Its Official – Tacoma Loves Duckpin Bowling

Just over one year after its official opening, Ocean5 is proof that west coasters will take to duckpin bowling. The environmentally friendly, award winning facility opened in Gig Harbor, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. Highly successful, it can even be difficult to get into the venue on many weekends.

There are 16 bowling lanes in the public space, 8 of them are duckpin. They also have two private party areas; one with 4 duckpin lanes and the other with 2 tenpin lanes. As with the tenpin lanes, the duckpin lanes are regulation and use the Qubica/AMF string machines. The approaches are just a bit shorter than standard and do require bowling shoes. According to an interview the owner Troy Alstead, former chief operating officer at Starbucks, the duckpin lanes are very popular at all hours and evenings will usually require a reservation.

Ocean5 is 57,000 square feet and offers a large arcade, laser tag, and has a bar and a restaurant that has won numerous awards already for its food. The owners have applied for LEEDS certification for the building since it was designed and built to be environmentally friendly. It is estimated that the facility is so energy efficient that it saves enough energy to power 35 homes.

Alstead’s also behind an affiliated restaurant called Table 47, a 300-seat restaurant features upscale food in a casual environment and is in the same complex.

Get more information at https://www.o5social.com.

May 30, 2019 0

Article on Carrol County youth duckpin bowlers

The Carrol County Times has a nice little piece on the 4 teams of youth duckpin bowlers from Greenmount Bowl that are headed to the NDYA National Tournament.

Greenmount Bowl has produced five National Championship teams since 2009. Congratulations to all involved!

Caroll County Times – Rec Brief: Greenmount bowlers headed to national tournament

May 27, 2019 0

Bowling in Bethesda MD

Bethesda Magazine published a piece lightly covering the history of bowling, including duckpin, in the greater Bethesda area. Its a bit of a trip down memory lane for those of us from that area.

Bethesda Magazine – Memory Lane

May 27, 2019 0

Free summer bowling for kids

Want something fun to do with your kids this summer? There is a program that gives every child 2-free games each day in the summertime and all you have to do is register for it.

Not all bowling centers participate, but you can see a list of your local participating centers at the web site. Sign up! Why not, even if you only go a few times. Great rainy summer day activity!

If they really like it (and who wouldn’t?) look into signing them up for a kids fall league. They’ll make new friends, learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and develop better coordination in an atmosphere of fun and competition.

https://www.kidsbowlfree.com

April 22, 2019 0

Shorty’s Will Bring Duckpin Bowling to Pittsburgh’s North Shore

A new venue in the North Shore area of Pittsburgh will open soon featuring indoor/outdoor spaces, craft beers, and duckpin bowling as well. Wondering if it will be regulation or the more common short-lane duckpin. The company developing Shorty’s Pins x Pints hopes to build several more throughout PA/MD/WV.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – The Latest North Shore Attraction? Duckpins, Pinball, and Beer Pong!

March 15, 2019 0

Indianapolis set to get more duckpin bowling

Rise Brands, a developer of entertainment venues, is set to open their first Indiana location and it will have a version of duckpin bowling. Early information seems to indicate that the lanes will be about 25-30 feet with a shortened approach. They will be using the Qubica/AMF string machines as pinsetters.

Pins Mechanical Company currently operates two other venues with similar duckpin bowling, one of which is in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to a briefing given by the company to obtain its license, they are booking over 1000 games a week in the Cincinnati location. They also expect to do very well with youth birthday parties before 8pm.

The company also has two arcade-type locations. Their motto is, With the motto “when life gives you balls, play with them,” Pins will serve an array of craft beer and cocktails.”.

Indystar – A pinball, bocce, foosball, ping pong and duckpin bowling bar is coming to Mass Ave.

January 30, 2019 0

Could Indiana become the new center of duckpin Bowling? This developer thinks so.

A developer, Pat Hagan, is planning on building a full 10-lane duckpin bowling center in Franklin, Indiana. After seeing the lanes at Fountainsquare and observing the crowds waiting to play, he decided that Franklin’s restaurant district needed a similar venue. Based on a TV interview on local WTHR, he is already looking to option two other locations in the Indianapolis suburbs for even more duckpin lanes.

Hagan plans to have both the arcade-style mini-bowling as well as almost full-size duckpin lanes. There is some issue with regulation lanes being just a bit too long to fit into the historic building so they will have to be shortened a little. However, Hagan indicates he will get as close to regulation as possible under the circumstances.

“Pending state and local approvals, Hagan hopes to be open this spring after installing 10 duckpin lanes. The bowling alley will have beer and wine service and concession-type foods provided by a local restaurant or two—think pizza, hot dogs and wings.”

The center is located at 27 West Monroe Street Franklin, Indiana 46131.

UPDATE: The mini-bowling arcade lanes will be ready to open in early Summer while the longer duckpin lanes will take longer and should open in Fall 2019.

Indianapolis Business Journal – Duckpin bowling coming to Franklin

January 27, 2019 0