Many times skateboarders have been blamed for dirtying handrails, scratching stairs and bending stairway rails.

But now, instead of being coined as a destructive sport, the boarders and bladers have a place all their own to practice the sport: Epic Indoor Skatepark.

The 36,000-square-foot facility houses obstacles for all-level skateboarders and rollerbladers. The skating hub, located on Tinker Road in unincorporated Rocklin, held its grand opening mid-March with pro-skaters and locals tearing it up at the indoor park.

Skating pros Brandon Biebel of Sacramento, Mike Mo from Los Angeles and Jack Curtain of San Francisco also left their marks by signing colorful skateboards that now dress up the wall behind the entrance counter.

Walking into the park, it’s as if you’ve actually stepped outside into a skateboarder’s playground – to the right are skating areas that mimic some of the hot spots for skating around the world like the mini Carlsbad Gap (a famous skating spot at Carlsbad High School with sloping grass) with fake grass, stair sets and a 90- by 60-foot wood bowl (imagine a drained pool),

Almost directly in front of the entrance is a concrete sushi dish called “skateable art” and random, colorful graffiti decorate the walls.

The skatepark, run by the Killingsworth family of Rocklin, is designed “plaza style,” which gives skaters an indoor arena for skateable terrain they’d typically find outdoors.

“We wanted it to look like kids were skating outside,” Danielle Killingsworth said.

She said it’s the first indoor skatepark in the U.S. that has adopted the plaza-style.

Danielle said that kids come in and are blown away by the outdoor feeling.

“Oh my God, this place is epic,” Danielle said many kids say after their first session at Epic.

Gavin Vidosh, 11, of Rocklin, has become a regular since the park’s opening. Previously he used to skate around his neighborhood, but now comes in for one of his favorite aspects – one spot that offers a skate area that’s a quarter of a mile long.

“It’s the best skatepark,” Vidosh said.

Jo Jo Roberts, also of Rocklin, agrees.

“I love this place because it’s my home,” the 12-year-old said.

Since their opening, their clientele has been growing by the hundreds every week, Dirk Killingsworth said.

“They’re from all over the place,” he said.

Epic Indoor Skatepark has attracted people from Tahoe, Stockton, Oakland and Reno, in addition to the Sacramento area, Dirk said.

And they plan to keep on attracting new skateboarders. This summer they’re holding a skate camp with weeklong sessions beginning mid-June and ending in August, which will include private coaching and guest-pro appearances.

The camp is part of a stop on a national amateur tour, the Free Flow Tour, Dirk said.

Danielle said one of the things parents like about the facility is that it’s family run, so there’s always a mom or dad around.

Danielle and her husband are both trained in CPR, first aid and there is an automated external defibrillator on site, they said. In addition to that, there are other safety precautions. The park is open to people ages 6 and up and everyone must sign a waiver (people under 18 years must have their parents or guardian sign off the waiver). Helmets are required and padding is recommended, Danielle said.

But in addition to the safety, the park gives skaters what they want. It’s a park designed for skater by skaters, Danielle said.

Skateboarding and surfing were daily routines for Danielle when she was younger, she said. And her husband has been the same way. Their two sons, Shayne and Hunter, have been skating since they were 5, Danielle said.

Eighteen-year-old Shayne helped design the park layout, while Hunter, 14, designed the promotional T-shirts and the company Web site, Danielle said.

The facility is comprised of ramps and areas made from Finland birch wood, which make for a fast and smooth ride.

The wood is durable for skaters and bladers, but not for bikers; Dirk said the wood can’t hold up to bikes, which would result in missing wood chunks. It would also require a separate facility for the bikes, so instead they decided to focus their attention on skating and rollerblading, making it a great experience for them, Dirk said.

Having never owned a business like this, the Killingsworths said it’s been a pretty smooth ride. Both Danielle and Dirk call Epic a “labor of love.”

“It gave us an opportunity to be 16 again,” Danielle said.

What: Epic Indoor Skatepark

Where: 1104 Tinker Road

Hours: 3-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; two-hour sessions

Info: 408-4200 or www.epicindoorskatepark.com

Contact Lauren Weber at laurenw@goldcountrymedia.com.