Abandoned Bowling Alley 🎳🏚️

Hey explorers and all other audience members! Today I discovered an abandoned bowling alley 30 minutes from my apartment 😱🎳 It has been closed for some time, and all of the memorabilia was left behind, including the bowling balls, pins, and even old trophies 🏆 Sit back, and relax, let’s take a look at these old lanes 🖤📽️

[@brandinkopulos4488]

Back in the 80s it was called Meadow Lanes. It then was purchased by Carol Brown and changed to Boondock Lanes. The Warner family bought it in the early 2000's and changed it to Crossroads Family Fun Center. It was then purchased by a gentleman that Clearly did not have the love for the bowling centers history that he said he did. This place holds a ton of memories in my head. Since being in diapers, I would sit up at the top of those steps and watch my family bowl. I've walked up and down those floors with School fundraiser pamphlets collecting orders from the bowlers. I bowled on Saturday afternoon leagues from age 6 or 7, until 16. I started my DJ company up in that alley bar back when I was 14 years old running a kids karaoke. DJ'd and ran karaoke for years in the back bar. It saddens me to see this. How can someone with so much "love" for the place buy it and leave it to rot like this!? 😢 Thanks for the respectful video.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Omg thank you for the back history! 📔 It’s pretty cool how you hold so many memories in this old alley 🖤👏🏼

[@suzywarner2049]

Good Times!! 😍

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Love your videos and glad to see your adventures as well. Thanks for posting this too. Have a nice day now.

[@lesliewarner4104]

Thank you for doing what I (and I'm sure lots of others) have wanted to do for a long time! It's so sad that no one could take care of it. I can't believe everything that was just left!

[@-D13]

This video made me get emotional. As a hardcore bowling fan, it broke my heart to see a bowling alley mistreated and abandoned. Thanks for the video

[@urbanexplorer260]

Great to hear you love bowling! It is a shame to see once a beautiful alley closed down and now in trashed shape 😕

[@-D13]

@@urbanexplorer260 Definitely. Somebody should totally go there and salvage what they can. Thinking of all those bowling pins going to waste is just plain sad.

[@creeguyvernon]

Bowled at classic Brunswick lanes like this all the times. I think those are Jetback machines there.

[@robinbuckeye6841]

I was a Brunswick pinsetter mechanic for many years. Those are A-2 pinsetters and the automatic scorers are called Brunswick 2000. The masking units in front of the pinsetters are called Gold Crown masking units, from back in the 50's and 60's. It's a shame seeing all the bowling centers close, but bowling is a rapidly dying industry.

[@urbanexplorer260]

That is very cool how you are able to describe the old machinery 😃 I would also agree in saying that bowling is becoming less of a fad than compared to 30-40 years ago 🎳

[@soreih9650]

Yeah as a current A2 mechanic it was sad seeing all the A2 left to rust, kinda hurt a little. Then seeing the Gold Crown masking units made it hurt even a little more.

[@sarahrobinson7496]

I grew up bowling there, I was on the youth league as a child. That Bowling 🎳 Alley was called the Boondocks Bowling Alley. Sad to see it so run down. Loved that place. Lots of great memories.

[@lonnyray2840]

Really cool dude. Thanks for uploading this! I actually bowled here a couple times when I was younger. Have family that live down the road in homer. I would of totally bowled for a sec too. 😅

[@robertalytle7520]

I bowled here back in the 80ies, sad to see it this way.

[@urbanexplorer260]

That’s really neat! What was it like back in the day?

[@marlonisaac1]

​​@@urbanexplorer260 It was awesome and a fun place to hang out. In the 90's I went to school with a guy, Jeff Long, and his mom ran the place back then. They lived in a trailer that use to be right up against the one side of the building facing towards Albion. Miss those days.😢

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@marlonisaac1 memories 👏🏼

[@suzywarner2049]

So sad to see it in this condition. Lots of Great memories!

[@davidrogers8981]

I have many memories being there. That’s awesome you explored it. Sad to see it’s still in shambles.

[@urbanexplorer260]

The memories of pins falling and fresh fries being served still lingered 😌

[@boswelljackie3637]

So sad to see it this way…so many wonderful memories of going there as a kid with my dad and grandparents.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Usually the abandoned and forgotten ones always hold the most!

[@draytonblackgrove]

This was right up my alley.

[@urbanexplorer260]

🤣🤣🎳

[@user-bw4ec4fs8s]

My Grandmother used to manage the youth bowling leagues back in the late 60's and early 70's. She taught kids how to bowl. There were 3 divisions arranged by age. Every Saturday Morning. I think I still have some of my trophy's. Great memories.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Oh wow that is so special 👏🏼 bowling can bring everyone together 😇

[@mikemosher4990]

I lived on 22 mile road off M60 and I also bowled there and shot pool with friends. So sad to see what the old M-60 bowling 🎳 alley. So neat to see the inside again, but so sad to see what has happened to it 😢 I now live in Port Huron Michigan but I miss Homer, the water tower in town says it all!!! "HOMER IS HOME" 😁

[@sandychurch19]

This is in my hometown....Had some great times here! Bowled a 299! here in highschool. So sad to see this.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Amazing! 🎳 I couldn’t believe all the old balls were still sitting around 😳

[@Dino_Sprinkles]

Both my parents bowled there during their younger years and I remember playing in the arcade while they bowled on leagues. Once I got a little older, my friends and I would go there for something to do and and we had a senior party there during high school. I knew 2 brothers who worked there for many years and we would often spend our time at the bar when the Warner family took it over in the 2000s. It's so sad to see its condition today. It doesn't help that it was vandalized a few years back.

[@aaronz9410]

My family recently closed (2021) and sold (December 2022, for the land not the bowling alley/building) a 60+ year old family ran bowling alley. I still have access to this day (I was in there less than a week ago), even though it was sold. Everything is still there, including some (new(old) inventory for the pro shop). I don't have any professional equipment but I truly feel I need to document everything even if it is via my phone. It breaks my heart, even if it was a long time coming. One thing I can say, the last person to throw a ball and have it return (power being on) was my son, the fourth generation. Watching this reminds me I need to document it while I have the chance. One day everything will only be a slight memory and I need to perserve it, even in the condition it is in, not only for me, but for my kids. I don't know if I will put it on YT or not, the quailty may not be there, I have nothing outside of my phone (I did have some stuff 10 plus years ago, that even now the quality of my phone will be equal to or better than), but it will be done.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Congratulations on that land completion! Everything was still just sitting inside, waiting for bowlers to come through like the olden days 😄 And that’s pretty cool to hear your son was able to bowl there, hopefully he hit a strike 🎳

[@seangriffon6502]

Wanting to sell any of the pin setters, and related equipment, ball returns ect. Who made the machinery Brunswick or AMF? My friend wants some of the hardwood floors.

[@aaronz9410]

@@seangriffon6502 the land/building/contents have been sold. Old AMF 82-30s. I still technically have access (and even have a sheriff's deputy offer to go with me and clear the building before I enter because idiots have broken in and tore things up), but doubt I could take anything major out of there.

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@seangriffon6502 I believe Brunswick was the manufacturer, and I am not sure who to contact for buying items from the alley 🫠

[@LongtowerNyc]

Sad and beautiful at the same time.

[@sgt.dieselellinger6461]

My great-grandparents got married at this bowling alley in homer in 1946. so sad to see it go downhill hopefully they can restore it

[@duprimangeldorf7529]

I can hear this... WOW! Just up and left.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Yeah, it’s like there was one final bowling party and they just left everything dead in time 😳

[@beerrichard9185]

I grew up bowling there. Good times.

[@jenniferrobinson6096]

I use too bowl on Saturday mornings there and for school we went there for gym class so many memories there growing up in the 90’s

[@urbanexplorer260]

Very neat 😄

[@erinremynse1155]

The last time I was here I was 14,15 years old. Every lane was full. It was rock and bowl. I was there with a group of friends. I’m 33 now. Crazy.

[@random._.gachaz._.2592]

This was my go to bowling alley I’d walk to as a teen from my dads n go with my cousin all the time it was so much fun :),

[@urbanexplorer260]

That’s awesome 😎

[@peteg475]

Sad to see those gorgeous retro Brunswick orange ball returns and masking units in such a state. That's what a bowling alley should look like. That retro stuff is gorgeous when it's in pristine condition.

[@urbanexplorer260]

I agree, the old items hold such history for so many 🤩🤓

[@1985nsan]

My dad bowled a lot of games there!! I'm sad to see it in this shape..I spent a lot of time there when I was a kid!!

[@seangriffon6502]

I have worked on some of the brunssick A2 pinsetters. I prefer the AMF brand pinsetter over brunswick any day. Much easier to service, and parts are always available. Great video.

[@urbanexplorer260]

That’s the second person who has commented that has knowledge on these old pin setter machines! I’m glad to hear some of my viewers are knowledgeable in the bowling industry! 🎳

[@letaloudone]

I am a AMF mechanic. Yes those Brunswicks are monsters and a lot more dangerous than a AMF I'm my opinion. What caused this center casualty?

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@letaloudone Have you ever been inured while working on the machines? And I’ve heard multiple accounts as to why this center closed down, my guess would be financial struggles 🤷🏼‍♂️💵

[@johndelessio6762]

I’m surprised he didn’t try to open some lockers or go to the pro shop.

[@ericoliphant7100]

I played there many times. I grew up in the town it is close too.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Very cool 😌😎

[@leannakemplin6139]

you live there and didnt know about this its been there for so long before i was born my mom used to go there and so did i as a child still drive past it on my way to my grandparents out there

[@kaizon7177]

FREE BOWLING BALLS LETS GOOO

[@leannakemplin6139]

look into the history of the homer mill right there downtown homer

[@jasonsmith3537]

I'll take that lane machine

[@urbanexplorer260]

A lot of viewers have said the same thing! The old machinery seems to draw in a crowd 🤩

[@theresagrover1050]

A few dates in the place long ago!

[@Starrman69]

I see that the Adam Henry's in our population broke in and painted/sprayed their usual idiotic "messages" around the interior. We spent quite a bit of time at Meadow Lanes back in the day. I always wondered if the location had an effect on its business. M-99 and M-60 is south of Albion, East of Homer, west of Concord and basically in the middle of nowhere. Sad that the owner had to abandon the building with all those fixtures, tools, supplies and equipment.

[@nacolegarcia4000]

There was a for sale sign on it . 2 yrs ago the owners put on a sight that it was vandalized .! I drive by every day and always wondered how it looked inside . Now after it has been boarded up I see another window was broken enough for people to go inside.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Yeah the owners or whoever still keeps an eye on it must not care about explorers or scrappers coming through!

[@lylebarnard7447]

Brunswick A-2 pinsetters

[@Rediipandaii]

I remember living here It closed down way before I was born I remember always walking by

[@urbanexplorer260]

Wow, nice 😌

[@Rediipandaii]

@@urbanexplorer260 I’m actually going here today

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@Rediipandaii awesome stuff! Let me know how it goes, stay safe 😌

[@Rediipandaii]

@@urbanexplorer260 it was fun

[@Rediipandaii]

@@urbanexplorer260 I got to meet the owner and he let me take a bowling ball

[@sgt.dieselellinger6461]

Both my great-grandparents are gone they both passed away 20 years apart my great-grandfather died in 1995 and my great-grandmother died in 2015

[@skidhookroll]

Sorry to see any bowling alley in that shape. But it's really crazy the owner just ignored it all. If you don't want to or can't run a business, why not sell it or sell off the assets? Lanes can be broken down and sold off to other parties. No way to use that building now except to tear it down and start from scratch.

[@urbanexplorer260]

Agreed, the owner just left it sit, wide open for anyone to go inside 🎳😳

[@johnbarton5]

I saw money on the floor at 3:44

[@urbanexplorer260]

Haha I didn’t even notice that!

[@fredhoss1662]

Not only was it abandoned it was trashed

[@urbanexplorer260]

It wasn’t as trashed as you might think, there was a fair amount of things sitting 😊

[@derfkraw]

how did you get into the building?

[@urbanexplorer260]

Front door there is an opening

[@derfkraw]

I looked at some of your other videos. Arent you afraid that you might get busted by the cops?

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@derfkraw I’ve been doing this long enough to know the best ways to avoid detection, however sometimes cops do show up it’s apart of exploring 🏚️

[@leannakemplin6139]

@@derfkraw its all open ive been in it my self running and not running sad how people have just destroyed it

[@user-hz8oc4np8o]

where is this located i might vist it

[@urbanexplorer260]

This is located in Homer, MI

[@playdiscgolf1546]

I wonder how much oil is left on that shot? Lol

[@urbanexplorer260]

Wym?

[@playdiscgolf1546]

@@urbanexplorer260 on a lane, they put down oil (usually every day) I was making a sarcastic joke, knowing full well that lane is dry as a bone. Lol

[@urbanexplorer260]

@@playdiscgolf1546 😂😊

[@ciera179]

the owner had to file BK and that’s why everything was left behind.

[@urbanexplorer260]

I noticed a TON of bank receipts and tax paperwork when I was inside!

[@173sawYT]

bro probably gained like 40 diseases after trying to bowl with a old bowling ball.

[@urbanexplorer260]

It was very moldy in there when I went and was aggressively coughing 3 days in a row after 😳

[@grantosborn8178]

If you just so happen to go back and you find a gold ring with the numbers 4-20-21 graved into it I will give you $$ to return it.

[@urbanexplorer260]

I’m sorry to hear about that ☹️ I did not mean any harm or foul play by the video, just sharing some memories that’s all 😇

[@garydiamond9615]

what happens when nobody wants you anymore.....

[@19transam81]

You should have went in the kitchen

[@urbanexplorer260]

I actually did gander around the kitchen lol however I decided to not include it in the video 😆

[@charlesgoodman5086]

We had a 12 lane Brunswick bowling alley called Paramount Lanes that I bowled in since I was about 13 and had the above ground ball returns. I bowled in a league there for about two years and bowled quite a few 200 games before they closed it down and took out all of the alleys 🎳 and repurposed it. Built sometime in the early 1960's.