When I was in high school the big hangout for myself and my friends was Bowl-Mor bowling alley on University Street. I’m not a very good bowler, but I’ve always liked hanging out in them for some reason. We used to play pinball and smoke cigarettes up front while the sound of bowling balls rolling down alleys and knocking down pins was the soundtrack for my somewhat juvenile delinquent youth. Bowling alleys have always made me feel comfortable and while Bowl-Mor got torn down a few years ago, there’s still some of them around here.
Below are links to ten MBIP posts about bowling alleys in Peoria, Pekin, Lacon, Chillicothe and one in Chicago that are all worth checking out in your summer travels!
Saturday Suggestions: Bowling Alleys
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Mt. Hawley Bowl
LInk: Mt. Hawley Bowl
I went to Mt. Hawley Bowl back in January of 2013. I was going to do a series on bowling alleys and like so many other ideas I’ve had on here it kind of fizzled out, but this was a fun post none the less. At this point in my life and the blog I was still getting used to being back here in Peoria and I was trying to find a voice for the blog.
Landmark Bowling Center
Link: Landmark Bowling Center
This kind of ended the bowling series idea. It was a month later and I discovered there’s not enough bowling alley’s left around town for a series, so I went to Landmark and took some pictures there and then went on to other ideas for the blog. I did get some Funyuns because we all know that Funyuns are awesome!
St. Ann's Bowling Alley
Link: The First Annual MBIP Summer Bowling Party!
In 2015 I discovered a true hidden gem here in Peoria, the bowling alley at St. Ann’s Church in downtown Peoria. You can rent this four lane bowling alley which also has a kitchen and a bar for quite a reasonable price. Three months before this post went up I had gotten kind of burned out on the blog and took a three month hiatus and had the official MBIP comeback party at St. Ann’s.
St. Ann's Bowling Alley, Part II
Link: The Second Annual MBIP Summer Bowling Party!
The first party was so much fun I had one again the next year! I think I may have another party there this year, stay tuned for that!
The Chilli Bowl
Link: Saturday Night Cheeseburger @ The Chilli Bowl
Here’s another post from 2013 when the MBIP blog was less than a year old. Sadly, they closed the Chilli Bowl in Chillicothe, but you can look at pictures of what it once was at this post from about five years ago.
Kingpins in Mt. Hawley Bowl
Link: Thursday Night @ Kingpins (In Mt. Hawley Bowl)
One thing I love about bowling alleys is that there’s always a bar in them! Last year I went and hung out at Kingpins bar in Mt. Hawley Bowl with my friends Amber and Joe. They also have a miniature golf course there and since Wee Tee is no longer in service, we’re going to be having the Third Annual MBIP Invitational Mini Golf Tournament here and that will be posted in a couple of weeks, stay tuned!
Roxy’s Lanes
Link: Thursday Night @ Cobbler’s Corner and Roxy’s Lanes
Back in 2016 I had dinner at Cobbler Corner in Pekin and then drove to Roxy’s Lanes which has been in operation in Pekin since 1963, making it one of the oldest bowling alleys still in business in the area.
Lacon Lanes
In this post from the first month of 2015, Amber and I traveled to Lacon, Illinois to have dinner and then bowl at Lacon Lanes, which is a classic bowling alley. Amber surprised me by having her own bowling ball and winged bowling shoes and she proceeded to kick my ass!
Southport Lanes
Link: Meanwhile, Back In Chicago... (Part One)
About three years ago I took a mini-vacation to Chicago and in this post you can see some of the taverns I traveled to, my dinner with my friends Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell and I met up with a friend I hadn’t seen in years, Karla Zimmerman. She took me to a cool bowling alley in the city called Southport Lanes. It was built by the Schlitz Brewery in the 1900’s and you can see it by scrolling down to the end of this post.
St. Ann's Bowling Alley
Link: Introducing Mr. And Mrs. Joe Bohannan! Amber And Joe’s Fabulous Wedding Day And Reception!
This is one of my favorite posts of all time, it’s from last year when my friends Amber and Joe got married at the chapel in Three Sisters Park. It was such a wonderful marriage ceremony and then the reception was a total blast at St. Ann’s Church. If they ever make a movie about this wedding and reception I think it should be called: “The Bride Wore Bowling Shoes!” I bet Amber is the only bride who bowled the night of her wedding! It was so much fun and a memorable night at St. Ann’s!
Related Posts: Saturday Suggestions: Local Shopping Outlets and Saturday Night Dinner.