Historic Dome's Ice Plant on 'Borrowed Time'
Thursday's Bourbon & Beer To Raise Vital Funds
A critical fundraiser is taking place this Thursday to continue to help fund a new ice plant at Eagle River's historic ice arena, commonly known as the Dome. After nearly four decades of use and patchwork repairs, the rink's refrigeration system is on its last leg and is in serious need of replacement to the tune of about $1.75 million.
Beyond serving as a recognized historical location for being the first indoor ice arena built in the state, the Dome also provides community togetherness, drives the winter economy, and allows space for youths and families interested in hockey and figure skating.
Past Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) board members had originally launched the multi-year Save the Dome campaign with a goal of $1.5 million around 2019 to address the ice plant issues which was met with enthusiasm by residents and visitors alike. Due to the massive size of the undertaking, it was originally slated to be executed in phases with the goal to fix the Dome's leaks in the underground piping system and replace the ice plant.
Save the Dome raised approximately $500,000 in donations and also utilized a $275,000 loan which covered the replacement of the piping system, a newly poured concrete slab, installation of new boards and glass, a new glass entrance into the Dome, and other subsequent upgrades.
Current board members are looking to keep the fundraising momentum going to complete the next phase of the project and work toward replacing the failing ice plant, which one member says is officially running on "borrowed time." Using the upcoming Bourbon & Beer event slated to take place at Eagle Waters Resort, the ERRA plans to continue the efforts that originally began with 2019's Save the Dome campaign.
How the Rink Maintains Its Ice
The ice plant is a mechanical system that most people don't see, but every program operated by the ERRA relies on. It's the industrial system that chills and maintains the ice surface, made up of compressors, chillers, a cooling tower, and outdated controls that together enable year-round skating in the Northwoods.
Installed in 1988, the existing ice plant has been patched and maintained far beyond its expected lifespan. But ERRA board members say without real investment, the system is on the verge of failing which, in short, means no ice to run hockey, figure skating and other programs in the Dome and the smaller rink, the Cube.
Since 2022, more than $100,000 has been spent just keeping it running. Parts are outdated, coolant is hard to find, and the control system is from another era.
The ERRA Board recently activated a group of experts on the refrigerator system to get a deeper understanding.
According to the ERRA, the original cooling tower is corroded from decades of hard water buildup. The internal aluminum tubing, critical for heat transfer, is now paper thin, and the coolant and replacement parts are either obsolete or must be fabricated from scratch. In addition, the control systems that regulate it all were designed for an era when "manual override" meant flipping a physical switch.
“We’re one failure away from pulling the ice,” said Jason Skarda, who manages the rink's mechanical systems over the past four years. "The system's fragile. We've retrofitted all we can. We've been living on borrowed time for a while now. The truth is, we've stretched this plant further than it was ever meant to go. But we're at the end. And there's no backup plan, because without an ice plant, there's no ice."
Costs have gone up since the original project began, and today's cost of replacing the entire ice plant alone is estimated to be about $1.75 million, but that cost would not only cut energy use significantly, but also future-proof the rink.
Community Impacts of the Dome
The Dome is important not only to the hockey and figure skating enthusiasts and players who use the rink, but it also is an economic driver for the area, bringing hundreds of families to Eagle River during the winter months for tournaments, events and programs. Those families stay in hotels, buy gas, shop in town, and eat at local restaurants.
"Tens of thousands of dollars flow into the community each weekend because of the rink," said ERRA Board Member Brad Adamovich. "Without ice, that all disappears. And in a time when snowmobiling and other winter tourism have become less reliable, the rink provides consistent, needed revenue for our businesses."
ERRA promotes the rink as more than a sports facility, but also as a rare space in the community where kids of all ages can gather, socialize, and grow up safely without screens or distractions, and with the mentorship and structure that ice sports provide.
"It's a community building," Adamovich said. "It's a place where families come together. A place you can bring your kids, your grandkids, and know you're part of something."
Again Asking for Community Aid
The iconic wooden building was built using lamella truss construction of the roof — giving the structure its "Dome" name. It opened to the public in 1933, and has been named to the Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places. It also houses the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame.
And old buildings tend to require maintenance. It's not lost on ERRA board members that it may seem like a never-ending ask for money to fix the Dome.
"It seems like there is always something breaking or in need of repair or replacement at our rink. It’s almost to the point where I, as a board member, feel guilty asking for another set of donations for the latest fundraising effort," said Jared "Bud" Gall. "But then I take a step back and realize what a special situation we are blessed with here in Eagle River. A town of approximately 1,500 year-round residents with not one but two indoor ice rinks."
Gall noted that towns across Wisconsin with much larger populations than ours often have to make due with much fewer available rinks, which can cause issues with available ice time.
"That ice time is probably the single biggest reason our little town is able to compete with cities such as Green Bay, Wausau, and Fond du Lac. It's a huge sense of pride for myself, the board and the community, and I hope it is for you too," Gall added. "All that said, our ice plant is on its last legs."
One way individuals can offer their support is by attending the Bourbon & Beer event this Thursday, July 10, at Eagle Waters Resort in Eagle River. The annual fundraising event will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The $75 ticket includes a commemorative glass, along with heavy hors d'oeurves and the opportunity to bid on items in the silent and live auctions donated by area businesses.
"It's always a fun night, and this year, it's more important than ever given the severity of the situation! 100% of the proceeds goes to the Ice Plant Fund," said Abbey Gatlin, ERRA secretary. "We are urging anyone who has ever skated or stepped inside our rink, whether for a Silver Blades show, a youth hockey tournament, a Falcon game or even Pines Classic, please consider attending and supporting. Let's come together!"
Tickets can be purchased online or by stopping at Boat Sport in Eagle River. For those who cannot attend the event but would like to show their support, donations are being accepted online for the Ice Plant Fund, by mail by sending checks to: ERRA, P.O. Box 1495, Eagle River, WI 54521, ATTN: Ice Plant Fund in the memo line, or by emailing skate@erra.com for more information.