Sheridan Lanes
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

Looking for a good ten-pin alley game? Better yet, looking for a good neon sign to visit? Then Sheridan Lanes in Tulsa is the place.

So many classic bowling alley marquees have disappeared over the years, making the survivors that much more special. Standing tall along Sheridan Road, this colorful sign is hard to miss and remains one of the best bowling alley signs in Oklahoma.

The bowling center opened in 1957 and has been a familiar Tulsa landmark ever since. The sign was designed by Sam Karney of Claude Neon Federal and features the kind of bold, space-age styling that helped define the bowling boom of the 1950s and 1960s. Whether you're there to knock down a few pins or just admire the neon, it's worth stopping for a closer look.

I've been fortunate enough to see the sign both during the day and at night over the years. While the bowling alley itself has changed with the times, the marquee remains the real attraction for anyone who appreciates classic roadside design. 08-17

Sheridan Lanes
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

UPDATE: Sheridan Lanes remains open today as AMF Sheridan Lanes. Best of all, the iconic marquee is still standing out front, continuing to welcome bowlers and neon fans more than six decades after it first went up. 06-26

Rose Bowl (Closed)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

When you think of the Rose Bowl, do you think of College football and New Years Day? If you don't, then you must have seen the Rose Bowl in Tulsa and its fantastic arching sign that somewhat resembles the famed Arch and Arch Motel in St. Louis. Best of all, it's located off of the old Route 66.

Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Rose Bowl has been transformed from a bowling alley to an events center. The Rose Bowl Event Center has now hosted many local events. For more on the Rose Bowl, see Roadside Peek's Lost Treasures feature on the Rose Bowl. 10-10

Featuring a marquee that's still in great shape, the 66 Bowl is the place to be if you're in Oklahoma City. Plus, it's right off Route 66.

The first thing that grabs your attention at 66 Bowl is that terrific roadside sign. With its classic bowling graphics, bold lettering, and Route 66 connection, it looks like something straight out of the golden age of roadside entertainment. Even if you weren't planning to roll a few frames, the marquee alone was enough to make you slow down for a closer look.

Opened in 1959, 66 Bowl became a popular stop for Oklahoma City bowlers for decades. The 24-lane alley offered exactly what many mid-century bowling centers promised: league nights, family outings, birthday parties, and plenty of friendly competition under the glow of neon. Being located along historic Route 66 only added to its appeal for both locals and travelers passing through town.

For many years, the sign stood as one of the more recognizable bowling landmarks along Oklahoma's stretch of the Mother Road. Few roadside attractions announced their purpose more clearly than a giant bowling-themed marquee rising above the parking lot. It was the kind of sign that made you want to pull in, whether you were a serious bowler or just looking for a little fun.

UPDATE: 66 Bowl closed in 2010 and the building was later converted into a grocery store. Fortunately, the iconic neon sign was saved, restored, and relocated to Chandler, Oklahoma, where it now stands outside Route 66 Bowl and continues to greet travelers along the historic highway. 06-26

Bee Line Bowl (Gone)
Okmulgee, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

The Bee Line Bowl in Okmulgee features a few great-looking marquees with lettering that harks back to the golden era of bowling alleys.

The photo on the left even shows the happy bowling ball face. Or is it a bee? A bowling bee?

The first thing you'll notice at Bee Line Bowl is the collection of terrific roadside signs out front. Between the colorful lettering, classic bowling imagery, and that smiling character keeping watch over the property, this was the kind of place that looked like fun before you ever stepped inside. Bowling centers built during the postwar boom often competed for attention with oversized signs and eye-catching graphics, and Bee Line Bowl was no exception. Whether the cheerful face was meant to be a bowling ball, a bee, or a little bit of both, it gave the alley plenty of personality and made it easy to spot from the road.

For generations, places like this served as community gathering spots where league bowlers, families, and friends could spend an evening knocking down pins and catching up with neighbors. The signs out front helped set the tone, promising a good time long before the first frame began. 05-01

UPDATE: Bee Line Bowl has permanently closed and the historic bowling alley no longer operates. The distinctive signs and smiling bowling-ball character shown here have been removed, leaving these photographs as a reminder of one of Okmulgee's longtime bowling landmarks. 06-26