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The former Crystal Gardens space at Navy Pier has been the subject of controversy for the past five years, but a new roller skating pop-up opens the space to guests once again.
In 2021, Navy Pier announced it would replace its free indoor botanical garden, which housed more than 80 full-sized palm trees, with a ticketed immersive experience from entertainment company Illuminarium to help offset the financial losses it endured during the pandemic.
As soon as they found out, Chicagoans weren’t happy: More than 15,000 people signed a petition to block the move. But despite the community's efforts, Illuminarium’s 10-year lease agreement was inked in late 2021.
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Some might call it karma for trying to replace a free green space with a paid digital experience, but Illuminarium proved to be an instant flop. Navy Pier’s owners filed a lawsuit against the entertainment company, claiming they’d pulled a “bait and switch.” They promised a $30 million, state-of-the-art experience that engaged all five senses, but instead produced a lackluster “run-of-the-mill virtual reality exhibit” due to their own financial decline.
Since then, the space has been vacant and remained closed—until now. A temporary roller skating rink has taken over the stunning Crystal Gardens.
The six-story tall atrium, illuminated by the Centennial Wheel, offers sweeping views during the day and dazzles at night. It’s a huge space (one acre, to be exact), and Navy Pier and partner Bucket Listers did an excellent job at transforming it into a sprawling funhouse.
A massive roller rink and a disco ball above it anchor the atrium. There’s also an arcade area with nearly a dozen machines, a photo booth, lockers and plenty of benches for onlookers to kick back. On select nights, guests 21 and up can join the adults-only Summer Skate After Dark experience.
Tickets ($20.38 for adults, $17.75 for kids) include skate rental. You can also bring your own skates, but ticket prices remain the same.
The pop-up opens June 18 and runs through Labor Day. And though the fate of the Crystal Gardens post-Summer Skate remains unknown, it’s a welcome addition to Navy Pier.
If the Crystal Gardens can’t be an indoor botanical garden anymore, then a disco-themed roller rink feels like a reasonable replacement—even if it is temporary.