The Ice Bowl: A Short History of the Rink on Holt Blvd

Most people who skate at Ontario Ice Skating Center are thinking about their own laces, not the building's past. It is worth looking up from the ice once in a while. The rink at 1225 W Holt Blvd has been part of this community since 1957, and by its own account it is the second oldest ice facility in Southern California. This is a short history, drawn from the rink's own telling of its story.

Who built the original Ice Bowl?

According to the rink, the Vanderberg family built it in 1957. The original name was the ICE BOWL, and the rink says it set the precedent for a brand new and innovative dimension of entertainment. In the 1950s, a public ice rink in Southern California was new enough that the people building one were figuring out the business as they went.

The rink describes the setting as the base of Mt. Baldy, in the Inland Empire. A rink in a place known for warm weather is a bit of a surprise, and that surprise is part of the charm. Ice and sunshine have shared the same zip code here for a long time.

What did Milo Vanderberg invent?

The rink's history gives a lot of credit to Milo Vanderberg, whom it calls industrious. In its words, he quickly recognized that a whole new industry was being launched, and he invented equipment that would change ice skating forever. The things the rink says he introduced are listed below.

• An ice re-surfacing machine
• A skate sharpener
• An electric broom
• Other innovations, which the rink does not itemize

If you have ever watched a resurfacer circle the ice between sessions and leave a clean, glassy sheet behind it, you have seen the kind of machine this story is about. Smooth ice is the thing every skater notices without thinking about, and the work of making it routine started with people like Milo who built tools for their own rink.

What happened in 1983?

In 1983, the rink was purchased by a longtime friend and skating professional named Donald Bartelson. The rink passed to someone who knew skating from the inside, and it kept its public sessions, its classes and its hockey.

The rink calls itself a landmark of the community and says it has operated continuously for the public's enjoyment. It describes ice sports seven days a week, all year round, for the residents of the Inland Empire. The rink says it wants to introduce more people of all ages to a wide variety of skating activities, so they can get in shape and have fun doing it.

Who are the champions from this ice?

The rink proudly lists athletes tied to its ice. These are the names it gives, in its own descriptions.

• Robert Waggonhogger of Fontana, a World Professional Champion
• Noach Clarke of La Verne, a Los Angeles Kings draft pick
• Torrey Di Roberto of Upland, an Anaheim Duck
• Kyle Bigos of Upland, an Edmonton Oilers draft pick

Those names point to a pipeline that starts with kids in rental skates. A child who takes a Learn to Skate class here shares the same sheet of ice that these athletes once did. Most kids will never play professional hockey, and that is fine. The point is that the same building welcomes a first-time skater on a Saturday afternoon and a future draft pick on a weeknight.

What are the Ontario Hot Blades?

The Ontario Hot Blades are the rink's recreational figure skating team. The rink says the team has dominated as champions in the USA and in Asia. It also says Ontario's youth hockey has created an untouchable legacy. Tournament banners hang from the arched ceiling above the ice, and when you see them on your next visit you will know what they stand for.

What does this mean for your next visit?

You do not have to be a champion to skate here. Public sessions are $16.00 with skates and $14.00 if you bring your own, Learn to Skate classes start at the beginning of each month, and there are birthday parties and broomball for groups. Session times and class schedules change, so call 909-986-0793 or text 909-935-9023 to confirm what is on before you go.

Next time you step onto the ice, think about 1957, the original ICE BOWL and the people who built something that a family can still enjoy today. Then lace up and take a lap.