Skatopia – The Anarchist’s Skatepark

Skatopia isn’t just a skatepark. It’s a living, burning monument to skateboarding freedom, DIY culture, and the wildest parties you’ve never been invited to. Tucked away on 88 acres of rolling farmland and forest in Meigs County, Ohio, this anarchist skate commune was founded by pro skater Brewce Martin in 1995—and it’s been pushing the boundaries of what a skatepark can be ever since.

It’s not polished. It’s not sanitized. It’s not safe. But for some, that’s the point.

What Is Skatopia?

At its core, Skatopia is a compound of homemade ramps, concrete bowls, and chaotic freedom. Owned and operated by Brewce Martin and the so-called Citizens Instigating Anarchy (yes, the CIA—but not that CIA), the place runs more like a punk rock commune than a skatepark.

Skatopia was founded on the philosophy of self-expression, rebellion, and DIY grit. Over the years, it’s hosted legendary bands, outrageous festivals like Bowl Bash and Backwoods Blowout, and thousands of skaters drawn to its lawless energy.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Skatopia has been immortalized in:

• Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (as the final level)
• Viva La Bam (Season 2, Episode 4)
• Rolling Stone, VICE, and Fuel TV
• And the 2010 documentary Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy

One writer described it as “a demented mess that meets halfway between an anarchistic Mad Maxian Thunderdome and a utopian skateboard society.” That about sums it up.

Facilities at Skatopia

Don’t expect polished concrete and family-friendly signage. Skatopia is built by hand, burned, rebuilt, and built again. Over the years, key structures have included:

• Lula Bowl
• Epcot Bean Bowl
• Church of Skatin’
• The Full Pipe
• Amity Whitelight Amphitheatre
• The Skateboard Museum
• King Dong (retired)

The terrain is always evolving—concrete poured by friends, visitors, and volunteers. If it can be skated, someone probably already tried it at Skatopia.

Who Is Brewce Martin?

Brewce Martin is a former pro skater and the beating heart behind Skatopia. Born in West Virginia, he started building ramps in the late ’70s using closet doors and scrap wood. By the ’90s, Brewce had toured the world as a skater but longed for something permanent.

In 1995, with support from 50 friends (who later became the CIA), he signed a land contract for the Ohio property. They moved the entire ramp setup in under a week.

A tire explosion in 2009 changed everything. Brewce was critically injured, placed in a coma for six weeks, and emerged a different man. Part of his skull was removed during surgery, and he still keeps the chunk as a souvenir—showing it to visitors like a war trophy.

Before the injury, Brewce was the wild visionary, leading Skatopia’s mayhem with unmatched charisma. Afterward, the leadership began to shift.

The Skatopia Culture: Freedom Meets Fireworks

Skatopia has always thrived on controlled chaos. Fireworks, fire-breathing, guns, dirt bikes, punk shows, DIY skate contests, and unfiltered expression were the norm for years.

The Bowl Bash and Backwoods Blowout festivals often descended into wild parties where cars were burned, fireworks flew through barns, and skaters shredded under a haze of smoke and punk riffs.

Punk bands like JFA, Agent Orange, and CJ Ramone have played at Skatopia. And it was named Fuel TV’s #1 Backyard Scene in America.

It’s not for everyone—but that’s the point.

Brewce Martin’s Accident

Brewce suffered a traumatic brain injury, caused by a tire exploding in a tire shop near Skatopia. The accident left him in a coma for six weeks, and since then, he and everyone he’s close to say that he’s no longer the same. 

During his stay at the hospital, surgery was performed to relieve pressure around his brain caused by the swelling. He still has the removed chunk of his skull that he shows to visitors to Skatopia.

The documentary, Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy shows Brewce before his injury, as the ringleader in the center of all of the mayhem.

“A guy stomps around on top of a burning car, a woman spits fire into a room of partygoers, someone holding what looks like a handgun is tossed off the top of a car as it barrels down Skatopia’s dirt road.” wrote Matthew Richmond in his article, Skatopia’s Brewce Martin Hands Over Control And A Notorious Skate Park Is Tamed.

Brewce’s Assault Conviction

Brewce Martin’s rebellious streak eventually spilled into the legal system.

In 2018, he was convicted of assault for attempting to run over a man he had a long-standing feud with. Witnesses testified that Brewce revved his engine and drove straight at the victim, reportedly yelling, “You don’t know who you’re f**ing with!”*

The victim survived, but Brewce’s reputation took a major hit. He later joked he pleaded insanity to avoid jail time. Whatever the truth, it was another chapter in the legend—and the chaos—of Skatopia.

The Changing of the Guard: Brandon Martin Takes Over

After Brewce’s injury and legal troubles, his son Brandon Martin returned from the pro skating circuit to take control.

Brandon’s goal? To clean things up—just a little.

He introduced three new rules:

1. No burning cars
2. No fireworks inside the barn
3. No guns at the parties

That didn’t sit well with everyone. Longtime friends distanced themselves. Attendance dropped at the 2019 party, which was invitation-only. But for the first time in a long time, nobody got hurt.

Today, Brandon is trying to preserve what makes Skatopia special while preventing it from spiraling completely out of control. Brewce, meanwhile, sells t-shirts and reminisces near the edge of the crowd.

Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy (The Documentary)

If you want to feel what Skatopia was like at its peak, watch the 2010 documentary: Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy.

It’s a raw, sometimes uncomfortable look at a place where chaos was encouraged, freedom reigned, and punk rock and skateboarding collided head-on with backwoods America.

The film captures the highs (building new terrain, community, creativity) and the lows (debt, jail time, injuries, manipulation). It’s a portrait of a man—and a movement—teetering on the edge.

Want more videos? Check out our list of the best skateboarding movies.

Skatopia in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2

For many, their first glimpse of Skatopia was in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, where it served as the final level.

A few fun facts:

• You play as Tony Hawk (the only time in the game).
• There’s a cat that attacks you if you skate near the hill.
• Bigfoot is hiding behind a tree near the barn.
• “Smoke Bombs” can be picked up and thrown.
• The arcade machine spells out: TEN HARDCORE YEARS KICKIIN YOUR ASS (complete with typo).

Skatopia’s inclusion in the game cemented its place in skateboarding folklore.

Final Thoughts: Skatopia Then and Now

Skatopia is one of those rare places that actually lives up to its myth. It’s grimy, lawless, legendary—and somehow still standing.

Whether you’re a skate pilgrim looking for the ultimate DIY experience, a punk at heart, or just someone curious about what freedom looks like when it’s completely unfiltered, Skatopia is worth knowing about.

It’s no longer the full-blown warzone of the early 2000s—but it’s still Skatopia.

And that means anything can happen.

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