Outdoor ice skating is coming back to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks on Friday, Nov. 6, the first time the holiday rink has operated since it was suspended during the pandemic.

The open-air rink sits atop the shopping center's three-tiered pond and will stay open through Jan. 11, 2027, according to the Thousand Oaks Acorn.

Admission is $20 per person, or $25 with skate rental, plus taxes and fees. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Hours shift for the holidays

The rink has two schedules. During regular operating periods (Nov. 6–20, Dec. 1–20 and Jan. 2–11), hours are 3 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Extended holiday hours run Nov. 21–30 and Dec. 21 through Jan. 1. During those stretches, hours shift to 1 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Caruso Signature members will receive complimentary skate rentals with paid admission on select days throughout the season.

A tradition born from a city deal

The rink first opened in 2005, one year after Rick Caruso took over the 7.5-acre property with a 95-year lease from the city, the Acorn reported. The ice-skating rink was originally part of that 2004 agreement as a public benefit.

The deal allowed Caruso to lease the site for free in years it did not earn at least $2.1 million, or 12% of his original $17.6 million spent to develop it. The property never reached that threshold, according to the Acorn.

Since striking a new agreement with the city in 2021 to acquire the land and build apartments behind the shopping center, Caruso is no longer obligated to host the annual rink. He is bringing it back voluntarily.

New tenants signal broader changes

The rink's return caps a busy stretch for The Lakes. Erewhon, the Los Angeles-based grocery chain, opened its first Ventura County location at the center on Aug. 26, according to the CLU Echo. Hundreds of visitors lined up on opening day, with the queue stretching down Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Planned tenants include Savta, Sora Hand Roll Bar, solidcore, PopUp Bagels and Bread Head, according to the Acorn and Conejo Valley Guide. Opening dates for Savta, Sora Hand Roll Bar, solidcore and PopUp Bagels have not been announced, Conejo Valley Guide reported.

Bread Head, a Santa Monica sandwich shop, announced it will open at The Lakes next spring in the space formerly occupied by Umami Burger, adjacent to Erewhon, Conejo Valley Guide reported.

Skating details and reservations are available at shoplakes.com.