Winter Lodge ice rink

Palo Alto rarely sees frost, yet it has kept an outdoor ice rink going for 70 years. The Winter Lodge sits on Middlefield Road south of downtown, a sheet of ice open to the sky with a lodge beside it. On a cold, clear night in December, with the holiday tree lit, it feels like a small mountain town dropped into the middle of Silicon Valley.

The rink is run by a nonprofit and exists today because local skaters fought to save it in the 1980s. This guide covers that history, the 2026 to 2027 season dates, how public sessions and tickets work and what to know about lessons.

How the rink began

The rink opened on February 15, 1956 as the Winter Club. Its builder was Duncan Williams, an engineering professor at San Jose State who had moved west from Wisconsin. The original sheet measured 65 by 125 feet, with a separate smaller area for figure skaters. It was a hit. By 1959 the club had a peak membership of about 500 families.

Local accounts often describe it as the only permanent outdoor ice rink west of the Sierra Nevada. Whether or not that is still strictly true, outdoor ice remains rare enough in Northern California that the Winter Lodge draws skaters from across the Peninsula.

Saved by the community

The rink nearly disappeared in the early 1980s. Its owner, Richard Peery, planned to tear it down and build condominiums. Skaters formed the nonprofit Friends of the Winter Club in 1981. Their first plan was a large new rink, to be called the Friendship Pavilion, on a city park parcel near Geng Road. The city council offered a favorable lease option, but the group could not raise enough money.

The rink was set to close after the 1983 season. A new group, the Trust for Community Skating led by Jack Morton, stepped in. In 1983 it won a one-year lease extension and $25,000 from the city for repairs. The rink reopened that September under a new name, the Winter Lodge.

The long-term fix took two more years. The Trust needed about $2.5 million to buy the property and the council refused to lend it. In November 1985 Palo Alto voters approved Measures A and B, which allowed a land swap with Peery. The Trust then raised money to buy the Lodge. That vote is why the rink still operates as a community nonprofit rather than a condo complex.

The 2026 to 2027 season

Because the ice sits outdoors, the Winter Lodge runs on a season rather than year-round. According to the Winter Lodge website, the 2026 to 2027 season looks like this:

The rink is closed on November 26 (Thanksgiving), December 24, December 25, January 1 and March 28. Session times and prices are posted on the Public Skating Hours and Prices page of the rink's website. They vary by day of the week and by school holidays, so check before you go.

Public skating and tickets

Public sessions are open to skaters of every level, from first-timers clinging to the wall to experienced skaters practicing spins. The key rule: tickets must be bought online in advance. The rink does not list walk-up sales for public sessions. You can buy up to 30 days ahead, which is worth doing for weekend afternoons, school holidays and the weeks around Christmas.

Dress in layers. Palo Alto winter evenings often dip into the low 40s °F and the ice adds its own chill. Gloves help beginners who fall and a hat is welcome on the coldest nights. Our weather guide has month by month averages.

Lessons and classes

The Winter Lodge has a long tradition of teaching. Group classes run through the season for two age groups:

• Kids: group classes for children ages 5 and up.
• Adults: classes for skaters 17 and up, offered throughout the season.

Classes are organized by skill level, from first steps for beginners through freestyle skills classes for more advanced skaters. Dates, times and prices are on the rink's Classes page. Register early if you have a particular time slot in mind. For nervous adults, a class can be a gentler start than a busy public session.

Parties and private events

The rink also hosts private events and the season opener on October 16 was billed for both public skating and private bookings. An outdoor skate makes an unusual birthday outing or holiday gathering for a club or office team. Contact the office for options and ask well ahead if you want a date in December.

Getting there

The Winter Lodge is at 3009 Middlefield Road south of downtown, a few minutes from the shops of Midtown. Middlefield Road is one of the city's main north to south streets and is easy to bike along. Our getting around guide covers bike routes and local buses.

From downtown, it is about a ten minute drive south. Families often pair a skate with another stop on Middlefield Road, such as the Junior Museum and Zoo farther north, or with a walk at Mitchell Park.

What to bring

A little preparation makes the first half hour on the ice much more fun. Pack these before you head out:

• Your ticket confirmation on your phone, since sessions are sold online.
• Warm layers. A fleece or light jacket you can unzip once you warm up works better than one heavy coat.
• Gloves or mittens for every skater, especially children who are still learning to fall safely.
• Thick socks that come above the top of the boot, which keep rental skates from rubbing.
• Your own skates if you have them. Make sure the blades are sharpened before the season starts.
• A helmet for young beginners. A bike helmet is better than nothing for a first session.

Leave large bags at home or in the car. You will want your hands free on the ice and your pockets zipped.

Tips for a good skate

1. Book first. Since tickets are online only, buy them before you leave home.
2. Go on a weeknight for space. Weekend afternoons and school holidays tend to draw the biggest crowds.
3. Time it with the tree. From the week after Thanksgiving through early January the holiday tree is up and the rink is at its most festive.
4. Bring small kids early. Smaller skaters find the ice easier to handle before the evening crowds arrive.
5. Plan a full day. Our Palo Alto with kids guide and the events calendar have more winter ideas.

Visiting for the holidays? Compare hotels in Palo Alto or find a vacation rental with room for the whole family. For more ideas across town, browse things to do in Palo Alto.

Frequently asked questions