Funtime Skateland Pearl/City Lights Ministries — Local services in Pearl

I usually don't like to give bad or negative reviews, but I am so livid right now I have to share what happened to me and my kids tonight. Cassie's birthday was the 19th during the week so naturally we waited until the weekend to go skating just the 4 of us. Well, the girls ate nachos and Blake got a hot dog. A few minutes later Blake wanted a slice of pizza. And I told him no that he could wait because we were there to skate and he had already had a hot dog. Well, as most of you know Blake is on the autism spectrum, plus has sensory disorder, plus ADHD on top of all that... so naturally he started crying and making a scene. I immediately got him up and began trying to calm him down and before I knew it the security cop came over and said they were going to have to ask us to leave. To which I responded, with tears in my eyes, I'm so sorry, he has development delay problems and is on the autism spectrum. So anything can make him spazz out that way. So then they proceed to take my son outside to "calm him down" and that's when the owner/manager? Lady came out and said "he is causing a disturbance" to which again, I explained Blake's condition. She didn't care, she asked me to leave if I couldn't get him to calm down. I then asked her could I get a refund for just his ticket considering he did not even get to skate and she said "no" and then I said well I don't see how him being a 9 year old autistic boy is anymore disturbing than the young teenage girls skating in booty shorts and tank tops or the LOUD music they were playing. Long story short, I will NEVER step foot back in Funtime Skateland in Pearl. And I don't think it's very "Christian" to kick a disabled child out for having an episode but yet there's young kids walking around cussing in front of little ones, pushing little ones out the way and remind you walking around showing stomache and booty everywhere. 🤔 A waste of money. A waste of time. And the absolute worst feeling and customer service I've ever experienced in my life! And of course the mama bear came out in me but I got my kids and left and again told the lady I felt very embarrassed and would never come back to a place that us supposedly to be a "Christian facility" but has an issue with a disabled child crying because he was upset. And she got very ugly and rude with me saying "that's fine don't come back!" Oh honey you don't have to worry because I won't, and I absolutely made sure to tell her I would spread the word about this whole situation. I'm disgusted and emotional about the whole thing. Not that I don't think my son needs consequences to learn, but because he was kicked out for something he truly couldn't help himself with. Fair warning to everyone that has kids with ADHD, autism, or any other disability, I would highly recommend not taking your babies there and wasting your money and being humiliated the way I was. Plus, you never know what people are going through at home or in their personal lives so just remember folks to be kind. Even if a child is getting on your nerves just remember they're still just CHILDREN and no one deserves to be kicked out of a "Christian facility" for their autistic child having an episode. I will be sharing this review online as well because again, I have never been more humiliated in my life. And it wasn't even because Blake's episode but how they confronted me and treated me after spending a good bit of money there tonight. And then refusing to refund me for his skates because he didn't even get to skate 😒 Very, very,very poor management. And words can't seven describe how they made me as a mother feel much less my son who cried the entire way home. 💔 I swear, this world has become nothing but evil, and that is the LAST time Funtime Skateland in any city will get a penny from me. They obviously make enough money to not care about hurting their customers feelinsg and i will ALWAYS stand up for any of my children....

Parents beware!

As a reasonable parent the conversation I had yesterday regarding the skating rink was a true shocker! A lot of petty and not so petty crime occurs at the skating rink often. Kids and adults off all ages come to enjoy and have a good time however with that comes potential true risks. Many , if not the majority of parents just drop off their children , some possible utilizing the skating rink as a “babysitter” this is very concerning to me. According to the owner with limited staff and security it it is a full time job trying to ensure everyone’s safety. It’s concerning that adequate coverage (actual stall and one that locks )in the ladies room is not functioning , also one must consider if there is adequate accessibility for disabled patrons. Is the staff trained to handle children with hidden disabilities , do they know how to ask the important probing questions ? The floors can use some TLC as well as the holes in walls etc. Does this business have a functioning method to call you should your child get in trouble or need medical assistance? What are the procedures? The liability for a lawsuit seems grand considering no waivers are signed. The owners seem like genuinely good ppl HOWEVER parents must really evaluate and be proactive about their Childrens safety and how dropping underage kids at a skating rink could pose risk. I’m flabbergasted at many things I was told last night and it is important to review procedures and supervise your kids...

It’s hard for me to give a completely objective review since this is one of the rinks I’ve visited the most over the past few years, and I come here with my kids every weekend when I’m in town.

The skate floor has a decent size, though there are a few spots that might need some attention. However, that doesn’t affect much the skating experience. The music is great, and the owner is an excellent DJ—I’ve found and added a few songs to my playlist thanks to him. The food is just okay—I think it could be better, especially the pizza.

What really stands out is the people. The staff and owners are incredibly nice, and it’s clear that they really care about everyone who visits. They make an effort to connect with everyone and ensure that rules are followed, especially when it comes to fast skaters and those who disrupt the flow. I've seen them handle difficult situations, and they always try to be fair. They have a police office during the night sessions, which it's great for security. I also love the different activities they have: the races, ghostbusters, the hokey pokey, and the trucker session. I do wish they had a dedicated backward skating time as well.

Overall, every visit is a great experience. My kids love coming here, and this rink has become a place where I’ve created great memories with my family. I highly...