The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 66

then & now

Salem Civic Center

T

here once was an indoor ice skating rink in Salem.
Holiday on Ice, an ice rink show, was the
first major attraction hosted by the SalemRoanoke Valley Civic Center in 1967, the year
the center opened its doors. The $2.5 million
center, pictured here fronting Roanoke Boulevard, was coined
the single most talked about project in Salem at the time,
according to " Salem: A Virginia Chronicle " by Norwood
Middleton.
That's because the city needed a large, arena-like space to
host sports, civic activities, cultural events, entertainment, and
more. After at least six years of planning and deliberation,
including an invitation to the City of Roanoke to share in
the building's operation, the center was built. Rather than
Roanoke joining in on the project, Roanoke County helped
to finance the center. Later, the facility was called SalemRoanoke County Civic Center and then, Salem Civic Center
when Salem became sole owner in 1983.
Nowadays, you won't find an ice rink at the center. But

over the years, it hosted a slew of ice hockey games by the
former Salem Rebels team, concerts by such well-known acts
as Conway Twitty and Kenny Chesney, home shows, rodeos, a
visit from President Richard Nixon in 1969, boxing matches
featuring Muhammed Ali and much more.
The civic center now is considered the hub of the 65-acre
James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex, which
includes Salem Football Stadium and the Salem Memorial
Baseball Park, home of the Salem Red Sox minor league team.
Like many entertainment venues nationwide, the
coronavirus pandemic forced the center to get creative last
summer. For the first time in its history, it opened its parking
lot for several drive-in concerts, spreading out cars in every
other parking space, at 200 total, to allow room for physical
distancing.
Attendees were invited to listen to live music from inside
their vehicles or while sitting in chairs in front of each car. The
drive-in concerts of 2020 marked another noteworthy period
in the center's long history. I

JENNY KINCAID BOONE is a Roanoke-based freelance writer and former business journalist. She is a Roanoke College and Northwestern University graduate who is passionate
about exercise and chai latte.
66 JAN/FEB 2021

TheRoanoker.com

JULIANNE RAINONE JACOB / ARCHIVAL IMAGE COURTESY OF THE VIRGINIA ROOM, ROANOKE PUBLIC LIBRARIES

written by Jenny K. Boone The well-known local arena once played host to an ice rink show.



http://www.TheRoanoker.com

The Roanoker - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - January/February 2021

The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - Cover1
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - Cover2
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 3
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 4
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 5
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 6
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 7
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 8
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 9
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 10
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 11
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 12
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 13
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 14
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 15
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 16
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 17
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 18
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 19
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 20
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 21
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 22
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 23
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 24
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 25
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 26
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 27
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 28
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 29
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 30
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 31
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 32
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 33
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 34
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 35
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 36
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 37
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 38
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 39
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 40
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 41
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 42
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 43
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 44
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 45
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 46
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 47
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 48
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 49
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 50
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 51
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 52
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 53
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 54
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 55
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 56
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 57
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 58
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 59
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 60
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 61
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 62
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 63
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 64
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 65
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 66
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 67
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 68
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL1
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL2
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL3
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL4
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL5
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL6
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL7
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL8
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL9
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL10
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL11
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL12
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL13
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL14
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL15
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL16
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL17
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL18
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL19
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL20
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL21
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL22
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL23
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL24
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL25
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL26
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL27
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL28
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL29
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL30
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL31
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL32
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL33
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL34
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL35
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL36
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL37
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL38
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL39
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL40
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL41
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL42
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL43
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL44
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL45
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL46
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL47
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL48
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL49
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL50
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL51
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL52
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL53
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL54
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL55
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL56
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL57
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL58
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL59
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL60
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL61
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL62
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL63
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL64
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL65
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL66
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL67
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL68
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL69
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL70
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL71
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL72
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL73
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL74
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL75
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL76
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL77
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL78
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL79
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL80
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL81
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL82
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL83
The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - VBRL84
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/the-roanoker-march-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/the-roanoker-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/RKRND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/RKRSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanokerJA2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_2020_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanoker_JulyAugust2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanoker_MayJune2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_201402
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com