Written by Karyn Powers
You don’t have to wait out the fickle foolishness of Mother Nature to find the right time and place to go ice skating.
Until February 18, 2019, the Marathon Park Ice Arena will continue to offer a variety of daytime, afternoon, and evening public-skating hours.
- Monday–Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 2:00–5:00 p.m.
If you don’t have your own skates or if friends are in town for a visit, the Marathon Park Ice Arena (1201 Stewart Ave., Wausau) has professionally sharpened and ready-to-use figure and hockey skates available for rent at just $3 per session.
Daily admission is only $2.00 for youth and $3.00 for adults. Bonus cards (good for 10 visits) are $15 for youth and $25 for adults. A season pass for any age is $70. Cards and passes can be purchased at the Ice Arena during public skating hours or at the office of the Wausau & Marathon County Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department (212 River Drive, Suite 2, Wausau).
Skater Gary Bushe’s smile was broad under a red Wisconsin ball cap and silver mustache as he shared with me his thoughts on skating at the indoor arena:
“It beats walking. I’ve been skating all my life. [I] started at Grant Elementary school as a kid. I quit for 20 years, but now I’m retired and have more time. [I] used to buy a 10-time pass, but this year, I went for the full season!”
Another fun and exciting winter event you might want to check out at the Marathon Park Ice Arena is a Wausau RiverWolves hockey game.
The RiverWolves are part of the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL). The team is made up of post high school and college-age players from the Midwest (and some from out of the country), who live with host families in the Wausau area and play their home games at the ice arena in Marathon Park.
If you’ve never been to a RiverWolves game, you need to go! Check out the excitement of this sport in the video clip below from a December 2018 game:
The team is only 2 years old, but it has a strong following. They share their love of the game and their good sportsmanship through community outreach events.
Single-Game Wausau RiverWolves Ticket Prices
- $10 = Adults
- $8 = Seniors (65+ years) & Military
- $5 = Students (Ages 5–18 years)
- FREE = Under 5 years
Tickets are available by phone at 715.869.3132 or in person at the RiverWolves office inside Marathon Park Ice Arena. Office Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Doors open 45 minutes before Puck Drop.
You can find the RiverWolves’ home schedule here, or learn more about RiverWolves hockey at the team’s website.
For hours and details on other ice-skating and hockey rinks in Marathon County, be sure to check out our 2018-2019 Fall & Winter Recreation Guide.
We hope to see you out on the ice soon!
Karyn Powers
Recreation Superintendent | Wausau / Marathon County Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department
Karyn Powers joined the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department in 1991. Prior to settling in Marathon County, she spent 5 years working for the Department of Defense in Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Services for the U.S. Navy in Iceland and the U.S. Army in South Korea. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Park and Recreation Administration and a master’s degree in Education. In addition to being the city/county Recreation Superintendent, she is a published poet and author. Karyn fell in love with Marathon County as a college senior when she interned here in 1979, then traveled halfway around the world to get back here as soon as was possible. Email Karyn Powers.
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