Fire Destroys Landmark Skate Center On Navy Boulevard
November 29, 2019
A two alarm fire destroyed the former Landmark Skate Center at 1002 Navy Boulevard early Friday morning.
Multiple units from Escambia Fire Rescue, the Pensacola Fire Department and the Navy were dispatched at 3:12 a.m. and remained on scene for hours working to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
North Escambia fire units from Molino and Cantonment were alerted and shifted southward to other fire stations to provide standby coverage.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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20 Responses to “Fire Destroys Landmark Skate Center On Navy Boulevard”
This is REALLY sad to see and hear this and it has brought tears to my eyes cuz i can remember me and my brother Chri and my Aunt Vicki used to skate every single dat and my grandparents Doris and Elton loved owning and working there and they did everything they coud to keep that place up and running its REALLY sad
This is so sad. So many memories for so many.
I literally exist because of that place. My parents met there.
Art Party was there a month ago. So very sad!!!! Such a great venue for Art Party!!!!
Insurance “fire”?
So many memories of countless Tuesday nights spent there (7-10 p.m.) from 1972 til about 1976 or 77 – I remember the Dreadins, lady’s choice couple skating, the Hokey Pokey, the fast skate, the ginormous dill pickles from the concession stand, and getting to hear all the latest & greatest rock n’ roll music of the time. This place was probably the site of some of the happiest moments in my childhood. If those bricks could talk, I have a feeling you’d hear lots of childhood laughter and silly kids’ conversations.
My mom. (Laura Harville) worked there for MANY years,she sold the tickets and played the music. Me and my sisters skated there a LOT! and my children also skated there in later years. I also remember Mrs. Owens,she worked in the concession stand.
I knew the Wozniak’s very well,and Doris and Elton Dreadin. I was once married to Elton’s brother, (mayo). I have too many memories to list them all, most of them good
ones.I was sorry to hear of this loss.
This breaks my heart. My first job was working there first handing out skates and later as floor guard. The Dreadins were family friends and I had so many memories there
I used to skate at the original rink in mid fifties until it was burnt down by a pissed off idiot.Lost my skates in it ($159.00 precision – lot of money then) I helped Vic Wosnack build this one along with friends in the Navy and skated there for another 3 years. Met my first wife there.Lost track after Vic’s daughter and husband sold it.
The floor was built completely separate from the building of hard Oak and was perfectly level.
I believe an investigation will reveal someone started it, possibly by mistake. Didn’t know it was vacant. I drive by the one on Olive Road and see that it’s still active. SUCH A SHAME!
When it’s all said and done and the investigation is complete, I’d bet on it being 100% insurance claim fire. No homeless people have been living in there. Sucks when a building stays vacant for so long and cannot get sold.
Saw several big trucks and a ladder boom unit as late as 9:00 this morning working this fire.
Heard later the concrete block walls have become unstable and may collapse.
A total loss for sure.
The old Skate Float was still in front and seems to be untouched.
Many memories of times there with kids too. A shame that it closed down.
One more chapter in losses for Warrington area. Sad.
Hate to see this! Used to go skating there!
Oh no so sad! I remember the lock downs in the 90’s so much fun!
Nooooo !!! Was this the one time Dreamland South Skating Rink owned by the Diamonds?
I also spent many hours there when it was Dreamland Skating Rink and owned by Mr. Vick And his Daughter, Mrs Dreadin. All night skates, Saturday and Sunday matinees. So sad!
May not live down there now, but man, the hours i spent there.
This rink had been closed for a few years now. Bums probably started the fire. As far as I can remember the past almost 20 years the floor was a rubber type material. Probably helped the fire spread
So many memories as a kid! I left a lot of skin on that old wooden floor! Sad…
Oh wow. My husband and I went to Landmark on our first date almost 45 years ago. Heard it was only recently closed.
Wow this is so sad. I really hope this wasn’t caused by some ignorant ass punk.