A new skating rink will make its debut at the Iowa City Marketplace this winter.
Glide & Go Skate City, a 27,000-square-foot retro-style skating rink with modern flair, will open January 2026 in Joann Fabric’s former space at 1676 Sycamore St. in Iowa City.
“We’re designing a place where families want to be,” founder Alicia Crews said in a press release. “People want experiences that feel real, that make them laugh, that create the kind of memories families talk about for years. Glide & Go is exactly that kind of place.”
The facility will have private party spaces, specialty kid zones, themed family lounges and multiple skating surfaces, including a rink dedicated to children that’s “going to be separate from the adult area, so it kind of gives them the time to kind of get on their feet,” Ms. Crews said during a 1 Million Cups presentation July 30 at MERGE Iowa City.
No entertainment venue is complete without concessions, and Glide & Go Skate City will be no different. However, in addition to a standard concession counter, the business will introduce a “ghost kitchen” – a place where patrons can order food online from local partnering restaurants, with delivery handled by Glide & Go.
Open late on weekends
Glide & Go Skate City will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays for one family session. Friday through Sunday, the venue will stay open until 1 a.m. and will offer one general admission, family and adult session per day.
Admission for skating is $12 and general admission is $5, with the general admission ticket converting to a $5 same-day coupon for concessions.
She’s estimating 350-400 people will visit per weekend session, and hours of operation are still being worked out.
Currently, the project is in its pre-launch phase and is in the midst of fundraising, finalizing details and partnering with local organizations and businesses. Construction is estimated to begin in November.
With all the varied experiences available at Glide & Go, Ms. Crews is confident that there’s something for everyone.
“We’re just trying to make sure that we have enough elements to keep everybody interested and coming back,” she said, adding “the entire family can come and the entire family can enjoy it.”
For more information, visit www.glideandgoskatecity.com.
