Wheels Durham — Local services in Durham

It's great to have this piece of Durham's history back in action, and there are worse places you could go. The building is thoroughly updated and looks nice, and the attention to security and safety, with people monitoring the floor, is appreciated.

It's disappointing to see that the rink floor has been foreshortened quite a bit to make room for more party tables, and the ramp-in/ramp-out funneling system makes it take far more effort to take a break; the same goes for boxing out the benches along the far side (a rail would have made more sense!)

Music is frequently way too loud, though that just reminds me of the way it was in the early 2000s. Can't bring in my skate bag, locker rentals are comparatively expensive, "half-price" night is more like two-thirds-price night, and you have to sign a waiver to enter any session. On top of all that they forbid skating backwards, which will be a huge turn-off to any experienced skater.

In short, it's been morphed into a corporate-owned, litigation-averse birthday party hall for little kids, which is absolutely fine if that's why you're coming here; and it'll do in a pinch if you just need to get some movement in, but skating purists would probably prefer to make the excursion to a more traditional rink in another town.

Update on my third trip out: the music is still too loud (and kinda sucks, but whatever). The new strobe lights could cause a seizure in epileptics (and make it REALLY hard to see who's going where and avoid a collision).

On top of all that, the grip profile of the floor is pretty awful. I've had more falls and near-falls on it than the Burlington Roll-A-Bout, and their floor is worn and water damaged. The heavy epoxy coat makes skating take way more effort.

It's not the place I grew up with, and that's okay, but it's also just not a great place to skate anymore, which is profoundly...

This place left a bad taste in our mouths. Overpriced for what you get, which is not much. The TSA- level search at the entrance is excessive- complete with the woman digging in my tiny pouch as if she was simply curious.

We had a small container of dried fruit in our clear bag, in a clear container. It’s absolutely obvious that is not a danger to anyone. The entryway people refused to let me bring it. They lied to us by saying that there are healthy snacks inside. There aren’t, not one. No healthy drinks either. I stay healthy because I choose not to eat junk food. There’s nothing in this place, but overpriced junk food.

They make you pour your water out like you are a terrorist on an airplane! I came with my two kids for Gods sake! Just make me drink the water if you want. I’ve never been anywhere that does this. Except the airport which is understandable. Yet again they lied to us by saying that the water at the bottle filling station is filtered. It’s not, and it tasted disgusting to the three of us.

The whole place left a bad taste literally and figuratively because of the unreasonable demands. No other entertainment place demands anything close to this. Overall, this place is maximized to extract the most amount of money from you. The only thing that’s free is the bathroom.

As far as other details go, the music was not great. Even if you don’t want to skate they charge you money just to come in and watch your kids but they don’t make it parent- friendly. You have to stand the whole time because the rink walls are so high that you can’t be sitting relaxed because you can’t see your kids.

Were the skates fine? Sure. But will we come back anytime soon? Highly unlikely. I will drive to the other...

Had a horrible time with my family last night the ticket prices were excessive and the security took way too long to pass through but all of that could be over looked if it werent for the customer service. the young lady with the locs at the roller skate rental booth had a huge attitude with me and my family and still managed to give my youngest son the wrong size. when I went to get something to eat for my daughter and I, all was fine with the girl with the braids taking my order until it was time for my daughter to say what she wanted the girl looked my daughter up and down sizing her and chuckled now usually I don’t make reviews but I really must say I don’t see how such a large over weight girl could have anything to laugh about in terms of my child’s size she’s 11 so not only is that unprofessional and disrespectful but completely hypocritical. The other staff at this location didn’t bother at all so I must assume it’s just these disrespectful teenagers that don’t know how to treat people and think a job is promised as if disrespecting customers won’t get you closer and closer to unemployment. back in my generations day we knew the effort it took to get a job and stretch a dollar but these kids now have no respect in...