The Knoxville Skate Pit has seen extensive improvements and renovations over the last year.

The Skate Pit located next to the Knoxville Raceway has been operational for decades, offering roller skating to people in Knoxville and surrounding communities. Two years ago the racetrack started to use the Skate Pit building some more during the Knoxville Nationals, for a trade show, and some corporate outings. Knoxville Raceway also added air conditioning to the building to make it more comfortable in the warm months, as well as new windows and siding. 

Knoxville Raceway and Marion County Fair General Manager Jason Reed said after those initial improvements, it was a snowball effect to continue to improve the building. There was then a new floor added at the pit, new carpet installed, new tables and chairs purchased, and  the PA system was upgraded. There was then a new outdoor sign added and this spring, the bathroom will be re-done as well. Reed tells KNIA/KRLS that this was an expensive renovation, but they had a lot of help. 

“A lot of this work was completed by some of the fair board members. We hired the floor to get done, but a lot of the other stuff was done and we still spent close to $100,000 on this building. It’s needed. It still gets used a lot and it has kinda been neglected for several years. We’re just trying to update it. It’s the same old building, but it just has a new face lift to it. Everything is going good.”

The Skate Pit has open skating on Friday night’s from 7:00-9:00 pm for $5 and there is food and drinks available. There are also two-to-three hour private parties available to rent on the weekends and some auctions are held there. 

The Skate Pit is averaging 75-90 kids attending on a Friday night. Hear more about the project from Reed on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.