Robin Hood Lanes (Demolished)
Edmonds, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
Not every bowling alley sign followed the same formula. Robin Hood Lanes in Edmonds featured a bowling pin cut into an unusual shape that gave the marquee a little extra personality and made it stand out from the crowd. It was the kind of sign that caught your eye, even if you weren't planning to bowl a game.
For more than 50 years, Robin Hood Lanes was a favorite gathering place for league bowlers, birthday parties, and family nights out. Like so many neighborhood bowling centers, it became part of the community while its distinctive sign greeted generations of motorists along Edmonds Way.
UPDATE: The Robin Hood Lanes shut down in 2013. after 50 years of serving bowlers with alley like entertainment. After the closure of several local lanes over the past decade, Robin Hood was typically very busy. After closing, the whole place was razed over a couple of years later. A Walgreens now occupies the site. 04-17
Unfortunately, another classic bowling alley has faded into history. As vintage lanes continue to disappear, so do the creative signs that once advertised them. Photos like this preserve a piece of roadside Americana that many people drove past without realizing one day it would be gone.
UPDATE: Robin Hood Lanes closed in 2013 and was demolished shortly afterward. Today the site has been redeveloped with newer commercial buildings, and its distinctive bowling pin sign is no longer part of the Edmonds streetscape. 07-26
Interstate Lanes (Demolished)
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff
Raber
At first glance, Interstate Lanes looks more like an old movie theater than a bowling alley. Its Art Deco façade gave the building a style all its own and made it one of North Portland's most recognizable roadside landmarks.
For decades, bowlers walked through these doors for league nights, family outings, and a few friendly games. Like many neighborhood bowling alleys, it became part of the community while its classic architecture and roadside sign welcomed motorists passing along Interstate Avenue.
UPDATE: Donn Allen's Interstate Lanes along Interstate Blvd in Portland shut it doors on April 30, 2016. The paint on the building was looking a bit chippy and the cool space age looking sign was well worn in 2015. Unfortunately, Interstate Lanes has met the fate of most of the other old bowling alleys. Which is they are no longer economically viable in many cases as league players get older and young fans are hard to gain. The future of this location? An apartment complex. 04-17
Sadly, places like this are becoming harder to find. Interstate Lanes closed in 2016 after nearly 90 years in business, bringing an end to one of Portland's oldest bowling centers.
UPDATE: Interstate Lanes has since been demolished, and the site is now home to a modern apartment complex. Its distinctive Art Deco building and roadside sign are gone. 07-26
Medford
Lanes (Gone)
Medford, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
It's hard not to smile at the sign for Medford Lanes. Perched high above the starburst marquee is a bowling ball with a cheerful face, giving this old Highway 99 landmark a personality all its own. Add in the bold mid-century lettering, and it was the kind of sign that could easily lure travelers off the road for a game or two.
UPDATE: The marquee for the Medford Lanes has been replaced by a back-lit plastic sign. 04-17
Bowling alleys once competed for attention with colorful signs like this, and Medford Lanes certainly knew how to stand out. Whether you came to join a league, celebrate a birthday, or simply escape the summer heat for a few frames, the smiling bowling ball welcomed everyone who pulled into the parking lot.
Unfortunately, the old sign is now just a memory. The bowling alley has closed, and the distinctive starburst marquee was replaced by a modern sign, taking another colorful piece of roadside Americana with it.
UPDATE: Medford Lanes has been repurposed for commercial use, and its unforgettable smiling bowling ball and vintage roadside sign no longer survive. 07-26
Indian Lanes (Gone)
Roseburg, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Perched above the street with its giant bowling pin standing watch, Indian Lanes had all the charm of a classic mid-century bowling alley. The wide, modern-looking building and eye-catching sign made it hard to miss, inviting motorists to pull in for a few games and a night of friendly competition.
UPDATE: It is sad to say but Indian Lanes of Roseburg is no more. Many thanks to Nathan Miller for update. 12-05
Like so many neighborhood bowling centers, Indian Lanes was more than just a place to bowl. It was where leagues gathered every week, families celebrated birthdays, and friends met after work. For years, the familiar bowling pin sign welcomed generations of Roseburg residents and travelers passing through town, becoming a landmark along the old highway.
While the sounds of crashing pins have long since faded, the building itself survived. Instead of being demolished, it found a second life with new businesses, proving that some roadside landmarks can continue serving the community even after their original purpose has passed.
Indian Lanes (Gone)
Roseburg, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Unfortunately, the giant bowling pin that once announced "bowling here" is gone. It's another reminder that while many vintage buildings remain, the colorful signs that gave them so much personality often disappear first.
UPDATE: Indian Lanes is no longer a bowling alley, but the building still stands and has been repurposed for other commercial uses. The iconic bowling pin sign no longer survives. 07-26
Tower Lanes
Tacoma, WA Photo courtesy Jeffrey Cook / 1999
For decades, Tower Lanes has welcomed bowlers with a classic roadside sign that's become a familiar sight along Tacoma's 6th Avenue. It's the kind of marquee that brings back memories of family bowling nights, league play, and birthday parties when the local bowling alley was one of the busiest places in town. 08-99
UPDATE: The bowling alley is alive and well, including the sign. Tower Lanes in Tacoma WA is not nor never has been demolished. It is currently owned by a group lead by Bob Hanson and Jeanne Naccorato. (Original posting incorrectly stated Tower Lanes had been demolished) Many thanks to Chris Purley and Dave Hanson for update. 03-12
UPDATE: Tower Lanes is still open 24 hours a day. The marquee still stands, though it's been painted over with some bland brown paint. 04-17
Unlike so many neighborhood lanes that have disappeared over the years, Tower Lanes is still rolling along. While it has grown into a modern entertainment center, the familiar pole sign remains, reminding passing motorists of an era when bowling alleys proudly advertised themselves with colorful roadside landmarks instead of digital displays.
Sometimes the best roadside survivors aren't the flashiest. They're the ones that have quietly welcomed generations of families while changing just enough to stay part of the community.
UPDATE: Tower Lanes remains open today, and its classic roadside sign continues to greet bowlers along Tacoma's 6th Avenue. 07-26
Robin Hood Lanes (Demolished)
Interstate Lanes (Demolished)
Medford
Lanes (Gone)
Indian Lanes (Gone)
Indian Lanes (Gone)
Tower Lanes
