OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - If you were driving Route 66 through Oklahoma City, there was a good chance your eyes would end up on the sign before you ever noticed the bowling alley. 66 Bowl had one of the great bowling alley signs along the Mother Road, complete with animated neon bowling balls that appeared to roll toward a set of pins. 02-08
66 Bowl in 2000
Oklahoma City, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City, where the sign alone was worth pulling off Route 66 for a closer look. With its oversized bowling pin, circular lettering panel and colorful neon, this roadside attraction didn’t leave motorists guessing about the entertainment inside. Even if your bowling needed work, spotting the place was easy.
The bowling center opened in March 1959 along Northwest 39th Street, welcoming league players, neighborhood families and travelers taking a break from the Mother Road. Its 24 lanes offered plenty of opportunities for strikes, spares and an evening spent wondering why the ball kept finding the gutter.
The 24-lane bowling center opened in 1959 and quickly became a popular stop for bowlers and families on Oklahoma City's west side. While the lanes kept people coming back, the sign became a landmark in its own right. Over the years, it survived storms, repairs, changing tastes, and decades of Route 66 traffic passing by out front.
66 Bowl in 2010
Oklahoma City, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Jim and Peggy Haynes purchased the business in 1978 and kept it going for more than three decades. Meanwhile, the big sign became an attraction in its own right. Route 66 visitors stopped to photograph it whether or not they planned to rent a pair of shoes. A bowling ball meeting a pin made a pretty effective roadside advertisement, especially outlined in neon.
There was more than bowling going on here, too. The center hosted parties, tournaments and concerts, including a 2009 appearance by Oklahoma City’s own Wanda Jackson. Having the Queen of Rockabilly perform at a Route 66 bowling alley sounds like a pretty good combination of roadside entertainment.
The landmark 66 Bowl sign dates back about 20 years, when the original sign was knocked off in a storm and restored. An Indian grocery store called Spices of India plans to build and open a store at the site by the end of 2010.
66 Bowl Marquee
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The photos here show how the sign changed over time. In 2000, the paint looked fresh and vibrant. By 2010, weather and age had begun to take their toll, giving the marquee a more worn appearance. Even so, it remained one of the most recognizable signs along this stretch of Route 66. 02-08
The final frames came in 2010, after 51 years in business. Health concerns and financial setbacks contributed to the owners’ decision to sell, and the property was purchased for conversion into a Spices of India grocery store and restaurant. The building found another use, but the bowling equipment and familiar roadside sign headed in different directions.
Fortunately, the sign’s story wasn’t finished. Sold at auction for $3,900, it was dismantled in October 2010 and taken away for safekeeping. For several years, travelers could only wonder whether this familiar piece of the highway would ever return to the roadside.
The landmark 66 Bowl sign dates back about 20 years, when the original sign was knocked off in a storm and restored. An Indian grocery store called Spices of India plans to build and open a store at the site by the end of 2010.
66 Bowl sign close-up
Oklahoma City, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
UPDATE: Here's a close-up shot of the 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City. Many thanks to Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn for updated photo. 02-08
UPDATE: The 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City is scheduled to close on September 17 after 51 years, with an auction now scheduled for October 1. Spices of India is planning to open an Indian grocery story at the 66 Bowl site. For more information, see this USA Today article and NewsOK. 09-10
UPDATE: 66 Bowl closed in September 2010 after 51 years in business. The building was later repurposed, but the famous sign survived. After changing hands and undergoing restoration, the marquee was relocated to the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Oklahoma, where it continues to light up for a new generation of Route 66 travelers. 06-26
UPDATE: The restored 66 Bowl sign returned to Route 66 in Chandler in April 2016, where it now welcomes visitors to the Rt. 66 Bowl entertainment complex. Bowling, an arcade, laser tag and miniature golf give it plenty to advertise at its new home. Oklahoma City lost a familiar landmark, but the old sign is still pointing the way toward a night of fun. 10-26
66 Bowl sign and lettering on front building
Oklahoma City, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
66 Bowl neon sign
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Alan Culley
66 Bowl in 2000
66 Bowl in 2010
66 Bowl Marquee
