Canby Bowl (Gone)
Canby, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
A giant bowling pin was usually a pretty good clue that you’d found the right place, and Canby Bowl made sure passing motorists got the message. Its glowing neon marquee had the personality that made bowling alley signs such dependable roadside finds. Even if you weren’t planning to rent shoes, this one deserved a stop for a photograph. 03-06
UPDATE: Canby Lanes shut down sometime in the past decade. An O'Reilly Auto Parts now occupies the site. 04-17
UPDATE: Also known as Canby Lanes, the bowling alley closed and was demolished, with an O’Reilly Auto Parts occupying the site by 2017. The familiar marquee and giant pin are gone from the property. Their eventual fate remains unconfirmed, but this photo preserves another memorable piece of Oregon’s bowling alley landscape. 07-26
Golden Lanes (Gone)
Goldendale, WA Photo courtesy Ben Scribner
Knock down a few pins and get the laundry done at the same stop. Golden Lanes in Goldendale offered that unusual combination, complete with the wonderfully straightforward “Bowl Laundry” name. Between the roadside sign and oversized bowling pin, there was plenty here to catch your attention before you even noticed the washing machines. 04-06
Bowling and laundry might not sound like the usual pairing, but both involve a little waiting around between loads or turns. At least here you had something to do while the clothes were spinning. It’s the sort of practical combination that gave locally owned roadside businesses their own personality.
The bowling alley also provided a place for an evening out without leaving town. An updated photo from 2008 showed remodeling and fresh paint, suggesting there was still life in the old lanes. Looking back, it’s nice to have photographs from different years showing how a familiar business changed along the way.
Golden Lanes
Goldendale, WA Photo courtesy Ben Scribner
UPDATE: Here's another shot of the Golden Lanes in Goldendale. The place has been going through some remodeling and painting. Many thanks to Ben Scribner for photo update. 11-08
UPDATE: The Golden Lanes is now gone. The place is currently being occupied by a Bible Baptist Church. 04-17
UPDATE: Golden Lanes eventually closed, and the former bowling alley became home to Bible Baptist Church. The bowling business, Bowl Laundry, and familiar roadside signs are gone, but the building found another community use. It’s a different gathering these days, with considerably less noise from falling pins. 07-26
Caveman Bowl
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Caveman Bowl marquee fits right into Grants Pass, where cavemen have long been part of the local identity. Standing along Rogue River Highway, the sign gives passing motorists a familiar invitation to pull in for a few frames. You don’t need a bowling ball in the trunk to appreciate another classic roadside bowling sign. 12-08
The name reflects the town’s association with the Oregon Caves and its colorful Cavemen boosters. That local connection gives the business something you won’t find at just any bowling center. In Grants Pass, a caveman on a business sign hardly seems out of place.
Caveman Bowl
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
There’s some serious bowling experience behind the doors, too. Owner Kevin Croucher is a professional bowler, and the pro shop is operated by Chris Warren, whose accomplishments include six PBA Tour titles. Along with league bowling and open play, the center offers the Ten Pin Café, a game room, and a bar. There’s plenty to keep visitors occupied between games.
UPDATE: Caveman Bowl remains open at 1230 Rogue River Highway, welcoming league players, families, and tournament competitors. It also appears on the 2026 PBA50 tournament schedule. The familiar marquee continues pointing the way, making this a roadside stop where the bowling is still very much part of the picture. 07-26
Canby Bowl (Gone)
Golden Lanes (Gone)
Golden Lanes
Caveman Bowl
Caveman Bowl
