Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Ends Popular Ice-Skating Rink Tradition
Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Ends Popular Ice-Skating Rink Tradition
Since 2011, The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas has become known for its unique seasonal attraction: a rooftop ice-skating rink on the fourth-floor pool of the Boulevard Tower. This 4,200-square-foot rink features real ice, cozy fire pits, snow effects, and festive cocktails, making it a beloved winter getaway for visitors each holiday season. However, this year marks the end of that tradition, as the hotel has decided not to open the ice rink for the season.
The End of a Festive Tradition
Recent reports reveal that The Cosmopolitan will permanently close its popular rooftop rink and is auctioning off the rink’s equipment and decorations. Typically, the rink opens between late October and early November, running through the holiday period starting around Thanksgiving. The extensive setup, currently stored in Las Vegas, requires multiple semi-trailers to transport its components.
The auction includes rink walls, the complete antifreeze plumbing system used to maintain the ice, skates, furniture such as Adirondack chairs and benches, decorative elements like plastic reindeer, and even a Zamboni machine that is operational but needs some repairs. A notable condition in the sale requires that these items not be used within Clark County, likely to prevent local competitors from reopening a similar rink.
Competition and Local Ice Rink Scene
In recent years, The Cosmopolitan’s rooftop rink mainly competed with Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which operated the Oasis Ice Rink on its third-floor pool deck, a larger 7,500-square-foot seasonal rink. With The Cosmopolitan stepping back this year, Fontainebleau’s rink appears set to be the only seasonal ice-skating venue available within Clark County.
A Cherished Holiday Experience
When it was open, The Cosmopolitan’s ice rink provided a memorable setting where guests skated while enjoying festive music and panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip. The rink area was designed for comfort and celebration, with fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs and a menu of seasonal cocktails that featured cozy flavors like pumpkin, rum, chocolate, and marshmallows.
Special themed events were also a highlight, including “Monday Date Skate” nights that paired skating with holiday movie projections on the hotel’s large digital marquee. Another favorite was “Throwback Thursday,” inviting skaters to wear retro attire and enjoy music from past decades like the 1970s through the 1990s, adding to the vibrant holiday cheer.
