DiDonato's Bowling
Hammonton, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Cruising along the White Horse Pike brings you to DiDonato’s Bowling, a longtime Route 30 landmark in Hammonton. The roadside sign has been pointing bowlers toward the lanes for decades. 10-05

Hammonton calls itself the Blueberry Capital of the World, and blueberries actually play a part in the DiDonato story. The family started out farming blueberries before opening a modest four-lane bowling alley in 1952. Really?

That little bowling alley has grown into the DiDonato Family Fun Center with 26 genuine hardwood lanes, a restaurant, arcade, ice cream parlor, and an outdoor miniature railway. The center remains family-owned after more than 70 years.

UPDATE: DiDonato Family Fun Center remains open, and its familiar roadside sign still stands along Route 30. 08-26

T Bowl Duckpin Lanes (Gone)
Newington, CT
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

Check out the towering sign for T-Bowl Duckpin Lanes along the Berlin Turnpike. A giant bowling pin formed the main part of the marquee, topped by an equally large block letter “T.” You certainly knew there was bowling ahead. 09-08

Although commonly listed in Berlin, T-Bowl was actually located just up the turnpike in Newington. The alley opened around 1961 and became another colorful roadside landmark along the strip once known as Gasoline Alley.

T-Bowl claimed to be the largest duckpin bowling alley in the country. The Bisson family operated it for about 40 years, later adding an arcade and laser tag under the name Fun Squared.

UPDATE: T-Bowl closed in August 2015. The building was converted into an Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and the giant bowling pin sign was removed. 08-26

Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama
Newington, CT
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

Cruising along the Berlin Turnpike brings you to the glowing sign for Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama. The staggered neon letters are hard to miss, especially the oversized circular “O” shining above the roadside. This old sign still knows how to catch the attention of passing drivers. 09-08

Bowl-O-Rama opened in 1959 and has remained in the Callahan family for more than six decades. Along with its bowling lanes, the center has featured an arcade, cocktail lounge, pro shop, and Bubba’s Grille.

For more than 50 years, Bowl-O-Rama stayed open around the clock. It was reportedly Connecticut’s only bowling alley operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Really? That marathon schedule finally ended in February 2015, but the bowling continued.

UPDATE: Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama remains open. Its familiar neon roadside sign also survives and continues to light up the Newington strip. 08-26