Something Old
Something New
The most famous wedding recipe of them all:
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."
Something Old
In 1972, Bill and Olga Little built Skyline Recreation, opening its doors in October of that year. What soon became known as the Van Buren Skating Rink quickly turned into a true local classic.
For many Van Buren residents growing up in the 1970s and 80s, the skating rink was the place to be. Countless locals remember nights spent skating with friends and making memories that would last for decades.
The building itself is hard to miss. Sitting adjacent to Highway 103, partway up the first big hill just south of Van Buren, the massive 140 × 50-foot structure has long stood as a landmark in the area.
Its location couldn’t be much better. The property sits just one mile from town, one mile from Big Spring State Park, and one mile from the crystal-clear Current River, right in the heart of the Ozark hills.
The skating rink closed in the early 1990s, but the building never lost its presence. Over the years it served several different purposes, quietly watching Van Buren grow around it while remaining a familiar part of the landscape.
For many locals, the memories made inside those walls were truly the time of their lives.
Something New
In January of 2021, the Griffin family purchased the one-of-a-kind property, a building many in town still affectionately referred to simply as “the old skating rink.” At the time, there was no clear plan for what it would become—only the belief that the structure still had a future.
By June of 2022, the building was ready for a new chapter. The property underwent a major transformation, including a complete renovation of the structure and surrounding land. While the original frame of the historic 140-foot building was preserved, the space began evolving into something entirely new.
A three-bedroom house with a living room and kitchen was added to the property, and the expansive interior was redesigned with gatherings in mind, featuring a large bar area and open space capable of hosting events of all kinds.
Today, the vision continues to grow. New additions are being developed across the property, including expansions to the original building, an open-air cathedral ceremony space overlooking the Ozark hills, a gazebo gathering area, and expansive outdoor grounds with plenty of room for parking, recreation, and celebration.
Future plans aim to expand even further, shaping the property into a premier event destination in the heart of the Ozarks.
And when a member of the Griffin family became engaged and needed a wedding venue, the idea suddenly felt like the perfect fit. The historic property that once brought generations of locals together would now begin a new tradition of its own.
Fittingly, that wedding will become the inaugural event, marking the beginning of a new era for a place that has always brought people together.
Fifty-four years after its original opening in October 1972, the doors will open once again, beginning a new chapter.
Introducing The Rink — opening October 2026.
