Bracebridge Residents' Guide to the Sportsplex and Memorial Arena

What This Guide Covers (and Why You'll Use It)

This is your practical resource for handling Bracebridge's two major recreation facilities—the Sportsplex on Santa's Village Road and the Memorial Arena on Taylor Road. Whether you're looking to book ice time for a hockey team, find a fitness class that fits your schedule, or figure out which facility has the better walking track during winter months, you'll find the specifics here. Bracebridge residents pay for these facilities through municipal taxes—so knowing what's available and how to access it just makes sense.

What Programs and Facilities Are Available at the Bracebridge Sportsplex?

The Bracebridge Sportsplex operates as the town's primary indoor recreation hub, offering a range of facilities under one roof. Built in the 1990s and renovated in 2018, the complex includes two ice pads (one NHL-sized, one Olympic-sized), a fitness centre, a walking track, multi-purpose rooms, and a swimming pool that was added during the expansion.

The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre—the official name for the main ice pad area—hosts everything from minor hockey practices to adult recreational leagues. The second pad, often called the "community pad," runs public skating sessions on weekends and serves as overflow during tournament weekends. If you're trying to figure out which pad your rental is on, check your booking confirmation—the address will specify either "Main Pad" or "Community Pad."

The fitness centre isn't massive, but it's equipped with Life Fitness cardio machines, a full dumbbell rack up to 75 pounds, and a small functional training area with kettlebells and resistance bands. Membership runs $45 monthly for adults, $35 for seniors, or you can buy a 10-visit punch card for $80. There's no contract requirement—worth noting if you're seasonal or just testing the waters.

The walking track overlooks both ice pads from the second level. It's 180 metres per lap, climate-controlled, and free to use during public hours. You'll see everything from power-walking retirees to parents killing time while their kids practice downstairs. The surface is rubberized composite—easy on the joints, even in running shoes.

How Does the Bracebridge Memorial Arena Compare?

The Memorial Arena is the older of the two facilities—built in 1967 and showing its age in places—but it serves a different purpose. This single-pad arena on Taylor Road focuses almost exclusively on ice programming, and many locals prefer it for specific activities.

The ice surface here is smaller than regulation NHL size—roughly 185 feet by 80 feet compared to the standard 200 by 85. That tighter dimensions makes it popular for shinny hockey and 3-on-3 leagues where space is at a premium. The boards are stiffer, the ice tends to be harder and faster, and the overall vibe is more "old school hockey barn" than modern sports complex.

Here's how the two facilities stack up:

The Memorial Arena's seating is all original wooden benches—no individual seats—so bring a cushion if you're watching a full game. The canteen operates during scheduled events and serves the usual arena fare: hot chocolate, fries, chocolate bars. Nothing gourmet, but it's there.

When Can You Actually Use These Facilities?

Hours vary significantly by season and ice schedule, so checking the Town of Bracebridge recreation calendar before heading out saves frustration. Generally speaking, the Sportsplex opens at 6:00 AM on weekdays for the early fitness crowd and closes by 10:00 PM. Weekend hours shrink to 8:00 AM through 8:00 PM.

The Memorial Arena runs a more limited schedule—typically 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM on weekdays, with weekend hours similar to the Sportsplex. Here's the thing: the Memorial Arena doesn't have a full-time staff presence during off-hours, so if there's no booking, the building might be locked.

Public skating sessions at both facilities cost $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and youth, with skate rentals available at the Sportsplex for $5 (Memorial Arena doesn't offer rentals—you'll need to bring your own or rent from Cleveland's House or another local shop). The Sportsplex has a decent selection of sizes, but quality varies. If you're serious about skating, owning your own pair pays for itself quickly.

Spring and summer months (roughly April through August) see the ice come out at both facilities for dry-floor activities. The Sportsplex converts to basketball courts, trade show space, and indoor soccer. The Memorial Arena typically closes for maintenance during this period, reopening in September for the hockey season.

Booking Ice Time and Private Events

Both facilities accept bookings through the Town of Bracebridge's PerfectMind recreation portal. Prime-time ice (weeknights 6:00-11:00 PM) books up months in advance for the hockey season, so planning ahead matters. The catch? Last-minute cancellations do happen—checking the portal on Tuesday evenings sometimes yields open Friday night slots.

Non-prime rates (weekday mornings, summer months) run about 40% cheaper. A prime-time hour at the Sportsplex costs roughly $275; Memorial Arena runs closer to $200. Tournament organizers often package both facilities together—the proximity (about 4 kilometres apart) makes scheduling manageable for multi-team events.

Fitness Classes and Community Programming

The Sportsplex hosts a rotating schedule of fitness classes in its multi-purpose rooms. Current offerings include yoga, spin, and "Total Body Conditioning"—a bootcamp-style class popular with the 40+ crowd. Drop-in rates are $12 per class, or included with monthly memberships. The class schedule changes seasonally, posted on the bulletin board near the front entrance and updated online.

The Bracebridge Public Library runs occasional programming out of the Sportsplex meeting rooms—mostly children's activities and senior tech-help sessions. These are free and don't require facility membership to attend. The arena lobby also serves as a community notice board space—local businesses post flyers, community groups advertise events, and lost-and-found items accumulate on the front desk.

Accessibility and Practical Details

Both facilities meet AODA compliance standards, though the experience differs. The Sportsplex has elevator access to the walking track level and accessible change rooms on the main floor. The Memorial Arena has a lift system for accessing the ice surface for sledge hockey and adapted skating programs, but the seating area requires handling stairs—there's no elevator.

Lockers are available at the Sportsplex—bring your own lock or rent one for $2. The Memorial Arena has bench seating in the lobby but no secure storage, so don't leave valuables unattended. Both facilities have water fountains, though the Sportsplex's are the modern bottle-filling variety.

Parking at the Sportsplex fills quickly during tournament weekends and Friday evening public skates. The overflow lot—gravel, unlit—is across the street near the Bracebridge Fairgrounds. The Memorial Arena's smaller lot rarely fills, but the entrance off Taylor Road can be tricky to spot if you're unfamiliar with the area—look for the stone "Memorial Arena 1967" sign.