Rexburg Recreation is taking over the “Neutral Zone.”

While it sounds Star Trekian, it is instead the city acquiring a skating/hockey rink built by a Canadian man last year next to Rexburg Rapids. About two weeks ago, the Canuck donated the facility to the city.

“It’s the best New Year’s present we’ve received in a long time,” said Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill. “It’s like a $5 million gift to the city.”

Merrill announced the acquisition during Wednesday’s city council meeting. The city council was agreeable to the deal.

“We’ll just continue operating it like he’s been operating it,” he said. “We’ll have open skating time. It’s for everybody to come in and have a good time. Great for families.”

It will accommodate the young and the young at heart, Merrill said.

“They have a ‘skater’ instead of a walker for you to hold,” he said. “You can learn to skate just by holding it in front of you. You have that to lean on.”

The acquisition could launch future Olympic skaters and make Rexburg a draw for hockey teams, Merrill said.

“We could get some little kids to learn to skate and have them become champions,” he said. “That would be awesome. We’ve got teams from Jackson Hole and around the region talking to us about coming over and getting some ice time and coming to tournaments. I think it will be a really good thing for the economy.”

Merrill reported driving past the Neutral Zone recently and noticing 50 cars in the parking lot.

“I looked at the license plates and half were from Montana, Idaho Falls and Rigby,” he said. “I thought ‘That’s cool. We’ve got sports tourism going on bringing people into town.’ If they’re coming from Montana, they’re staying at motels, eating at the restaurants and helping us out with our economic development.”

It will also help provide something for residents to do during Rexburg’s long winter months, Merrill said.

“Anything we can do at this time of year — anything we can do to bring people to town. It’s a slower time of the year that will be very helpful for our local businesses.”

Eventually, the ice skating rink may also double as a convention center, Merrill said.

“Another thing is that it gives us a facility for different kinds of shows where people put up booths,” he said. “We’re hoping to get a big thick mat to lay on top of the ice. Then we could have a place for different events in a big facility like that. It’s another opportunity to host events like that in town. That will be kind of fun too.”

The Canadian man approached the city last year about building the facility and asked about a place to build an ice skating rink. The city rented him space near the Rexburg Rapids for $1 a year. The facility opened in October 2025.

“I was just kind of surprised last year by this gentleman came to me and said, ‘Hey I‘d like to build a hockey arena,’” Merrill said. “He grew up playing hockey. He loves hockey, and he just said, ‘Hey do you have a place in town?’”

Merrill then suggested building the facility near Rexburg Rapids.

“I told him ‘I think we’d be interested if you want to build it. The city doesn’t have money to build,’ and he said, ‘I’ll lease it for $1 a year and build it.’”

Last month, the Canadian told Merrill he’d like to donate the facility to Rexburg, no strings attached.

“He said, ‘You know what, I feel like I should just give it to the city,’” Merrill said. “He’s a very community-minded person.”

He’s asked to remain anonymous, Merrill said.

The ice skating rink appears to be doing quite well, he said.

“It’s been busy, and, financially, it seems to be doing pretty good, paying the bills and then some. We’re pretty excited. It gives people another thing to do in the wintertime.”

The facility has an “ice technician” who runs a Zamboni to smooth out ice. It also comes with a concession stand, a sound system, big screen TV and two party rooms. Skates and hockey sticks are available to rent or to purchase.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s amazing,” Merrill said.

The hope is to have the skating rink running year-round. The facility will give Residents and tourists the chance to go ice skating and swimming, all in one day in one location, he said.

“Isn’t that cool?” Merrill said. “It’s kind of like being in Hawaii and being at the beach in the morning and going snow skiing on the big island that has snow on it in the afternoon. You can do that in Hawaii, and you can do that in Rexburg.”

The city council was agreeable to the acquisition but did ask if there would be a budget adjustment. Those adjustments and legalities will be ironed out by next month and presented to the council, said Merrill.

“I’m just excited the Neutral Zone is busy,” he said.