Winter Lodge

What Winter Lodge does

Winter Lodge is a nonprofit outdoor ice skating facility located at 3009 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California, operated by Community Skating, Inc. (EIN 77-0089303). Founded in 1956 by engineer Duncan Williams, it is the only permanent outdoor ice skating rink west of the Sierra Nevada. The organization serves over 70,000 guests annually and trains more than 3,000 skating students per season through what is described as one of the largest recreational skating schools in the U.S. It employs 11-50 people and operates seasonally from October through April.

The facility's defining technical asset is a brine-based refrigeration and shading system designed by Williams in 1955-1956 to sustain outdoor ice under California's mild winter climate; this original design remains largely intact and operational today. Beyond public skating sessions, Winter Lodge runs structured group classes spanning youth basic skills, hockey, freestyle, and adult instruction, plus private group event reservations for corporate, school, and private gatherings. An ancillary tennis program operated by the Kim Grant Tennis Academy utilizes the property's refurbished courts to extend facility usage beyond the skating season.

Winter Lodge generates revenue through ticket sales for public skating ($20 per person), skate rentals ($6 per pair), multi-week class registrations ($228-$368 per session), and group event reservations priced at $29 per skater with minimum fees from $390 to $2,900 depending on format. All tickets and class enrollments are sold direct-to-consumer via the winterlodgeonline.com ticketing platform or by phone, with no third-party distribution. As a nonprofit, the organization also solicits tax-deductible donations to support operations, maintenance, and program preservation.

Name

Winter Lodge

Legal name

Community Skating, Inc.

Website

https://winterlodge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Winter Lodge is a nonprofit outdoor ice skating facility in Palo Alto, California, serving over 70,000 guests annually with public skating, group skating classes, and private group events. Operated by Community Skating, Inc. since 1956, it is the only permanent outdoor rink west of the Sierra Nevada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Skating Admissions: Direct ticket sales for public skating sessions at $20 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance online only, up to 30 days ahead.
2. Skate Rentals: Rental skates available for $6 per pair during public sessions and classes.
3. Group Event Reservations: Private group events priced at $29 per skater with minimum fees ranging from $390 to $2,900 depending on group size and venue (outdoor, indoor, or combined).
4. Skating Classes: Group skating lessons for youth and adults, ranging from $228 for a 6-week fall session to $368 for an 8-week winter/spring session. Includes youth basic skills, hockey, freestyle, and adult classes.
5. Donations and Support: As a nonprofit organization operated by Community Skating, Inc. (EIN 77-0089303), Winter Lodge accepts tax-deductible donations to support operations, maintenance, and preserve access to programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Winter Lodge operates a nonprofit outdoor ice skating facility in Palo Alto, California, offering public skating sessions, group skating instruction (Youth Basic Skills, Hockey, Freestyle, Adult, and Parent & Tot classes), and private group event reservations. Supporting offerings include skate rentals and Little Bear skating aids for beginners, with an ancillary tennis program hosted on-site. The facility runs seasonally (October through April) and is the only permanent outdoor ice rink west of the Sierra Nevada.

Product overview

Winter Lodge operates as a recreational facility offering outdoor and indoor ice skating activities. The core offerings include public skating sessions, group skating classes (Youth Basic Skills through Freestyle Skills, Hockey, and Adult classes), and group event reservations (Daytime Private, Evening Private, Indoor Private, and Public Session Group formats). Supporting services include skate rentals in sizes toddler 6 through Mens 15, and Little Bear skating aids for young beginners. An ancillary tennis program operated by Kim Grant Tennis Academy is also offered on-site. The facility operates as a seasonal outdoor rink (October through April) with indoor rink availability and serves over 3,000 skating students per season.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Skating Sessions Outdoor and indoor ice skating sessions open to all skill levels, with admission tickets purchased in advance online; sessions run on varying schedules throughout the week with morning, afternoon, and evening options.
• Skating Classes Group skating instruction for ages 5 and up, including Youth Basic Skills (Beginner through D levels), Youth Hockey, Youth Freestyle Skills, Adult Basic Skills, Adult Freestyle Skills, and Parent & Tot classes; weekly classes with professional instructors in a recreational atmosphere.
• Group Event Reservations Private ice reservations for groups including Daytime Private (outdoor ice, 35-75 skaters), Evening Private (outdoor + indoor ice, 100-300 skaters), Indoor Private (indoor ice, 35-75 skaters), Public Session Groups (15-30 skaters), and Broomball events.
• Skate Rentals Rental skates available in sizes from toddler 6 to Ladies 14 and Mens 15, included with class registration or available separately for $6 per pair during public sessions.
• Little Bear Skating Aids Plastic bear-shaped skating aids for young beginners to push while learning to skate, available on indoor ice during Saturday and Sunday afternoon/evening public sessions.
• Kim Grant Tennis Academy Lessons Tennis lessons offered on Winter Lodge's refurbished tennis courts, including group and private lessons for all ages, provided by Kim Grant Tennis Academy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 70,000 guests per year
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kim Grant Tennis AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKim Grant Tennis Academy operates tennis lessons on Winter Lodge's refurbished tennis courts. The partnership has been in place for over 15 years, offering group and private lessons for all ages. This allows Winter Lodge to maximize use of its outdoor facilities year-round.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Peninsula Skating Club: Bay Area nonprofit skating organization running lessons, freestyle sessions, and youth hockey. Comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit skating instruction provider overlapping directly with Winter Lodge's class business.
• Wollman Rink: Iconic outdoor ice skating rink in New York City's Central Park. Directly comparable as a permanent outdoor public skating facility offering admission-based public sessions, group events, and lessons — Winter Lodge is its West Coast analog.
• Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center: San Francisco public indoor ice rink offering public skating sessions, lessons, and group events. Comparable as a Bay Area community ice skating facility with a similar public-session-and-classes model.
• The Rink at Rockefeller Center: World-famous outdoor ice rink at Rockefeller Center. Closely comparable as a destination outdoor ice skating facility serving public sessions, group bookings, and tourists in a high-cost urban market.
• Snoopy's Home Ice: Charles Schulz-built outdoor skating rink in Santa Rosa, California. Closely comparable as a Northern California permanent outdoor ice facility with public skating, lessons, and a community / nonprofit heritage.

Regional players

• Paramount Iceland Skate Rink: Long-running Southern California indoor ice rink offering public skating, lessons, and group events. Comparable as a California community ice rink with public-session and class programming.
• Sharks Ice at San Jose: NHL-affiliated Bay Area ice facility operating multiple rinks with public skating, youth hockey, figure skating, and lessons. Comparable as a regional peer offering similar programming within driving distance of Winter Lodge's catchment.
• City Ice (Long Beach): Southern California indoor ice rink providing public skating, lessons, and youth hockey. Comparable as a California community ice rink with overlapping admissions and instructional revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winter-lodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Winter Lodge