The Bay A Very Santa Rosa Christmas at Snoopy’s Home Ice
Dec 22, 2025
Gabe Meline, a Senior Editor for Arts and Culture at KQED and a Santa Rosa native, shares his nostalgic memories of Snoopy’s Home Ice, an ice rink built by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. He highlights its significance as a community tradition and its charming Swiss Alps theme. The episode explores how Vince Guaraldi's music intertwines with holiday celebrations, and Meline reflects on the rink's unchanged character and local family traditions. Stories of personal visits and the warmth of the community make Snoopy's a cherished gem.
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Built As A Community Hub
- Tamara Stanley explains Snoopy's Home Ice was built in 1969 by the Schultz family as both an ice arena and a community gathering place.
- She describes year-round operations and how the arena
Time Capsule Design Preserves Memory
- Gabe Meline notes the arena remains largely unchanged since 1969 and preserves a Swiss Alps theme from photos taken in Switzerland.
- He says the unchanged atmosphere makes it feel like stepping back into local childhood memories.
Schulz And Skippy Shaped The Rink
- Gabe recounts Charles Schulz's role in building the rink because he loved ice hockey and wanted a better facility for Santa Rosa.
- He shares Skippy Baxter's influence, noting Baxter taught generations to skate and even lived in a house built by the Schultzes.