‘Good, old-fashioned fun’; Orangeburg skating rink continues as Skate 698

Skate 698, at the 75-year-old former Jammer’s, had its grand opening and ribbon cutting last month.

Tamikah Battle McDuffie purchased and renovated the 22,000-square-foot facility at 698 Murray Road in Orangeburg.

“I am an educator and work inside a prison system,” McDuffie said.

As someone who’s seen young people incarcerated, “I wanted to be a part of the solution in this community and in others.”

“I wanted to provide a safe space for children to come and families to come and just have good, old-fashioned fun,” McDuffie said.

She said the venue will also provide a place for people to exercise.

“I want to get people out to engage in physical activities,” McDuffie said.

In addition to the skating rink, the facility will also have a jungle gym, a toddler space and bouncy houses.

The venue will also provide educational opportunities for young people.

As a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) educator, McDuffie said the venue will include a 3,000-square-foot STEM center, where kids can explore STEM subjects in after-school activities.

She will also work with local schools to host field trips where students can engage in STEM curriculum activities that are set to base standards as well as have some fun skating and playing games.

“I have a passion in science and technology education,” McDuffie said. “The Roller Skating Association provides a curriculum that integrates STEM and skate.”

McDuffie says the Skate 698 combines her love of business and children “all in one.”

“It is a very unique STEM and skate program,” she said.

McDuffie is also hoping begin a “Read and Roll” effort to encourage children to read. Children will be able to receive free passes to the rink if they read a certain number of books.

Though it is McDuffie’s first venture into small business, she has experience as an educational consultant who has run grant-funded STEM camps over the past 15 years.

Her hopes are to one day have enough grant funding to allow children and families who cannot afford to come to the skating rink to do so at no cost.

The rink is open on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is closed Monday through Wednesday, although it can be booked for private parties and fundraisers.

The venue will also host various other themed skate events throughout the year.

These include:

• Heroes Night on Thursdays for educators and first responders who will enter at a discounted rate with proper identification from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• College night on Thursdays from August to May from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

• Disney Hits skate (every first and third Friday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and Kidz Bop skate (second and fourth Friday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

• Public skate Fridays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Skate lessons or private party Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Family skate on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Public skate Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Family Gospel and Christian Music skate (first and third Sunday of every month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

• Family skate on (second and fourth Sundays of every month from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Adult skate (21 and over — last Sunday of every month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

The skating rink, built in 1948, is one of the oldest rinks in the Southeast.

James Smoak opened the rink and was the owner for decades before Kevin Beebe assumed ownership for over two decades.

For more information on Skate 698, call 803-533-1600 or email battle4kids@skate698.com or visit their Facebook page by searching for Skate 698.