A rebuilt Wheel Thing Skate Center ready to reopen after May 25 tornado destroyed facility

Aaron Embry was the first member of his family to reach the Wheel Thing Skate Center following the Sedalia’s May 25 tornado.

“I had to park on Grand and walk over through all the downed power lines and trees. When I got here there was a big open field where our building should have been,” he recalled on Wednesday.

The tornado, which damaged a large swath of homes and businesses along U.S. Highway 65 and through the southeast corner of the city, all but leveled the skating rink, a popular Sedalia recreation spot since at least the 1950s, located at 3600 S. Grand Ave.

The skating rink was purchased by Aaron’s parents, Donna and Allen Embry, in 2008 from Bill and Robin Wyatt. Aaron, who serves as manager, traces his own connection back to his adolescent years, first as a regular customer and later as an employee. The Embrys’ younger sons, Conner and Lane, also help out with the family business.

On Sunday, just more than eight months since the tornado destroyed their business, the Embrys will host a free open house at the reconstructed rink — a first chance for members of the public to see the new, and what the family agrees is an improved, Wheel Thing Skate Center. Though contractors performed the labor that saw the skating rink grow to a larger building with a larger, all-maple skating floor, Donna said the whole family contributed time, effort and ideas to make the project come together.

“In our heart we knew we would rebuild,” Donna said. “We never thought about not coming back.”

The open house will run from 1 to 5 p.m., and Wheel Thing will reopen for skating Tuesday night for a 7 to 9 p.m. “Adult Skate” for those 16 years or older.

Donna said the family decided to reopen for the adults, some of whom have been regulars for years, in appreciation of their support of the business while it was closed for construction.
“We wanted to do something for them,” Donna said.

Donna and Aaron described the reaction of many of those longtime customers, and others who had frequented the rink in their younger days as being much like a “funeral procession” as lines of cars drove by the ravaged building in the hours and days after the tornado.

“People told us so many stories about having their first kiss here or meeting their wife or husband. It was so touching all the memories people had made here, and we wanted to try and give them something back for sharing that with us,” Donna said.

In addition to the larger building and floor — which was designed by a Tennessee company that is one of only two left in the United States that still specializes in wood skating floors — the Embrys also have added new sound and lighting systems, all new inline, speed and roller skates, and have expanded their kitchen to include hot wings and Hunt Brothers Pizza.

Donna said the new building is all built at the same level, improving access for disabled people.

“We are excited to open the doors and share what we have done with everyone,” Donna said.
For more information on the Wheel Thing open house or other questions, call the rink at 827-3835.