Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center

Wolfeboro, NH · Public skating times & prices

Renovation stripped the old building shell but kept the ice slab; more than 62,000 visitors a year.

Public skating at Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center: the next 7 days

Sunday, October 11

  • · Public Skate

Monday, October 12

  • · Public Skate

Tuesday, October 13

  • · Public Skate

Wednesday, October 14

  • · Public Skate

Thursday, October 15

  • · Public Skate

Friday, October 16

  • · Public Skate
  • · Public Skate

Saturday, October 17

  • · Public Skate

Admission and skate rental

Admission
$7–$8 · Official source
Skate rental
$5 · Official source
Address
390 Pine Hill Road, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Phone
(603) 569-5639
Website
wolfeboronh.us
Front entrance of the Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center, a green-and-tan metal building with a gabled arena roof behind the entry tower, seen from the parking lot on a sunny day. — Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center
Front entrance of the Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center, a green-and-tan metal building with a gabled arena roof behind the entry tower, seen from the parking lot on a sunny day. Photo: Town of Wolfeboro, NH · Source
A wide view of the sheet from behind the glass, a player at the left and circles on white ice beneath a bright ceiling with banners on the far wall. — Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center
A wide view of the sheet from behind the glass, a player at the left and circles on white ice beneath a bright ceiling with banners on the far wall. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source

Wolfeboro's town rink, rebuilt around its original ice slab

Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center is the Town of Wolfeboro's rink, and it carries the name of Paul "Pop" Whalen, who arrived in Wolfeboro with his wife Wini in 1954 and spent the next 17 years at Brewster Academy. He revived the school's hockey program for the 1956-57 season and won the Lakes Region title in 11 of his 16 years as coach. Whalen died on October 10, 2008.

The building skaters walk into today came out of a renovation that removed the existing building shell without disturbing the slab under the ice, so the arena still sits on its original regulation-size sheet. The work added 10,382 square feet of program space and upgraded the electrical, mechanical, fire-suppression and refrigeration systems, and the town held a Pop Whalen Ice Arena open house on December 14, 2022. A volunteer non-profit established in 2019 works to preserve the center as a four-season venue.

Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation's lap skating, stick practice and public skating hours share the ice with the teams and leagues that call this home: Back Bay Youth Hockey, She Wolves Women's Hockey, Kingswood High School, Brewster Academy, the Co-Ed, Men's and Senior Men's leagues, and the Lakes Region Curling League. Known as The Pop, the arena counts more than 62,000 visitors a year.

Before you head out.

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

Admission

Public Skating is $7 per skater for residents of Wolfeboro, Brookfield, Tuftonboro, Mirror Lake, and Melvin Village, and $8 per skater for non-residents. Stick Practice (Stick & Puck) is $8 per skater.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate rentals are $5 per pair, adult or child sizes, first come first served, available anytime there is Public Skating or Stick Practice.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Public Skating and Stick Practice are drop-in programs. Pay in person at the rink before getting on the ice.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Public Skating is open to all ages and skill levels.

Source checked · · Official source

Accessibility

Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation makes reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Source checked · · Official source

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