Abandoned Skateland Roller Rink in Buffalo New York

 The abandoned roller rink known as New Skateland in Buffalo was once one of the most iconic entertainment venues in Western New York. Originally opened decades ago and operated for generations by the Goggins family, the massive complex on East Ferry Street became a cultural staple for countless people growing up in Buffalo. It was far more than just a skating rink, it was a gathering place filled with music, birthday parties, arcade games, roller discos and late-night events that defined entire eras from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

Join me and my friends MotleyKiwi and StateWideUnoccupied as we explore one of the coolest abandoned places I have ever seen. Hidden behind its aging exterior was an incredible time capsule of roller skating history. Inside the abandoned rink were rows of roller skates still sitting on shelves, a colorful kid’s play zone, DJ booths frozen in time, party rooms, character costumes used for children’s birthdays and decades of memories left behind. Every room felt untouched, like the building had simply closed one night and never reopened.

Upstairs, the complex became even more surreal. An entire abandoned nightclub and bar remained intact, complete with a kitchen, pool table, lighting systems, another DJ booth and thousands of vinyl records and albums spanning the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The deeper we explored, the more it felt like walking through a forgotten piece of Buffalo nightlife history.

Like many roller rinks across North America, New Skateland struggled in its later years as skating culture faded and operating costs increased. After the death of longtime owner Trunnis Goggins, the rink continued operating under the name Kiddie Skateland before eventually shutting down around 2020. Since then, the building has sat abandoned while memories of the once legendary venue continue to live on with former visitors and the urban explorers lucky enough to see it before nature and decay fully take over.