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BALSAM, Tenn. – After days of conflicting reports this week, it was revealed that the roller rink out by Route 19 is still there. According to Jerry Kiser, the old roller rink building is still standing and appears to be open for business, shooting down reports from family members that it had been bulldozed several years ago.

“No, that thing is still there,” said Kiser, a 38-year-old spot welder. “I drove by it. I think they might still even open it on weekends.”

Speculation that the rink had been demolished began with Kiser’s sister, Allison Otloe, when the family got together for dinner Sunday evening.

“Well, I’ll have to see it for myself,” said Otloe, a divorced stay-at-home wife. “Because Bessie Vidmar told me they sold that years ago, and they were going to knock it down to build a new VFW hall.”

While still skeptical, Otloe admitted the roller rink very well could still be out there because nobody ever tells her the truth about anything anymore. Adding to the discussion was Kiser’s mother, Annette, who was positive she had heard whoever owned it now had closed it down to sell drugs out of the back.

With such varied reports, Kiser drove by on his way home from work Wednesday to see for himself. “I’d say the place is still in good enough shape that they’re using it,” Kiser said. “It’d be a shame if they tore it down after all these years.”

Kiser also speculated that traffic driven by Ed’s Shoe Repair shop, also out by Route 19, is what is keeping that old place open. 

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