The success of Conroe’s Rainbow Roller Rink is all in the family as the Allens have kept the business in operation for 30 years.

Johnny and Elaine Allen opened the roller skating rink in 1985. Eventually the Allens moved to the back seat to let their daughters, Mary Allen-Keating and Marci Henderson, take the wheel as managers.

“We’ve seen generations of people continue to skate here,” Henderson said. “They’re the grandparents who used to bring [their children] who are now bringing the grandchildren. It continues to be a great business.”

Allen-Keating and her husband took over as the primary managers of the rink three years ago after Henderson’s husband spent years in the role. Allen-Keating said they have since made a slew of upgrades and changes to the facility, including renovated bathrooms, skating floor lighting, the addition of a massive video screen to play music videos and football games and options for group parties.

The rink also hosts coordinated theme skating events on Saturday afternoons and recently hosted a “Frozen” skate. In January, Keating said, they plan on hosting a “Star Wars”-themed event.

The couple also established Rainbow Roller Rink as the home of the Conroe Roller Derby team, the Conroe Cutthroats, and hosts several bouts each season, Keating said.

Although the Keatings are at the head of operations, the business is still a family affair, she said.

“My parents are both still very active with the rink—they are pretty much here every weekend even though they wouldn’t have to be,” Allen-Keating said. “They enjoy coming here, and they do a lot behind the scenes.”

The family has owned and operated skating rinks in Houston and Conroe since 1971, Allen-Keating said. The sisters worked in all areas of the business—from counting money to cleaning toilets.

“I was literally raised in it,” she said. “And having grown up around it I’ve pretty much seen all sides of the business, so there hasn’t been much that I did not expect.”

Henderson said their audience demographics shift every few years—from the `80s when high school students dominated the rink to today when it is predominantly junior high students.

“Of course it’s [healthy], and it gets everybody out and moving, but it’s something everyone can do and have fun,” she said. “Skating crosses all generations and age groups and brings back memories. It’s something you share with your children.”