Skatewave - St. Charles, MO

A skatepark run by a literal magician, designed completely on the fly

Skate Wave was built inside a larger family fun center called Stop N Sock and it's more commonly referred to by that name.

Stop N Sock Fun Center was originally known as The Arnold Palmer Recreation Center and contained a driving range, miniature golf, and batting cages. It changed ownership in the middle of the urethane era, and the owner partnered with his friend -- a magician who ran a magic-themed pizza shop-- to add a skatepark.

"We didn't even have an architect," (co-owner Bob) Blattel told the Post-Dispatch. "I'd be in front of the bulldozers telling them where to dig."

The park was touted being as a miniature version of Skatepark Montebello, but the actual similarities between the two were limited. Skate Wave had three main sections: a slalom course, a snake run, and a banked freestyle area.  The transition at the end of each of these runs ended at a vertical cinderblock wall.