Meet The Murray's!
It’s time to meet the Murrays. (No, that’s not the name of a new primetime sitcom!) It’s the name of an incredible family bringing an incredible gift to the city of Coeur d’Alene.
This November, in McEuen park, The Murray family will launch their passion project - Coeur d’Alene On Ice! CdA On Ice is a pop-up outdoor ice skating rink that will bring all the Hallmark movie vibes to this town!
Imagine twinkling lights, fire pits, igloos, and loaded hot cocoa! This outdoor ice rink will deliver memories to last a lifetime. And the Murray family guarantees it will be the coolest place in town - pun intended!
The Coolest Place In Town
The Murrays are no strangers to seasonal ice rinks. They owned and operated Modesto On Ice in Modesto, California before moving back home to the Pacific Northwest in 2017. After a career in industrial refrigeration, Jerome Murray knew he had the tools and the knowledge to start a rink. Once he got the buy-in from his wife and three daughters, the Murray family embarked on what would become five seasons of magical memories - not only for their family, but for thousands of families in the area.
Magical Memories in The Making
More than 1,000 happy skaters filled the ice most days at Modesto On Ice, which meant that friendly staff was a must! If you know the Murray family, you know that each one of them exudes the friendliness required for an experience like this! Their joy propelled the entire project. Mom (Andrea), Dad (Jerome), and their three daughters - Addison, Ally, and Ashlyn - all worked at the rink! From lessons to skate rentals to the snack shack - the Murray family built their business around the customer experience - and their joy was contagious!
“Our staff is kind of like a family. After working 9 weeks together, it doesn’t even feel like a job! Everyone is so happy all of the time!”
- Ashlyn Murray, age 16
Ashlyn isn’t joking when she says the rink staff is like family. Some staff members return every season to work at Modesto On Ice, and some have come to visit the Murray family in Coeur d’ Alene. Even Addison’s fiancé, Miles, worked at the rink! And Ashlyn, the self-proclaimed social butterfly, built lifelong friendships with her fellow staff members - some of whom are traveling up to Coeur d’Alene to work at CdA On Ice!
Perhaps the late night skate sessions have something to do with that! According to the “loaded hot cocoa master”, Ally Murray, the staff often stayed after hours to play midnight ice hockey or broom ball after the customers went home. Those are some of her fondest memories of the rink! Since she’s heading to college in Arizona this fall, Ally is sad she’ll miss the opening night of the rink.
“I’ll definitely be coming back over breaks because I really want to be a part of it!”
Ally Murray, age 18.
Ally was in charge of the snack shack at Modesto On Ice and played a lead role in training employees. Ashlyn will be filling her shoes this year - helping kids with everything from lacing their skates to learning to navigate the ice without falling!
A Family Affair
Owning and operating the rink meant a lot of time at the rink for each member of the Murray family. Nonetheless, everyone agreed that Andrea was the worst skater in the family, with Jerome being the second worst! But what mom and dad lack in skating skills, they make up for in passion and commitment to everything they do.
“We’re a family run business. And for us the rink is about family, friends and connection. We’re so excited to meet the families here and give them an opportunity to make holiday memories with their loved ones each season.”
Andrea Murray, Owner & Operator, CdA On Ice
Winter memories run deep for the Murrays. In fact their romance blossomed twenty four winters ago on the ski slopes of Montana. Originally from Moses Lake, Andrea was at a church ski group event when she met Montana-born Jerome on the slopes. They hit it off and the rest was history. They hadn’t planned on living in California for the long term, so when they sold Modesto On Ice to the perfect family, they made the move back home to the Pacific Northwest. All of Coeur d’Alene will be glad they did!
Home-Town Happiness
Andrea always says that one of the best things about ice skating is that it appeals to nearly every demographic. It’s family fun that brings joy to a community. Jerome and Andrea fondly recall watching a visually impaired ice skater, with the help of his aide, finally get up the courage to step on ice for the first time in his life in Modesto. They hold close the memories of grandparents skating with their grandkids, or too-cool teenagers stumbling on the ice clutching their friends (and their phones)! Most of all, they’re excited to see what Coeur d’Alene on Ice will bring to the community they love.
“We came back to the Northwest because this is home. We wanted to live closer to our family, and invest in a place that we love.”
During the off season, the Murray family enjoys spending time in nature, and most recently, planning the wedding of their oldest daughter. By the time the rink opens in the fall, Addison and Miles will be newlyweds, the Murray’s will have two rink openings under their belt, and McEuen park will look a whole lot different!
Be A Part Of The Joy!
When you visit the rink this inaugural season, you’ll find the Murray family busy making things magical for their patrons. Introduce yourself - they’d love to meet you! Whether you’re skating as a family, enjoying a loaded hot cocoa with your date, or hosting a private night on the ice for your group - the experience is sure to leave a lasting impression. (Our city tends to do that!)
The Murray’s always knew Coeur d’Alene was awesome. Now they’re doing their part to make sure it stays that way all year long!
Stay connected with us on Instagram so you don’t miss the grand opening! Happy Skating!