The Story of Skateland, Half-Way Tree — Chapter 3: Skateland Opening Day

Culture by People Magazine
Documentary Series
The Story of Skateland, Half-Way Tree

After nearly two years of planning and construction, Americans Rufus Dukes and Rodney Morgan stood on the verge of seeing a dream become reality. On Saturday, June 6, 1970, they would officially open Skateland, Jamaica's first roller-skating rink, at the former Rainbow Club site on Half-Way Tree Road.

Half-Way Tree was about to witness something it had never seen before.

Families gathered outside the skating rink. Curious onlookers stopped to see what all the excitement was about. Jamaica was about to be introduced to an entirely new recreational sport.

A ribbon stretched across the entrance of the skating rink.

In just a few moments, Christopher Seaga, the young son of Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Planning, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, who would later serve as Jamaica's fifth Prime Minister, and Mrs. Mitsy Seaga, would cut the ribbon, officially opening the skating rink—a historic moment in Skateland's history.

Standing nearby was Kingston's Mayor, Councillor Emerson "Ginard" Barrett, who served as Mayor of Kingston from 1970 to 1971, waiting to officially declare Skateland open.

Few people in that crowd could have imagined they were witnessing the beginning of a place that would become part of Jamaica's cultural history. Decades later, Skateland would be remembered not only for roller skating, but for its place in Jamaican youth culture, music, friendships and countless personal memories.

Beyond that ribbon was something entirely new to Jamaica—a place dedicated to organized roller skating, where beginners could learn the sport and experienced skaters could enjoy it throughout the week.

The Invitation

The excitement surrounding the opening of Skateland had begun days before.

The Daily Gleaner on Friday, June 5, 1970, carried an advertisement unlike anything Jamaica had seen before.

Across the top of the page it proclaimed:

"It's New! It's Exciting! It's Fun! It's for the Family! It's Roller Skating!"

Below the headline was another invitation:

"Family Fun on Wheels."

Readers were encouraged to "Follow the Crowds" to what the advertisement proudly described as Jamaica's first and only complete skating rink.

It promised roller skates for hire, refreshments, special instructors, music by the Fantastic Inner Circle Band and an official opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

Admission was 50 cents for adults and 30 cents for children.

For thousands of Jamaicans, this advertisement was their very first introduction to roller skating.

Twenty-four hours later, that promise stood before them.

The Opening Ceremony

The moment had finally arrived.

Mayor Emerson Barrett stepped forward to officially declare Skateland open.

In his remarks, he congratulated Rufus Dukes and Rodney Morgan for bringing the sport of roller skating to Jamaica and seeing their dream become a reality.

He recalled a recent visit to Connecticut in the United States, where he had been impressed by parks that offered more than open space. They were places where families gathered, children played and communities enjoyed healthy recreational activities together.

Looking around Skateland that afternoon, he saw the same opportunity for Kingston.

He acknowledged that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation could not provide every recreational facility the city needed. That made ventures like Skateland especially meaningful because they demonstrated what private initiative could accomplish for the benefit of the wider community.

He also welcomed the promoters' decision to make roller skating accessible by offering special prices for the less privileged, making the sport available to a wider cross-section of Jamaicans. He expressed the hope that everyone who used the rink would respect the facility and help the promoters achieve their vision. 

Mayor Barrett ended on an optimistic note, expressing the hope that one day Kingston would welcome a bowling alley as well. 

Rufus Dukes wasn't simply celebrating the opening of a skating rink. He was watching an idea that had lived in his mind for nearly two years become a reality. After arriving in Jamaica by chance and falling in love with the island, he became convinced it should have a roller-skating rink of its own. Inspired by his lifelong passion for roller skating, he hoped Jamaicans would discover the same enjoyment of the sport that had made it so popular in the United States.

The Exhibition Skaters

Words had done their job.

The ribbon had been cut.

Now it was time for the skates to speak.

The crowd leaned forward.

According to The Daily Gleaner, Lee McLaren and Lori Rodriguez, visiting exhibition skaters from the United States, glided onto the skating rink before a crowd that, for many, was witnessing professional roller skating for the very first time. There were no instructions to follow and no rules to explain. The performance itself became the introduction.

Inspired illustration of visiting Chicago skaters performing during the opening celebrations at Skateland, Half Way Tree, Kingston, Jamaica, on June 6, 1970. Based on contemporary newspaper accounts.

Together they skated graceful duets, moving from the elegance of a waltz to the energy of rock music. Then came the solo performances. McLaren jumps and pirouettes drew applause as the audience discovered just how athletic and artistic roller skating could be.

For the first time, Jamaica watched roller skating not as an idea—but as movement.

It was their first glimpse of a sport that, within moments, would no longer belong only to America.

McLaren and Rodriguez also helped introduce Jamaicans to the fundamentals of roller skating, serving as instructors during Skateland's opening period.

Skateland wasn't designed as somewhere for skating alone. It was somewhere families could spend an afternoon or evening.

The speeches would soon be forgotten.

The applause would fade.

But the sound of those first wheels rolling across the floor would echo through generations of Jamaican memories.

 

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➡ Chapter 4: Coming Soon

 

Editor's Note:

This chapter is a documentary reconstruction based on historical research and contemporary newspaper reporting, including coverage published in The Daily Gleaner on Wednesday, June 10, 1970.