Family celebrates 40 years on roller skates

A local business has been family-run for 40 years, passing the legacy down from generation to generation.

The Carousel Roller Rink in Libby celebrated its 40th birthday on Sunday with cake and free skating, inviting over 140 skaters.

In 1973, Argyl and Bea Harrington sold their roller rink, ski slope and restaurant in Whitefish and relocated to Libby, where they soon built the Carousel Roller Rink. Argyl passed away in 1994, and Bea passed away in 2011, passing their legacy down to their daughter, Patty Hardgrove.

“My folks always liked Libby. They sold their restaurant and ski slopes and roller rink and moved here to build this one,” Hardgrove, current owner of the roller rink said while cutting the anniversary cake to serve to the estimated 140 skaters in attendance.

Hardgrove, second generation owner of the Carousel Roller Rink, took over the place when her parents passed away. Now, her daughter, Ericka Hardgrove, third generation, manages the rink. Erika’s daughter, Kaya, and granddaughter were present during the celebration, skating with the other kids while also helping with the celebration. Kaya teaches skating classes for the kids and helps out when needed. In total, four generations were present.

“Kaya has been skating since she was able to walk and so was Ericka,” Hardgrove said.

In the past 40 years, the business has been host to various events, including a wedding reception. Hardgrove said enthusiastically that one man even asked his wife to marry him on the rink.

Despite the rink’s shortened hours and less children coming to skate in recent years, Hardgrove boasts that the rink is still the cheapest entertainment in town, with arcade games, a concession stand, a large rink, with a decorated floor and ceiling and murals on the wall of past regulars and one mural of Argyl himself.

“Libby has been good to us and we’ve always tried to help the community however we can,” Hardgrove said.

On some nights, the rink is currently putting on “Pink at the Rink,” a fundraiser for breast cancer, in which part of the admission will go toward breast cancer research.

To expand toward the future, the roller rink now provides bounce-houses for kids’ parties with one to two parties for the last five years. They’re also currently doing a rolling jamboree, which is half skate and half jamboree. When not skating, the kids in the jamborees have the option of the bounce-houses and plasma cars, which are small cars for kids that move with the steering wheel. The cars can be used for racing or obstacle courses.

With all generations leaving their mark on the rink, the family plans to keep going for another 40 years.

“This is my dad’s dream, and we’re going to keep rolling as long as we have family members who want to do it,” Hardgrove said.

Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.