The Gardens Ice House Explained

Stadium Name:The Gardens Ice House
Location:13800 Old Gunpowder Rd
Laurel, MD 20707
Coordinates:39.0786°N -76.9217°W
Opened:September 13, 1996[1]
Owner:Claiborn (Clai) Carr and Tom Hendrix[2]
Operator:Clai Carr
Surface:Multi-surface
Architect:Waterer and Thorp[3]
General Contractor:Waverly Construction[4]
Tenants:Washington Power (MLRH) (2008–present)
Washington Jr. Nationals (AJHL) (2010–2014)
Maryland Reapers (AIF) (2012)
Washington Eagles (AIF) (2013)

The Gardens Ice House is a privately operated skating and fitness facility in Laurel, Maryland. Built on Fairland Regional Park land, the venue features an Olympic ice rink, two NHL rinks[5] (the third of these added on January 1, 1999),[6] and since November 2013, an outdoor mini-rink.

The Gardens is a public-private partnership between the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Top Shelf Development.[5] The facility hosts the Mid Atlantic Skating School, Gardens Figure Skating Club, and Potomac Curling Club, as well as the annual Maryland Scholastic High School Championship.[7] It hosted the American Indoor Football league's Maryland Reapers in 2012 and Washington Eagles in 2013. The facility hosted the Washington Jr. Nationals from 2010 until their move to Vermont in 2014. The Gardens is the home arena for the Washington Power roller hockey team.

"Whitey's Pond", an outdoor skating venue open from November to March each year, had its grand opening at The Gardens on November 1, 2013. Named in honor of veteran hockey rink owner Whitey Guenin[8] of Indiana,[9] [10] the rink will feature 3 on 3 adult hockey,[8] described at other rinks as a form of pond hockey.[11] [12]

As of early May 2020, The Gardens was being used as a temporary morgue while otherwise closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with the bodies elevated from the ice, draped with Maryland flags, and guarded by Maryland Park Police officers while awaiting transportation elsewhere.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Gardens Ice House – Laurel, MD . GroundSpeak, Inc. . November 1, 2013 .
  2. The Gardens Ice House Breaks Ground on New Outdoor Rink . August 28, 2013 . Vocus . November 2, 2013 .
  3. News: Ice rink construction team ready to go to work . April 12, 2001 . November 2, 2013 . The Morning Call . Bill . Tattersall . Waterer and Thorp of Bryn Mawr, chosen as the project architect, has designed three other community ice facilities – The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Md.... .
  4. Web site: Whiskey Bottom, General Contractor, Waverly Construction . June 7, 2011 . November 2, 2013 . The Gardens Ice House ... Waverly acted as the General Contractor .
  5. Web site: The Gardens Ice House . November 1, 2013 . Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation .
  6. News: Former Capital a fixture at Gardens Ice House . January 29, 2004 . November 2, 2013 . Ted . Black . The Gazette . Post-Newsweek Media .
  7. News: The Gardens Ice House Renews with Pointstreak . Pointstreak Sports Technologies . June 8, 2012 . November 1, 2013 .
  8. The Gardens Ice House Grand Opening of Whitey's Pond Friday November 1st at 4 p.m. . November 1, 2013 . November 1, 2013 . Media General Communications .
  9. Web site: Hockey Hall of Fame Members . Indiana State High School Hockey Association . November 1, 2013 .
  10. Book: Kavanaugh, Martin G . A Hockey Road Well Traveled: Memoirs Of A Master Coach . 77 . 2009 . 978-1-4490-0327-2 . Author House .
  11. Web site: 3-On-3 Adult League Frequently Asked Questions . SoNo Ice House . November 1, 2013 . there is the 'Pond Hockey' factor of the 3-on-3; there are fewer rules .
  12. Web site: Rival 3 on 3 Hockey . Rival Ice House . November 1, 2013 .
  13. News: Laurel Ice Rink Turned Into Temporary Morgue . May 4, 2020 . nbcwashington.com . Tracee . Wilkins . May 8, 2020 .