Oct 24, 2025 - News

An ice skating rink is opening in Richmond for the holidays

Karri Peifer

A trio of images showing an aerial view of an rink space, muraled shipping containers and interior event space with chandliers — Where all the magic will happen in Carver. Photos: Courtesy of: Grant Plitt Media

An outdoor ice skating rink is coming to the Carver neighborhood and should be open just in time for the holidays.

Why it matters: The rink is part of a larger multi-use space that will include a restaurant, beer garden, art-focused event venue and a seasonal "winter wonderland" just a few blocks from VCU.

State of play: The project, Conex RVA, is from two local business owners: Brandon Garner, who runs RVA Iron Gym, and Chris Farag, co-owner of Southern Railway Taphouse, per Richmond BizSense.

Much of it is built out of shipping containers on a roughly 1-acre site at 900 Axtell St., near I-95.

Zoom in: The "family-friendly event space," per its Instagram, will have loads to offer, including:

🍔 An in-house restaurant with River City Smash Burger
🎸 Concerts on an outdoor stage
⛸️ A 2,000 square-foot ice skating rink
🎨 Murals from local artists
⛱️ Multiple outdoor patios
🛍️ Pop-up events and vendors
🚚 Food trucks

What's next: Conex RVA is slated to open the ice skating rink — and the "winter wonderland" — in mid-November. The rest of the project launches in the spring, per its Insta.

Conex didn't respond to Axios' request for comment by press time.

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An ice skating rink is opening in Richmond for the holidays

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