this rink for what it truly is underneath its neon veneer - a sad place that positively reeks of the need to suck up to corporate and california tech heads rather than to help facilitate the flourishing freedom and liveliness of our community as a whole.

All of this is flowery language is to say that I'm honestly not sure if I've ever seen a more milquetoast, vibrance-sucked rink in all my days. And I would even go so far as to encourage others who do plan on coming here, to please, PLEASE go elsewhere. If you want a good time, then it's certainly not going to be here. And if anything, it will be in spite of it. Find someplace that will actually appreciate you.

Like someone on freshy-waxed floors rapidly hurtling into you from the opposite direction -...

Playland quickly became a second home for me. I started skating there Sept. 2022; initially only going on Thursdays as this it offers a discounted 'Skate for $8' price. Coincidentally, Thursdays are also the slowest day so the large rink is widely available to practice. To me, this is the best way to build the hobby for a cheap price and begin to see familiar faces.

In Dec. 2022 I bought the membership pass and this thing has HUGE value if you use it 1-2 times a week. I went almost everyday they were open. I found that adult nights are nice for the most freedom of skating and that many skaters are more intermediate-advanced. Beginner skaters on adult nights are generally safe as the more seasoned skaters are cautious of others and have good reaction times. The regular crowd was nice to see and many patrons either keep to them self or will help beginners who seek it.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...These days are BUSY and packed with children, parents, and skaters with varying skill levels. I would recommend to skate at your own risk on these days and follow the posted rules to avoid injury. Every staff member does an exceptional job to enforce safety. I catch members non-stop telling patrons to continue the flow of skating, not sit/stand along the walls, and not to skate in the inverse direction. I have bumped many children who are skating the wrong way, but luckily I can offer my body as a balance point for them to avoid harsh crashes. It is normal for skaters to fall in front of you when skating on these days, so keep your awareness up. Even speed skaters get called out on the intercom if they are going too fast, I always feel like we are being watched for the best safety reasons.

All in all Playland Skate is one of the best skating facilities I have been to. They can get busy, but have opportunities to go on less busy days/times (I find the last 2 hours to closing is when the crowd thins). The staff is friendly and helpful to beginners, the arcade section is fully functional, the men's bathroom is actually very clean, and they have a practice area for those who truly want to hone in on the basics. Thursdays are great for budget friendly skating and to avoid crowds, and the membership pass is excellent for those who want to take their skating to the next level! It will sadden me to move this year because I will miss Playland more than anything else ATX has to offer. I hope you find my...