New Seasonal Ice Rink Opens as Part of Winterfest

By Maria Mansour

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Hearthstone Group has added a winter touch to the holiday season by opening an ice skating rink as part of Winterfest at Fountains at Gateway, 1500 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro.

            Winterfest Ice Skating, the first ice skating rink in Rutherford County, will operate at various hours through Jan. 3, 2018. Marlene Holland, a spokesperson for Hearthstone, said the company chose Murfreesboro for the attraction because it wanted to contribute to the community.

Photo By Maria Mansour

Admission for ice skating is $15 for adults, $12 for children age 4-12, and free for kids age 3 and under. Skate rentals are included in the admission price. Individuals can also bring their own skates. Trainer frames are available for kids who are learning to skate.

"We are truly delighted to introduce Winterfest at Fountains and bring outdoor ice skating to Murfreesboro," said Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties.

Fountains at Gateway is a 31-acre development that includes office buildings, event space, and stores and restaurants. There are plans to add apartments and a hotel.

The Fountains ice rink is located near Saint Thomas Hospital in Rutherford County. Other Winterfest activities include pictures with Santa, and special events such as Movies on Ice and live concerts. The grounds are adorned with holiday decorations such as sparkling lights and Christmas trees.

Photo By Maria Mansour

Hours of operation and a schedule of activities for Winterfest at Fountains at Gateway are published at www.FountainsWinterfest.com.

The skating rink is equipped with a chiller that keeps the ice between 10 and 15 degrees. This prevents the ice from melting on warm weather days. Visitors can even enjoy ice skating on rainy days if they do not mind getting wet.

Fountains at Gateway is the first walkable, urban-style community in Rutherford County that is designed to fills people’s professional and lifestyle needs with residential apartments and commercial offices up to 470,000 feet. The interior design for the project was created to make individuals feel welcome to stay at home and enjoy engaging in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

 At Fountains at Gateway, families can visit the Soda Bar café’ for ice cream or hot beverages, including coffee and hot chocolate. Children enjoy new flavors of ice cream while playing on the splash pad, an outdoor play area with fountains, nozzles, sprinklers and other structures that spray water.

Photo By Maria Mansour

“We provide ice skating, hot chocolate, movie nights, a Ball Brothers concert, and a tacky sweater night as event activities,” Holland said.

Fountains at Gateway also has an Anytime Fitness that is open 24 hours. It has a well-trained staff, and the gym offers private bathrooms with showers.

Homegrown Marketplace is a boutique and gift shop that sells different styles of décor and furniture for the home, gifts, handmade items, and local foods like spices, honey and sauces.

Also, e. Allen is a new luxury store that sells specially designed shoes, boots and handmade jewelry for women.

The Kitchen Fresh is a restaurant that serves fresh organic food that’s made from scratch and available for dine-in or take-out.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is a bakery that’s located at the main entrance of Fountains at Gateway. The bakery makes a variety of cake flavors and sizes. It makes cakes only from pure, fine and fresh ingredients.

        Fountains at Gateway has hired 15 workers for Winterfest. It has been a challenge staffing, organizing, and setting up the event.

Photo By Maria Mansour

        “We have different sponsors to support different events,” Holland added.

Hearthstone Group, which organized Winterfest, is accepting donations to help underwrite event-related costs.

Graby announced that two retail businesses are about to open in the Fountains at Gateway community. The Social Chair Bar will serve luxury signature dishes.

Winterfest, which is designed for annual events, is expected to host Winterfest again next year. Other activities planned for 2018 include private events, church and youth events, holiday parties, and school spirit nights.