Culver City Ice Rink, Westside Landmark Shuts Its Doors

CULVER CITY (CBSLA.com) — More than 50 years of ice skating memories slipped away Sunday night as the Culver Ice Arena held its last skate.

The Westside landmark closed its doors after 52 years in business.

Olympians Scott Hamilton, Michelle Kwan and Tai Babilonia trained at the rink, along with the Los Angeles Kings.

An online petition garnered more than 6,400 signatures from people wanting to save the well-known rink.

"I remember coming here for the first time with my friends, 6th grade, middle school, 1989...and I didn't know how to skate and I pretended that I did. The first time I held a girl's hand was here," skater Justin Crowden said.

The property, located at 4545 Sepulveda Boulevard, has been sold to developer Planet Granite, who plans to transform it into a facility with rock-climbing, yoga and a fitness center, the LA Times reported.

Planet Granite beat out bids from the Kings and the team's owner, AEG, who wanted to take over the rink and keep it running as a public venue, according to the newspaper.