About Us
It began as a dream in the early 1970’s. A group of local businessmen, led by Fenton Chester, formed a committee to look into building a skating facility in Lyndonville. There were many setbacks; lawsuits, fuel crisis, and increasing costs, but the committee perservered and the arena was constructed. Funding was provided by a federal grant from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, which stipulated that the building had to be open on three sides, they obtained a waiver to this rule allowing for temporary walls to be constructed using overhead doors.
Finally in the fall of 1979, the dream became a reality. The Lyndon Ice Arena opened for its first season. The following spring, the board of directors of the Lyndon Area Sports Association, the organization that runs the facility, voted to change the name to “Fenton W. Chester Arena.”
In the years since, many improvements have been made. Fenton Chester Arena has expanded its snackbar, added locker rooms, improved energy efficiency with new lighting and water softening equipment, and added dehumidifiers. Visual improvements include new bleachers, boards and glass, flooring and bathroom stalls. Local supporters, members of the Board of Directors and countless volunteers are commited to keeping Fenton Chester Arena a viable community “hub” of activities for the patrons who come to enjoy the offerings at the arena. Stop by and see what we have to offer.
