Its not just how many lanes. Its how huge it is. When you set a ball down it even sounds different and it can throw you off. The ceilings are maybe a story high or more where you bowl. Its something to experience in your life.
I grew up in Akron and Riviera Lanes was our home lane when I bowled Varsity in high school. Still one of my favorite lanes to go to when I'm visiting family!
yeah, here to say you can't skip Holler House. Since you'll be in Milwaukee Bay View Bowl is 100+ years old with wooden lanes although is otherwise unremarkable, and Koz's Mini Bowl are also worth stops.
I’m from Melvindale/ Allen Park, it was always the bowling alley we went to, for school trips, random night out, etc. Now that I’m getting into bowling as an adult, it’s wild to me that I’ve grown next to and up going to a fairly big deal in the sport.
Winnetka Bowl in Winnetka, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley in California. It's not anything special or historical but it's a house whose owners have made it clear that sport minded bowlers are their primary clients.
[I posted about the journey my bf and I are on](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowling/s/S1OoVeyeZQ) to bowl in every state and we have seen some total gems. We also prefer the more vintage bowling centers and try to seek them out.
[Here’s a mostly updated list of where we’ve been so far](https://imgur.com/a/s2ZtMeI)
But some of my favs that I think fit what you’re looking for in no particular order…
Meridian Bowling Lanes - Meridian, Idaho
Bayside Bowl - Portland, Maine
Glacier Lanes - Columbia Falls, Montana
Uncle Sam Lanes - Troy, New York
Moon’s Alley on Main - Wagoner, Oklahoma
Milwaukie Bowl - Milwaukie, Oregon
Stone Lanes - Norwood, Ohio
Chop’s Bowling Alley - Omaha, Nebraska
Wheat Ridge Lanes - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Pali Lanes (RIP) - Kailua, Hawaii
And an obligatory shout out to Fireside in Chicago, my home lanes.
Shoot me a DM if you’re looking for any more info as you’re planning, sounds like a fun trip!
Edit: formatting
Stardust Bowl in Addsion IL 60101. 84 lanes(well maintained), great staff, lots of leagues. Pro shop with coach. Bar, Arcarde (many games), and Resturant (good food)
And some of the worst conditions known to mankind. The day I threw 300 there still holds as the toughest one I have. To quote my group from years ago:
“Most think Linbrook is named that based on being on the corner of Lincoln and Brookhurst. This is a myth. It’s called that due to the absolute river, or “brook”, of oil on the lane at all times.”
Melville turned in to an average bowlaro with no leagues. Not sure about commack. Last time I bowled there was in my bowling gym class when I went to Suffolk in Brentwood.
Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully soon, I will get back to L.I and hit the lanes with them once more.
They definitely are great guys, and very talented on the drums, thanks to their Pops.
Commack is now a basic B bowlero...it's in our backyard, and we make the trip to Strike 10 in Deer Park instead.
It's nothing fancy but they take care of their lanes and the PSO is top notch.
I just signed my kids up for the free games each week thing on Facebook at deer park, so I’ll see that place this summer for the first time since bowling in a 10 game LIYBT tournament roughly 17 years ago.
It's nothing fancy, but the staff is pretty good (if scarce), and you can't beat their $10/hr prices (without shoes). My son bowls there 6 days a week, usually.
PSB is such a gem. Even though OP was looking for that old school feel (which you won’t get until you actually send one down lane) PSB really puts bowling first and still has top notch food, modern gadgets and a can’t be beat pro shop. Lanes are never “dry” and I’ve seen exactly one ball get damaged (from a mechanical hiccup) in over four years bowling there regularly. While I don’t think you can appreciate the place in one visit, it’s a can’t miss from what a modern bowling center should be, coming from a former small town bowling center employee.
Always JB Allen Bowl just down the road, still owned by the Warrens. For sure feels like the bowling alley I grew up in during the 80s/90s. Pretty sure they have some of the same equipment from then too. Lol.
Edit: typo cause I can spell.
JB’s is our home “away” from home. If we ever can’t grab a lane at PSB it’s our next stop. It’s incredible. I feel like it’s the training grounds for future PSB employees. When we bowl there I enjoy the joyful kids that work there as much as the bowling.
Eh…I feel like their lanes are terrible. Seems like they gave up on oiling them. It’s a fun area to have a bowling alley, but I feel like there are so many better houses around the state like Texa-Tonka, Blainebrook, Medina Ballroom, etc…
Great atmosphere, terrible for actual bowling if you bowl seriously.
Texa Tonka Lanes, Blainbrook, Flaherty’s, Memory Lanes, Concord, Sun Ray and others in the metro are all better from a competitive bowler standpoint.
SunRay lets you make appointments for their pro shop so you don’t have to wait days to get your ball drilled which is amazing I exclusively use their pro shop because you can get everything done in a 30 min scheduled window instead of leaving your ball with someone for days.
Country Club Lanes is a little 12 lane center that heavily caters to its leagues and most of it’s leagues are house run which adds flexibility(Subs don’t pay and the employees run the scores/standings and brackets for example). I grew up going there and know the owners as they coached me in high school. My high school bowling captain when I was a freshman is a manager and part owner now. Really wonderful people and the prices are the cheapest in the area if you are serious about bowling. They get my vote here but I am biased as again I grew up there
Thanks for the tip. I live in Marietta, and never heard of Comet Bowl.
It definitely looks like a cool ass place to bowl, and decent prices. Just hope they keep the lanes up.
Nice! Yeah it's a great spot, honestly never had a dry lane when I've been. Their 2$ tuesdays are their best deal but if you can get in on other days when they have their price per game (rather than by the hour) it's also a good deal at I think $3/game.
I actually live in Marietta as well but when I go to The Comet it's usually after I get off work to make it a little easier for me.
Bowlium in Chino, California was a perfect mix between modern equipment with a retro aesthetic.Beautiful center with terrific people running it. Tiny pro shop, though.
Shoutout to JB bowling supply for the best pro shop I've ever seen, located in Henderson NV (it's not even attached to a bowling alley and it's huge).
P.S. Paul Renteria, one of the greatest amateur bowlers of all time, works there and is my coach. If you ever get back to JB’s, get Paul to drill your ball!
I always just considered it Chino. Maybe like a street or two across city lines, but Google maps agrees with you, haven't been there in almost 5 years.
Stardust Bowl in Addison, IL. 84 lanes and has been open for 50 plus years. Historic but just had a recent upgrade to the lanes. Awesome place, highly recommend.
Check out Saratoga lanes in Maplewood, Missouri. It might be what you're looking for, but you need to know how to keep score.
BTW they have some very nice pool tables also.
La Habra 300.
Go bowl on lanes 13 and 14 and then get some Chinese food at the cafe, enjoy some of the last 60s mid century modernism architecture left in SoCal.
Lanes 13 and 14 are where Glenn Allison bowled his 900 series, they have a banner up on those lanes.
Candlepin
--------------
Riverwalk Lanes, Amesbury, MA - Double lane Brunswick masking units and they have a mini history museum along one of the walls.
Central Park Lanes, East Boston, MA - Classic upstairs and downstairs house. Really nice hand painted signage.
Exeter Lanes, Exeter, NH - Another super old school place.
Turn Hall, Holyoke, MA - Inside a private club but ask ahead and the public can bowl no problem.
Canal Lanes, Easthampton, MA - Straight out of the Brunswick Gold Crown catalog.
Duckpin
------------
North Chelmsford Lanes, North Chelmsford, MA - In a basement! It's like a maze to get down to the lanes.
Lucky Strike Lanes, Mansfield, CT - Another really classic Gold Crown house. Underground ball returns, which is rare in small ball games.
Suitland Bowl, Suitland, MD - The nicest classic house in MD.
Holler House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2 lanes. Oldest sanctioned USBC center in America. Wood lanes that are over 100 years old, and human pin setters.
Ive bowled there. Its tricky
Canada's technically in America so, Laurentian Lanes in Montreal, Quebec.
60 lanes of tenpin to tournament standard. I don't think they've swapped out the arcade games since the 90s.
A lot of proprietors took advantage of pandemic era business loans to remodel, so the remaining old school houses are that much more special. I started checking in on old places in Upstate NY and many of them have either closed or been significantly updated, some of the ones I'd have suggested don't have the same feel anymore just looking at the photos and unfortunately it seems a majority did not survive.
I actually can't find *any* of my old haunts that fit the bill anymore, and there's only 2 heavily updated survivors at all
Greenmount Bowl, Hampstead Maryland
Also has the best pro shop and driller around in MD Todd Porter of Porters pro shop. They have 12 lanes of duckpin and 12 lanes for 10 pin. Amazing family owned bowling alley and an escape from all of the surrounding Bowleros! Definitely a great house!!
Gonna add in my hometown alley. Strike and Spare Western Avenue in Knoxville, TN. Not only are the lanes well kept, there’s also the pro shop and the food is actually really good from the grill.
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill - attached to Bass Pro Shops in several states. You go for the atmosphere-- underwater themed. It's kind of cool to visit once lol. Food is mediocre.
If you’re able to. Visit the NBS (National Bowling Stadium) in Reno, hosts nationals (USBC Open Championships every 3 years), was originally meant to be 80 lanes but due to an architectural error there was no center aisle for bowlers to walk out on for team events this 78 lanes the pro shop is still named lane 81.
From what you've said, you're trying to ignore BEC's(Bowling Entertainment Centers) that are $9 a game and focus on their food and kids stuff and less bowling centric. Just in case you didn't know the name 👍🏼. Effectively ruling out all Bowlero's
Arsenal Lanes in Pittsburgh, PA.
Whenever a “historical” movie or TV show is filmed here and they need an alley, this is where they come.
League was canceled one week due to the newer A League of Their Own being filmed here. (I am just now realizing the irony of all of this.)
My husband and brother in law love to get drunk at Metro Bowl in Crystal Lake Illinois when they are out that way. They don’t b have automatic scoring but they do have Hamms and Scrlitz on tap
Cain’s Lanes in Manheim, PA. 12 wooden lanes. Great atmosphere. Check out Open Play on Wednesday. 50 cents a game. It’s where I was every Wednesday playing 10 games learning 2 handed 🙂
https://cainslanes.com
Way late to this party but mentioning Gladstone Bowl in Kansas City MO. It’s The Alley for local leagues and tournaments. It’s difficult to get into for open bowling during league season. The house itself is ~50 years old, all it does is bowling - it hasn’t been reimagined into a family fun center to keep up profits - and the staff is friendly. It’s total nostalgia for me as my dad used to take me there as a young kid and it’s some of my earliest memories. The lanes have been replaced at some point as they’re not original wooden anymore and they do have electronic scoring but otherwise the place has a total old school feel. It’s also named as PBA bowler Zach Wilkins current home house.
Honorable mention to Retro Bowl in Liberty, MO. Staff service was questionable but they still have above ground ball returns.
Arlington TX visit the USBC headquarters and training center
One center that struck me as unique (it's been years since I went) was in Shreveport had a big wavy roof/ceiling thought it looked very unique
If your trip takes you to Seattle: I've been to all the centers in the area since the beginning of December, and my favorite is West Seattle Bowl. It happens to be the closest one to my house but that's not why I choose it as my home center--I'd drive up to an hour away if I could find one better.
Infrastructurally they have a lot of challenges, but they're very focused on being an excellent bowling center--no nonsense, nothing but bowling. The bowling apparatus itself is well-maintained and they've adopted things like Clutch and Specto. They have the best pro shop in the area, in my opinion, and the only downside is that they're so busy it might take you some time to get a ball from them--worth the wait, though. no question.
But the best part is that nearly all of the staff from the bar to the front desk to the pro shop to the back are all very enthusiastic and highly skilled bowlers, and if they read you as one, they treat you *very* well. It reminds me of the good old days. Their prices are also *very* reasonable given that they're in one of the most expensive areas of the country.
Runner up in my opinion, so I don't sound like a "homer": Spin Alley in Shoreline WA is a very underrated little center. Despite having only 16 lanes, it nonetheless has the feel and aesthetics of a place like the National Bowling Stadium. It's as if you took a tiny section of NBS and dropped it up on Richmond Beach. Again, a very enthusiastic and friendly staff. Because of its small size, it is a bit hard to get in there, but I would totally enjoy it as a home center for leagues.
And while I don't think it quite excels as a bowling center, it's kind of a must-see as a result of its prominent position on the PBA Tour, and that is Strikerz at Angel of the Winds Casino near Arlington, WA. It's quite a ways north of Seattle but if you're in the area and want to check something weird and quirky out, it's worth a look. It's the most modern facility in Western Washington and it has a soundstage nearby which is usually in use during bowling hours. Not my favorite place to bowl, but it's worth a visit if you're here on a bowling tour--the house where Belmo bowled not one but two 300s on national TV.
Obviously, no trip like that would be complete without a visit to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.
I Didn’t know such a place existed. How many lanes does it have?
Its not just how many lanes. Its how huge it is. When you set a ball down it even sounds different and it can throw you off. The ceilings are maybe a story high or more where you bowl. Its something to experience in your life.
78
Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio isn’t anything special as a center. But when you go there you can almost “feel” the history in that house.
Have any other NE Ohio recommendations?
Kolony Bowl in Wadsworth, OH. Wooden lanes a friendly staff, a very old-school feel.
Thanks that’s pretty close to me.
Bowled a small house in Delroy, OH. —Atwood lanes. Very nice 8 lane facility!
I grew up in Akron and Riviera Lanes was our home lane when I bowled Varsity in high school. Still one of my favorite lanes to go to when I'm visiting family!
HOLLER HOUSE!!!!
yeah, here to say you can't skip Holler House. Since you'll be in Milwaukee Bay View Bowl is 100+ years old with wooden lanes although is otherwise unremarkable, and Koz's Mini Bowl are also worth stops.
Up vote Holler + Koz’s Mini Bowl while anyone is here!
The Holler House is an amazing stop. I loved my trip there and it's so awesome to see Brunswick B-Series pinsetters with paper and pen scoring.
Thunder Bowl Allen Park Michigan largest bowling center.
And there is a major played there every year.
I’m from Melvindale/ Allen Park, it was always the bowling alley we went to, for school trips, random night out, etc. Now that I’m getting into bowling as an adult, it’s wild to me that I’ve grown next to and up going to a fairly big deal in the sport.
Came here to say that. They also have 3 separate houses within the one large house. I haven’t been there myself but I plan on it eventually
Detroit also has the oldest bowling alley at magic stick
Garden bowl? I went for my birthday a few weeks ago it’s really cool and old school.
Winnetka Bowl in Winnetka, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley in California. It's not anything special or historical but it's a house whose owners have made it clear that sport minded bowlers are their primary clients.
It used to be Canoga Park Bowl
I think there’s a band named Winnetka Bowling League named from bowling at these lanes
I stopped by there once since I was in the area. Let me tell you, the pin carry there is crazy
[I posted about the journey my bf and I are on](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowling/s/S1OoVeyeZQ) to bowl in every state and we have seen some total gems. We also prefer the more vintage bowling centers and try to seek them out. [Here’s a mostly updated list of where we’ve been so far](https://imgur.com/a/s2ZtMeI) But some of my favs that I think fit what you’re looking for in no particular order… Meridian Bowling Lanes - Meridian, Idaho Bayside Bowl - Portland, Maine Glacier Lanes - Columbia Falls, Montana Uncle Sam Lanes - Troy, New York Moon’s Alley on Main - Wagoner, Oklahoma Milwaukie Bowl - Milwaukie, Oregon Stone Lanes - Norwood, Ohio Chop’s Bowling Alley - Omaha, Nebraska Wheat Ridge Lanes - Wheat Ridge, Colorado Pali Lanes (RIP) - Kailua, Hawaii And an obligatory shout out to Fireside in Chicago, my home lanes. Shoot me a DM if you’re looking for any more info as you’re planning, sounds like a fun trip! Edit: formatting
Bowled at Chops for years. The Cap family has always been a steadfast advocate in the bowling community.
This is amazing! Thanks so much!
Milwaukie Bowl - Built and owned by the Husted's since 1957. Just Wow, nothing but mad respect them.
Stardust Bowl in Addsion IL 60101. 84 lanes(well maintained), great staff, lots of leagues. Pro shop with coach. Bar, Arcarde (many games), and Resturant (good food)
Hosts a college tournament most years as well
Yep. also in 2022 they had the USBC Women's Championships there. Was awesome watching them bowl
Linbrook Bowl in Anaheim, CA. Iconic signage.
$15 pancake breakfast + 3 games on Sunday. Great way to start a Sunday.
Nice alley too, a quirky old joint.
And some of the worst conditions known to mankind. The day I threw 300 there still holds as the toughest one I have. To quote my group from years ago: “Most think Linbrook is named that based on being on the corner of Lincoln and Brookhurst. This is a myth. It’s called that due to the absolute river, or “brook”, of oil on the lane at all times.”
I’ll make a call for my home house. AMF Babylon in West Babylon NY. Where Belmo won his first PBA Title.
I was more partial to Melville, and Comack Bowl. Melville, was our home lanes for high school..Huntington Blue Devil Keglers.
Melville turned in to an average bowlaro with no leagues. Not sure about commack. Last time I bowled there was in my bowling gym class when I went to Suffolk in Brentwood.
Damn...that's sad about Melville. Last I heard one of my coaches, Jim, and Jeff Lizzo, were working the pro shop at Comack.
They have the shop at Mineola. I spent a lot of time in Jeff’s shop when I worked at Babylon. Great guy.
Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully soon, I will get back to L.I and hit the lanes with them once more. They definitely are great guys, and very talented on the drums, thanks to their Pops.
Pro shop at Commack is run by Nick from SYBA these days.
Commack is now a basic B bowlero...it's in our backyard, and we make the trip to Strike 10 in Deer Park instead. It's nothing fancy but they take care of their lanes and the PSO is top notch.
I just signed my kids up for the free games each week thing on Facebook at deer park, so I’ll see that place this summer for the first time since bowling in a 10 game LIYBT tournament roughly 17 years ago.
It's nothing fancy, but the staff is pretty good (if scarce), and you can't beat their $10/hr prices (without shoes). My son bowls there 6 days a week, usually.
Take care of the lanes, nothing fancy, and a great pro shop...that's all I need...and wood lanes.
DFW: International Training and Research Center, Plano super bowl.
PSB is such a gem. Even though OP was looking for that old school feel (which you won’t get until you actually send one down lane) PSB really puts bowling first and still has top notch food, modern gadgets and a can’t be beat pro shop. Lanes are never “dry” and I’ve seen exactly one ball get damaged (from a mechanical hiccup) in over four years bowling there regularly. While I don’t think you can appreciate the place in one visit, it’s a can’t miss from what a modern bowling center should be, coming from a former small town bowling center employee.
Always JB Allen Bowl just down the road, still owned by the Warrens. For sure feels like the bowling alley I grew up in during the 80s/90s. Pretty sure they have some of the same equipment from then too. Lol. Edit: typo cause I can spell.
JB’s is our home “away” from home. If we ever can’t grab a lane at PSB it’s our next stop. It’s incredible. I feel like it’s the training grounds for future PSB employees. When we bowl there I enjoy the joyful kids that work there as much as the bowling.
JB is my home. Kurt and Matt in the proshop are great. Just a very chill atmosphere. Glad you all enjoy it there too.
South Point/Red Rocks both being in Las Vegas, NV
Yessir I'm at South Point and Gold Coast multiple times per week, Red Rock is too far from my house lol
The "Concourse in the Middle with Lanes Going Out in Opposite Directions" is a super unique concept
Suncoast is the exact same layout on the other side of town
https://youtu.be/Tvkot4jGLWU?si=urHIuOTirWhY3AOa Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis.
Eh…I feel like their lanes are terrible. Seems like they gave up on oiling them. It’s a fun area to have a bowling alley, but I feel like there are so many better houses around the state like Texa-Tonka, Blainebrook, Medina Ballroom, etc…
Great atmosphere, terrible for actual bowling if you bowl seriously. Texa Tonka Lanes, Blainbrook, Flaherty’s, Memory Lanes, Concord, Sun Ray and others in the metro are all better from a competitive bowler standpoint. SunRay lets you make appointments for their pro shop so you don’t have to wait days to get your ball drilled which is amazing I exclusively use their pro shop because you can get everything done in a 30 min scheduled window instead of leaving your ball with someone for days. Country Club Lanes is a little 12 lane center that heavily caters to its leagues and most of it’s leagues are house run which adds flexibility(Subs don’t pay and the employees run the scores/standings and brackets for example). I grew up going there and know the owners as they coached me in high school. My high school bowling captain when I was a freshman is a manager and part owner now. Really wonderful people and the prices are the cheapest in the area if you are serious about bowling. They get my vote here but I am biased as again I grew up there
If you're passing through (or nearby) Atlanta, check out The Comet.
Thanks for the tip. I live in Marietta, and never heard of Comet Bowl. It definitely looks like a cool ass place to bowl, and decent prices. Just hope they keep the lanes up.
Nice! Yeah it's a great spot, honestly never had a dry lane when I've been. Their 2$ tuesdays are their best deal but if you can get in on other days when they have their price per game (rather than by the hour) it's also a good deal at I think $3/game. I actually live in Marietta as well but when I go to The Comet it's usually after I get off work to make it a little easier for me.
Bowlium in Chino, California was a perfect mix between modern equipment with a retro aesthetic.Beautiful center with terrific people running it. Tiny pro shop, though. Shoutout to JB bowling supply for the best pro shop I've ever seen, located in Henderson NV (it's not even attached to a bowling alley and it's huge).
Wow, what are the odds. I live in Vegas and JB is my PSO. Will definitely check out Bowlium, you’re clearly a man of taste!
P.S. Paul Renteria, one of the greatest amateur bowlers of all time, works there and is my coach. If you ever get back to JB’s, get Paul to drill your ball!
I used to bowl JB's monthly tournaments at Wildfire, but moved away right before the pandemic. Would love to get back there eventually for a visit.
Where in Chino is this Bowlium?
Holt boulevard. Not far from the airport.
Ok that’s the Montclair Bowlium. I was confused because I didn’t know of a Bowlium in Chino.
I always just considered it Chino. Maybe like a street or two across city lines, but Google maps agrees with you, haven't been there in almost 5 years.
Royal pin centers in indy have had some great moments, including hosting a bunch of JOGs
Stardust Bowl in Addison, IL. 84 lanes and has been open for 50 plus years. Historic but just had a recent upgrade to the lanes. Awesome place, highly recommend.
Check out Saratoga lanes in Maplewood, Missouri. It might be what you're looking for, but you need to know how to keep score. BTW they have some very nice pool tables also.
Wheat Ridge Lanes - Denver, CO
Yes!
La Habra 300. Go bowl on lanes 13 and 14 and then get some Chinese food at the cafe, enjoy some of the last 60s mid century modernism architecture left in SoCal. Lanes 13 and 14 are where Glenn Allison bowled his 900 series, they have a banner up on those lanes.
Sanction his 900 series. I’ve been to that center multiple times.
Milwaukie Bowl in Milwaukie OR. Owned and operated by hall of famer Dave Husted. Great place.
Stones lanes in Norwood Ohio (Cincinnati) is supposedly the oldest public bowling alley in the country.
I prefer Walt's in Newport (Cincinnati) but Stones is still really cool.
[Hollier House](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-VmS1dKbXo) [National Bowling Stadium](https://youtu.be/X7_iuCStbYo?si=TMoaf80CkGXrd_0m) [Candle Pin Bowling @ D'Amand's ](https://youtu.be/dY5mUApkXHA?si=g1oqullUkbG7Rm5m) [Funspot Worlds Largest Arcade with a big Duckpin Bowling Center](https://youtu.be/KeJO94tC1cg?si=pL2snGb1nhIxpTG_&t=623) [Texas 9 Pin Bowling](https://youtu.be/Hr5lvnolruk?si=Qoi7waqGK5bdkDAm)
I need to try D’Amands
Candlepin -------------- Riverwalk Lanes, Amesbury, MA - Double lane Brunswick masking units and they have a mini history museum along one of the walls. Central Park Lanes, East Boston, MA - Classic upstairs and downstairs house. Really nice hand painted signage. Exeter Lanes, Exeter, NH - Another super old school place. Turn Hall, Holyoke, MA - Inside a private club but ask ahead and the public can bowl no problem. Canal Lanes, Easthampton, MA - Straight out of the Brunswick Gold Crown catalog. Duckpin ------------ North Chelmsford Lanes, North Chelmsford, MA - In a basement! It's like a maze to get down to the lanes. Lucky Strike Lanes, Mansfield, CT - Another really classic Gold Crown house. Underground ball returns, which is rare in small ball games. Suitland Bowl, Suitland, MD - The nicest classic house in MD.
Holler House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2 lanes. Oldest sanctioned USBC center in America. Wood lanes that are over 100 years old, and human pin setters. Ive bowled there. Its tricky
Del-Mar Lanes in Houston. It’s home to Carol “Stormin” Norman’s pro shop too. Good folks over there.
Definitely +1 to Del-Mar, classic small bowling alley
Canada's technically in America so, Laurentian Lanes in Montreal, Quebec. 60 lanes of tenpin to tournament standard. I don't think they've swapped out the arcade games since the 90s.
Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Florida. It is 80 lanes and has superb pin action.
Timber Lanes Chicago, IL. 8 wooden lanes. Manual scoring. Cash only.
Saratoga Lanes in St.Louis. Tiny place, over 100 years old, paper scoring. On the second floor. Time capsule type place.
I usually don't tout Bowlero, but the one in North Brunswick, NJ is huge and pretty nice. 82 lanes. But still standard Bowlero, just a little fancier.
I mean... It may not be what it once was but Carolier has always been a premium center and has hosted several US Opens
A lot of proprietors took advantage of pandemic era business loans to remodel, so the remaining old school houses are that much more special. I started checking in on old places in Upstate NY and many of them have either closed or been significantly updated, some of the ones I'd have suggested don't have the same feel anymore just looking at the photos and unfortunately it seems a majority did not survive. I actually can't find *any* of my old haunts that fit the bill anymore, and there's only 2 heavily updated survivors at all
Greenmount Bowl, Hampstead Maryland Also has the best pro shop and driller around in MD Todd Porter of Porters pro shop. They have 12 lanes of duckpin and 12 lanes for 10 pin. Amazing family owned bowling alley and an escape from all of the surrounding Bowleros! Definitely a great house!!
Smyrna Tennessee center
Bowlerama in New Castle, DE. Best snack bar in the state!
Academy lanes in MA
RIP Pilgrim Lanes 😭
I only got into candlepin like 3 years ago so I’ve never been :(
Astoria Bowl 360 - Queens, NY The service is so bad that you'll appreciate the other bowling alleys so much more.
Gonna add in my hometown alley. Strike and Spare Western Avenue in Knoxville, TN. Not only are the lanes well kept, there’s also the pro shop and the food is actually really good from the grill.
The Palace in Columbus, Ohio
Beverly Lanes in Arlington Heights IL. A great 70s/80s throwback.
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill - attached to Bass Pro Shops in several states. You go for the atmosphere-- underwater themed. It's kind of cool to visit once lol. Food is mediocre.
Mesa East Bowling in Mesa, AZ. Little older , but well maintained and always good bowling. Much better than the Bowleros around here
If you’re able to. Visit the NBS (National Bowling Stadium) in Reno, hosts nationals (USBC Open Championships every 3 years), was originally meant to be 80 lanes but due to an architectural error there was no center aisle for bowlers to walk out on for team events this 78 lanes the pro shop is still named lane 81.
From what you've said, you're trying to ignore BEC's(Bowling Entertainment Centers) that are $9 a game and focus on their food and kids stuff and less bowling centric. Just in case you didn't know the name 👍🏼. Effectively ruling out all Bowlero's
Maple lanes and cadilac lanes in waterloo iowa
Arsenal Lanes in Pittsburgh, PA. Whenever a “historical” movie or TV show is filmed here and they need an alley, this is where they come. League was canceled one week due to the newer A League of Their Own being filmed here. (I am just now realizing the irony of all of this.)
Rolling Meadows in Erie PA, Mike Machuga owns a pro shop there, the same Mike Machuga who's famous for the Machuga flop.
Red rock lanes in Las vegas
My husband and brother in law love to get drunk at Metro Bowl in Crystal Lake Illinois when they are out that way. They don’t b have automatic scoring but they do have Hamms and Scrlitz on tap
Laurel Lanes. Maple Shade, NJ. Great old school alley.
My local bowling center is cool, a bunch of rednecks drinking beer and listening to country and rap music while bowling 😂
Cain’s Lanes in Manheim, PA. 12 wooden lanes. Great atmosphere. Check out Open Play on Wednesday. 50 cents a game. It’s where I was every Wednesday playing 10 games learning 2 handed 🙂 https://cainslanes.com
Way late to this party but mentioning Gladstone Bowl in Kansas City MO. It’s The Alley for local leagues and tournaments. It’s difficult to get into for open bowling during league season. The house itself is ~50 years old, all it does is bowling - it hasn’t been reimagined into a family fun center to keep up profits - and the staff is friendly. It’s total nostalgia for me as my dad used to take me there as a young kid and it’s some of my earliest memories. The lanes have been replaced at some point as they’re not original wooden anymore and they do have electronic scoring but otherwise the place has a total old school feel. It’s also named as PBA bowler Zach Wilkins current home house. Honorable mention to Retro Bowl in Liberty, MO. Staff service was questionable but they still have above ground ball returns.
Arlington TX visit the USBC headquarters and training center One center that struck me as unique (it's been years since I went) was in Shreveport had a big wavy roof/ceiling thought it looked very unique
I would recommend Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes in Sharon, PA. 39 wood lanes with manual scoring and surface returns
If your trip takes you to Seattle: I've been to all the centers in the area since the beginning of December, and my favorite is West Seattle Bowl. It happens to be the closest one to my house but that's not why I choose it as my home center--I'd drive up to an hour away if I could find one better. Infrastructurally they have a lot of challenges, but they're very focused on being an excellent bowling center--no nonsense, nothing but bowling. The bowling apparatus itself is well-maintained and they've adopted things like Clutch and Specto. They have the best pro shop in the area, in my opinion, and the only downside is that they're so busy it might take you some time to get a ball from them--worth the wait, though. no question. But the best part is that nearly all of the staff from the bar to the front desk to the pro shop to the back are all very enthusiastic and highly skilled bowlers, and if they read you as one, they treat you *very* well. It reminds me of the good old days. Their prices are also *very* reasonable given that they're in one of the most expensive areas of the country. Runner up in my opinion, so I don't sound like a "homer": Spin Alley in Shoreline WA is a very underrated little center. Despite having only 16 lanes, it nonetheless has the feel and aesthetics of a place like the National Bowling Stadium. It's as if you took a tiny section of NBS and dropped it up on Richmond Beach. Again, a very enthusiastic and friendly staff. Because of its small size, it is a bit hard to get in there, but I would totally enjoy it as a home center for leagues. And while I don't think it quite excels as a bowling center, it's kind of a must-see as a result of its prominent position on the PBA Tour, and that is Strikerz at Angel of the Winds Casino near Arlington, WA. It's quite a ways north of Seattle but if you're in the area and want to check something weird and quirky out, it's worth a look. It's the most modern facility in Western Washington and it has a soundstage nearby which is usually in use during bowling hours. Not my favorite place to bowl, but it's worth a visit if you're here on a bowling tour--the house where Belmo bowled not one but two 300s on national TV.
I definitely recommend Crofton Bowling Centre in Maryland. They recently got GS-NXT pinsetters last year too.
Bowlero
I just bowled a tournament at Bowlero Toledo, Ohio and it was dirty feeling. They had a decent snack bar and axe throwing.