Right Down Our Alley
Deer Park Bowl Has Something For Everyone
Wade and Christine Lundgren moved to Deer Park five years ago. With a partner, they purchased the Deer Park bowling alley. In May of 2006, they closed the business and started an extensive, yearlong renovation. Now, Deer Park Bowl is a modern facility with state-of-the-art flooring, lighting, and scoring systems.
Of special note is the synthetic flooring installed over the old wood lanes. This makes the lanes more consistent and helps bowlers become more proficient. Maintenance is easier and that has a direct impact on the cost of doing business. Deer Park Bowl only charges $2.00 per person per game. I recall paying more than that many years ago. It is nice to know there is one place where inflation has not removed entertainment from the realm of reality!
The “Lane of Fame” section of the alley is a special display celebrating those who have attained the perfection of a 300 game. The less skilled can pay their respects and dream of their future glory. One man so enshrined deserves special mention. Ray Hall is a man of gentle years. Let’s just say he observed his 70th birthday from a distant, historical point of view. Yet, he has achieved perfection in these lanes, not once but nine times! If he can do this, shouldn’t we be able to get close?
Of course, bowling is more fun with libation and consumption. Deer Park Bowl will please you there as well, with their restaurant providing both lunch and dinner menus. I can attest to the great food. Normally I am a hamburger guy; however Wade assured me they make a great steak, and he was not exaggerating. Recently, the sports bar opened. You can enjoy an adult beverage and watch your favorite team win or lose.
For the young or young at heart, a very nice pinball arcade is available to test your skills and reactions. De-stress from your gutter ball experience by killing a few space aliens!
What opportunities for entertainment are there at Deer Park Bowl? It is a great place to take a date for an hour or two of fun for probably less than the cost of a movie, popcorn and drinks. If you just like to get out and relax your mind during a lunch hour, you can snack and exercise at the same time. Especially in winter, take the opportunity to get out of the house on those long, dreary evenings. Meet your friends and no one has to wash dishes! Usually, there is no problem getting a lane. Call first, especially on weekends.
There are two other significant opportunities: birthdays and leagues.
I have friends with young children. On a couple of occasions, I met the parents at the lanes while their kids enjoyed celebrating their friend’s birthday. I am sure the children will remember the fun they had for a long time, and it does not require nearly as much work as hosting a big party at home.
Leagues are a great social event spanning months. What a great opportunity to meet friends, establish relationships and have fun! There are leagues for everyone. Serious hardcore bowlers play where every pin is worth a pin. Fainthearted gutter-ball-throwers should probably find another team. The more socially minded folks who just want a good time can join the handicapped scoring leagues. The 300 and 150 and 100 bowlers can play together and compete, just like in golf, on a more even field. There is a nine pin league which I do not understand. The bottom line is nine or ten pins, and it is still a strike. There does not seem to be a three pin league. The Eagles also have a league, and if you wish, you can even start your own. There are two basic league periods, fall and summer. The fall season runs from September to early May. The summer season starts in mid-May and ends in late August. Come chat with the staff and see what makes the most sense for you.
Deer Park Bowl is hosting a Relay for Life of Nine Mile Falls fundraising event on May 12th. Check out the accompanying article for more information. If you have a business and want to support this effort to defeat cancer, a disease that touches each of our families at some point, consider making a product donation, providing a coupon or making a gift. In any case, come bowl a game or two and support this worthy local effort.
Deer Park Bowl is located at 125 East J Street. They are open long hours, seven days a week so call (509) 276-5008 to schedule your fun.