Huntsville Ice Sports Center
The Huntsville Ice Sports Center – also known as the Benton H. Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex – is a nonprofit facility serving the ice skating, Hockey, and Broomball community in North Alabama.
Address: 3185 Leeman Ferry Rd SW Huntsville AL 35801-5331
Phone: 256-883-3774
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Sat. 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM / Sun. 5:30 AM – 12:00 AM
Website: icesportscenter.com
Huntsville Ice Sports Center
Ice Skating came to Huntsville in 1959 when Mr. Benton H. Wilcoxon opened the Ice Palace off of Governor’s Drive. The Ice Palace operated as a profitable private corporation for 27 years. On September 11, 1986, Mr. Wilcoxon donated the Ice Palace to the City of Huntsville, transforming it into a municipal facility.
In September 1986, the Ice Palace Board of Control (BoC), a City-appointed board, and other concerned citizens embarked on a five-year plan to replace the Ice Palace with a larger, more adequate skating facility for Huntsville. By March 1988, a committee was established by the BoC to study and propose an expansion for a new complex. This group eventually became FRIA, the Friends of Recreational Ice Activities, a coalition of regular Ice Palace users. On May 8, 1989, FRIA and the BoC presented their proposal for the skating complex to the Mayor and City Council. Over the next two years, FRIA raised and donated funds to build the new facility.
The new facility, the Benton H. Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex, opened on December 15, 1991, featuring two ice surfaces and numerous supporting amenities. As one of the few dual-sheet ice facilities in the Southeast, it serves a wide community of figure skaters, hockey players, and recreational skaters. The Ice Complex, highlighted on Homely Huntsville, includes an on-site pro shop and hosts additional activities like physical training, ballet, and meetings.
The Ice Complex continues to be a vibrant hub for hockey tournaments, figure skating competitions, and community events supporting ice-related activities in Huntsville and beyond.
