Villa Lanes (Rem.)
Decatur, IN
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The giant boomerang arrow at Villa Lanes practically pointed motorists into the parking lot. Its colorful Space Age design made this Decatur marquee an attraction before anyone rented shoes. Bowling alleys certainly knew how to make an entrance. 01-01

The center grew into twenty lanes, offering leagues, youth events, cosmic bowling, arcade games and banquet facilities. Generations could return for different occasions while keeping the same familiar place to meet.

The sign wasn’t as fortunate. Its distinctive arrow and older styling eventually gave way to modern backlit signage. The replacement advertised the business, but roadside photographers lost one of the more interesting details outside.

UPDATE: Villa Lanes remains open and continues serving Decatur bowlers. The original boomerang marquee is gone, though the bowling tradition carries on behind its newer roadside welcome. 06-26

Kinser Lanes (Rem.)
Dover, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The giant bowling pin at Kinser Lanes was hard to overlook. Paired with its colorful marquee, it gave bowlers a memorable welcome along Wabash Avenue. Even without plans for a game, the sign offered a good reason to pull over for a photograph. 11-00

The center served the Dover–New Philadelphia area for years before deterioration led to condemnation. For a while, it looked as though this neighborhood bowling stop had reached its final frame.

New owners purchased the property in 2012 and undertook a complete renovation, reopening it as the 20-lane Wabash Lanes. The investment brought bowling back, although the familiar name and oversized pin disappeared during the transformation.

UPDATE: Wabash Lanes remains open in the renovated building. The original marquee was removed, giving the revived center a different roadside introduction. Fortunately, the lanes received another chance even if the sign did not. 06-26

Riviera Lanes (Demolished)
Bellaire, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The abandoned Riviera Lanes looked like a ten-pin graveyard when photographed. Brush surrounded the Bellaire building, while its tall marquee still stood above the overgrowth. The sign seemed determined to advertise a few more games, even with nobody left to play. 11-00

The alley had an unusual problem beneath its floors. Built over an abandoned coal mine, it closed after methane seeped into the building and created dangerous conditions. An underground hazard brought an end to what had been a neighborhood gathering place.

The vacant property lingered for years, attracting photographers drawn to the lonely sign and slowly disappearing building. Nature was doing its own remodeling, with little concern for preserving the old bowling entrance.

UPDATE: Riviera Lanes has been demolished, and its marquee was removed. The overgrown alley and towering sign are gone, ending one of Ohio’s more unusual bowling-center stories. 06-26

Holiday Lanes (Closed)
Lisbon, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Holiday Lanes offered bowling above the street rather than beside a parking lot. Its second-floor location in downtown Lisbon made it an unusual neighborhood alley. 11-00

After bowling ended, the equipment was removed and the space found other uses, including a specialty motorcycle shop called Chrome and later a church. The changing occupants left little evidence of the games once played upstairs.

UPDATE: The bowling alley remains closed, and its marquee is gone. The former lanes have been adapted for other purposes. 06-26

Al-Mar Colonial Lanes (Rem.)
Bowling Green, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Al-Mar Colonial Lanes sign offered a straightforward mid-century welcome in Bowling Green. It didn’t need elaborate animation to have character. 01-01

An electrical fire destroyed the original alley and sign in December 2000. The owners rebuilt on the same site, continuing a bowling tradition that later included numerous Professional Bowlers Association events.

UPDATE: Al-Mar remains open in its rebuilt facility. The vintage marquee was lost in the fire, but bowling returned for another generation. 06-26

Rainbow Lanes (Gone)
Fremont, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The colorful neon at Rainbow Lanes gave West State Street in Fremont a familiar nighttime glow. During bowling’s busy years, the sign welcomed league players, families and anyone looking to spend an evening knocking down a few pins. It also gave roadside photographers a reason to stop without renting shoes. 01-01

Rainbow was one of three major bowling centers serving Fremont during the sport’s local heyday. Places like this kept the weekly routine going, bringing regular teams and neighborhood friends back through the doors.

Declining league participation eventually caught up with the business, and Rainbow closed in September 2007. Fortunately, the building found another use rather than meeting the wrecking ball. Its former bowling space was adapted for commercial tenants, keeping activity at the property after the games ended.

UPDATE: The building remains standing and houses several businesses, but the vintage neon marquee has been removed. Rainbow’s bowling days are over, and its colorful roadside welcome has disappeared with them. 06-26