Ramona Roller Rink announces plans to rebuild

Dowagiac, Mich. -- Harold Schaus has worked at Ramona Roller Rink since 1975.

He took over as the owner in 2004.

He and the rest of the staff at Ramona staff spent their Mother’s Day having a staff meeting for the first time since the 96-year-old community staple bunt to the ground Tuesday.

“We were in Florida when it happened and my first thought was we’d be tearing it down and cleaning up and moving on when we got here we found out that it’s very possible to put it back so that’s what we’re doing,” said Schaus.

Some have spent every day since going through and seeing what they can salvage.

So far it’s not much, but I’m told the sign is already being repaired and will be back up in a few weeks.

The original floor was not warped but will still be unable to be saved.

There have still been no signs of Nugget the beloved rink cat.

Schaus who was away at a skating convention at the time of the fire said they have been overwhelmed with the amount of support they have received from the community and will be announcing a number of fundraising opportunities on their Facebook as they work to rebuild.

“Most important thing is the community. They have been stopping here and talking to us and driving through here every single day. This parking lot at night has been full of people taking pictures and telling their stories and howling out here and that’s a lot for 96 years.” Said Schaus.

Ramona’s Mini Golf Course will keep the staff busy this summer as they work to rebuild the rink which they are hoping will take less time than two years.