Some stories begin with a building. This one begins with a vision that refused to let a beloved landmark fall into disrepair. In 2018, a group of dedicated Wolfeboro residents came together to form the Friends of Pop Whalen, a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a single, ambitious mission: to renovate and rejuvenate the Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center — the Town's cherished multi-purpose arena — and ensure it would continue to serve generations to come. What followed was a remarkable testament to what a community can accomplish when it works together. Earning the Public Trust The Friends didn't simply ask Wolfeboro to believe in their vision — they earned it. Before a single shovel broke ground, the organization funded an independent engineering survey and covered the full range of assessments required to determine the feasibility of the proposed project. That due diligence paid off. Wolfeboro voters approved what would become the largest public-private partnership in the town's history — a collaborative funding structure between the Friends and the Town of Wolfeboro, which owns the facility, to finance the demolition and reconstruction of The Pop. A $2.7 Million Obligation — Fulfilled On July 23, 2024, the Friends of Pop Whalen reached a milestone that would have seemed extraordinary to many when the organization was founded just six years earlier: the group paid in full its $2.7 million commitment to the Town of Wolfeboro.
To every person who has supported The Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center, and to every volunteer, donor, and advocate who has stood behind the Friends of Pop Whalen: thank you. Wolfeboro is richer — in every sense of the word — because of you.
Every dollar pledged. Every dollar delivered.
To date, the Friends of Pop Whalen have raised over $3.1 million — and counting. That figure reflects not only the dedication of the organization's leadership and volunteers, but also the extraordinary generosity of the Wolfeboro community and its many supporters near and far.
The Work Continues
Completing the town's largest public-private partnership was a landmark achievement — but the Friends of Pop Whalen aren't resting on those laurels. The organization continues to raise funds to address the ongoing operational needs of the facility, with current focus on the ice chilling and resurfacing equipment essential to keeping The Pop at its best.
For the Friends, the mission has always been bigger than a building project. It's about preserving the quality of life that makes Wolfeboro one of the most special small towns in New England.
100,000 Reasons It Matters
The Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center is far more than a skating rink. It is a landmark, a gathering place, and an economic engine. Each year, the facility draws approximately 100,000 visitors to Wolfeboro — visitors who come to enjoy the arena, and who stay to shop at local businesses, dine at local restaurants, and experience the warmth of a community that knows how to welcome guests. In that sense, every dollar invested in The Pop is an investment in Wolfeboro itself — in its economy, its identity, and its future. A Community Effort Worth Celebrating None of this would have been possible without the individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who have believed in the Friends of Pop Whalen since the very beginning. Their contributions — large and small — built something that will serve Wolfeboro for decades to come.