Pawnee Lanes (Closed)
Maple Heights, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The oversized bowling pin on the sign made Pawnee Lanes easy to spot from Broadway Avenue. Opened in 1947, this little 10-lane bowling alley never tried to be the biggest in town. Instead, it became the kind of neighborhood place where regulars gathered week after week for league bowling and friendly competition. 04-01
One of the things that made Pawnee Lanes special was its old-school atmosphere. Long after many larger bowling centers modernized, it continued using wooden lanes and vintage above-ground ball returns, giving bowlers a chance to experience the game much as it had been played for decades.
The bowling alley remained in the hands of the same family for more than 30 years after they purchased it in 1991. When the owners announced their retirement in 2026, the community gathered for one final celebration before the last ball was rolled, bringing nearly 80 years of bowling history to a close.
Small neighborhood bowling alleys like this have become increasingly rare. While many people remember the sign out front, it's the friendships and memories made inside that probably left the biggest impression.
UPDATE: Pawnee Lanes permanently closed in June 2026 following the owners' retirement. The current status of the vintage sign has not been verified. 06-26
Fountain Square Bowling Window
Indianapolis, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
See the atomic duckpin bowling and the era from which it hails from.
You don't have to step inside to know this place celebrates the Atomic Age. The colorful window graphics at Atomic Duckpin Bowling are filled with the starbursts, boomerangs, and bold typography that made 1950s design so much fun. They're the perfect introduction to what's waiting inside. 04-01
Located in the historic Fountain Square Theatre Building, Atomic Duckpin Bowling offers a different take on the sport. The basement-level alley features seven vintage duckpin lanes, where smaller balls and shorter pins create a game that's every bit as entertaining as traditional ten-pin bowling.
The Atomic theme carries throughout the interior with vintage décor, classic Coca-Cola memorabilia, and period-style diner booths. It's a great example of how thoughtful design can transport visitors back to the heyday of roadside Americana without feeling like a museum.
Even if you don't bowl, the storefront is worth a look. It's one of those details that adds character to the neighborhood and reminds you of an era when businesses weren't afraid to have a little fun with their design.
Fountain Square Restaurant
Indianapolis, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
This Restaurant is the part of the building that also houses the bowling
alley at Fountain Square, Indianapolis. A rather large complex.
UPDATE: Atomic Duckpin Bowling remains open inside the Fountain Square Theatre Building, and its retro Atomic Age window graphics continue to welcome visitors. 06-26
Planet Bowl
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The Space Age was in full swing when Planet Bowl opened in 1960, and its fantastic roadside sign reflected the era perfectly. Topped with a rocket and decorated with planets orbiting a giant bowling ball, it's one of the most creative bowling alley marquees I've come across. Even today, it's hard to drive by without taking a second look. 04-01
Planet Bowl has been serving bowlers in the Oklahoma City area for more than six decades. The 24-lane center remains one of the oldest operating bowling alleys in the region, continuing a tradition that began when bowling was one of America's favorite pastimes.
While the bowling alley is still going strong, the sign has changed with age. The original Space Age structure survives, but the neon tubing has reportedly been dark for many years. Even without the glowing glass, the rocket, planets, and bold mid-century design still make it one of Oklahoma's standout roadside landmarks.
It's always nice to see a sign like this survive, even if it no longer lights up. There aren't many Space Age bowling alley marquees left, and Planet Bowl remains one of the best.
UPDATE: Planet Bowl remains open in Midwest City, and its original 1960 Space Age marquee still stands, although the neon has reportedly been non-functional for many years. 06-26
Rainbo Lanes (Gone)
Elkhart, IN Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The missing "w" in Rainbo Lanes has probably made people do a double take for years, but that's only part of what made this sign so memorable. The towering marquee featured animated neon circles that chased downward to imitate a bowling ball rolling toward a pin, making it one of the more creative bowling alley signs in Indiana. 04-01
Opened in 1963, Rainbo Lanes served Elkhart bowlers for nearly 50 years. Inside, generations of league bowlers and families filled the lanes while hungry visitors could grab a bite at the snack bar, just as the sign pointed the way.
The bowling alley closed in 2011 and briefly reopened two years later, but the comeback didn't last. By 2014, the building had been converted into an entertainment venue known as The Arena, ending its days as a bowling center. During the renovation, the beautiful marquee was stripped of its neon and painted black, leaving only the original framework behind.
Even in its altered state, it's easy to appreciate how imaginative the original design must have looked when the neon was chasing and the sign was glowing after dark.
UPDATE: Rainbo Lanes is no longer a bowling alley. The building has been repurposed, and while the original marquee structure survives, its neon has been removed and the sign has been painted over. 06-26
Fireside Bowl
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The giant bowling pin rising above Fireside Bowl is one of Chicago's great roadside landmarks. It's the kind of sign you spot from a distance, and once you see it, there's no mistaking what's inside. The red-and-white tiled building makes an equally strong impression, giving this neighborhood bowling alley a look that's hard to forget. 04-01
Fireside Bowl has quite a history. The building began life as an ice storage facility before being converted into a bowling alley in 1941. It expanded to 16 lanes in the 1950s and has remained in the hands of the Lapinski family since 1964, making it one of Chicago's longest-running family-owned bowling centers.
The bowling alley found an unexpected second life during the 1990s, when it became one of Chicago's best-known punk rock venues. Bands from around the country packed the building before the family restored it to its bowling roots in 2004, preserving both the lanes and its unmistakable vintage character.
Whether you know it for bowling, live music, or simply that giant neon bowling pin, Fireside Bowl remains one of the city's true roadside classics.
UPDATE: Fireside Bowl remains open in Chicago, and its iconic giant bowling pin marquee continues to light up Fullerton Avenue. 06-26
Crete Lanes (Gone)
Crete, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The vintage marquee at Crete Lanes was one of those signs that made you want to pull over for a closer look. Restored around 2009, it featured animated neon that created the illusion of a bowling ball rolling into the pins. It was a wonderful piece of roadside Americana and one of the most distinctive bowling alley signs in Illinois. 04-01
Although the bowling alley eventually closed in 2016, the story has a much happier ending than many others. Instead of being demolished, the building found a new life as Evil Horse Brewing Company. Even better, the owners recognized the importance of the old sign and made sure it wasn't lost.
Today, the restored marquee hangs inside the brewery, where visitors can still enjoy one of the area's classic neon landmarks. The bowling alley's history also lives on in another way, with sections of the original wooden lanes repurposed into bar tops and tables throughout the building.
It's always encouraging to see a historic roadside landmark preserved rather than discarded. While you can't bowl here anymore, a big part of Crete Lanes still survives for everyone to enjoy.
UPDATE: Crete Lanes closed in 2016, but the building was preserved and converted into Evil Horse Brewing Company. The restored marquee now hangs inside the brewery. 06-26
Pawnee Lanes (Closed)
Fountain Square Bowling Window
Fountain Square Restaurant
Planet Bowl
Rainbo Lanes (Gone)
Fireside Bowl
Crete Lanes (Gone)
