INNISFAIL – The newly renovated Innisfail Bowling Lanes opened for the first time under its new management just a couple of weeks ago.
“We were open this weekend for the first time,” said manager Holly Harris in an interview on Oct. 2.
Harris's father, Wade, is the new owner of the local bowling alley at the beginning of August. He also owns alleys in Olds and Drumheller, and has previously owned other facilities, including previously owning the Innisfail facility.
The new owners have set about updating the bowling alley for those who hanker to knock down some pins.
“We put new lanes in. So they're acrylic overlays, so they just go overtop of the wood that's there, and then we put glow in the dark carpet in, and we put a draft beer cooler in … some new benches, lots of new flooring,” she said. The colour scheme is red and black.
The new lanes are acrylic rather than wood because you can level them once and be done, unlike having to sand and re-level the wood lanes.
“You can only sand lanes so many times,” she said. “This way you won't have to do that anymore.”
That doesn't mean the acrylic lanes aren't a lot of work -- Harris said it takes 36 hours to install just one acrylic lane.
Leagues got started last week, but it's not too late to join. There are mixed leagues on Monday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m., a seniors' league on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., and a youth league on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Harris said the Thursday night league only had a few spots left, but there are lots of spots left on Monday. Anyone interested in joining any of the leagues should call the alley for more information at 403-227-5342.
“We'll have glow bowling Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday afternoons for the birthday parties,” she said. In addition to the glowing carpets, the new lanes also glow in the dark.
It won't all be league play and birthday parties, however.
“There will be lots of time for public bowling,” Harris said.
For more information on Innisfail Bowling Lanes, check out the facility's Facebook page.
Holly Harris, manager
"We put new lanes in. So they're acrylic overlays, so they just go overtop of the wood that's there, and then we put glow in the dark carpet in, and we put a draft beer cooler in ... some new benches, lots of new flooring."
