COEUR d'ALENE - On Dec. 26, 1980, then Skate Plaza Roller Rink owner-operators Pat and Marvin Miller opened their brand new facility.

Fast-forward nearly 33 years to Sept. 6.

That's when the Miller family officially completed the sale of the rink property to its neighbor, Candlelight Christian Fellowship.

"It wasn't an easy decision," Pat Miller said Wednesday. The Millers' son, Major, and his wife, Michelle, also became owner-operators.

"It was hard and very sad," Pat Miller said.

But, she said, the Miller family couldn't be more happy with the new owner and operator.

"We felt really good that they were willing to continue it as a skating facility," she said.

Skate Plaza Roller Rink, located at 5685 N. Pioneer Drive, is a 26,000-square-foot building on 3 acres of land.

Paul Van Noy, pastor at Candlelight Christian Fellowship at 5725 N. Pioneer Drive, said the church had the right of first refusal if the Skate Plaza property ever went on the market.

He said it was important the church purchase the property for parking reasons. The church has been able to use the Skate Plaza parking lot and wasn't certain that would continue if it fell under different ownership.

"As far as the skating rink goes, nothing will change," Van Noy said. "We hired a management team and a couple new employees" to operate it.

He said the Skate Plaza will be run as a nonprofit now, however, which is the only real difference.

"It's not closing at all," Van Noy said. "We think it's a beautiful part of our community."