Winter Lodge

Palo Alto, CA · Public skating times & prices

The only permanent outdoor ice rink west of the Sierras, open on Middlefield Road since 1956.

Public skating at Winter Lodge: the next 7 days

Friday, October 16

  • · Public Skate · $20

Saturday, October 17

  • · Public Skate · $20
  • · Public Skate · $20
Address
3009 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone
(650) 493-4566
Website
winterlodge.com
The Winter Lodge outdoor rink at dusk, skaters under strings of lights with a lit Christmas tree and the timber lodge roof beyond. — Winter Lodge
The Winter Lodge outdoor rink at dusk, skaters under strings of lights with a lit Christmas tree and the timber lodge roof beyond. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source
Skaters on the outdoor sheet, a low black barrier island in the middle, the covered snack area to the left and eucalyptus trees behind. — Winter Lodge
Skaters on the outdoor sheet, a low black barrier island in the middle, the covered snack area to the left and eucalyptus trees behind. Photo: Winter Lodge · Source

Palo Alto's brine-cooled outdoor rink, open since 1956

Winter Lodge opened on February 15, 1956, as the Winter Club, engineer Duncan Williams's experiment in keeping real ice frozen under California's mild winter skies. He used a brine-based cooling system and shading, and the first facility had a main outdoor rink and a smaller practice area for figure skaters. By 1959 it had 500 family memberships.

By the early 1980s the landowner proposed redeveloping the property into condominiums, and local supporters mobilized to save the rink. It reopened in 1983 under the name Winter Lodge, and in November 1985 voters passed two ballot measures for a land swap that preserved its location.

Winter Lodge is run today as a nonprofit and is described as the only permanent outdoor ice rink west of the Sierras. In 2007 Outside magazine ranked it among the top 10 outdoor ice skating experiences in the United States.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

Single admission to a public session is $20 per person.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate rental is $8 a pair.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Public session tickets must be bought in advance, online only.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Skaters under 18 must be with a parent at the Sunday 5:30-7:30 pm Family Session.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.