Rip Van Winkle Lanes (Gone)
Sarasota, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
With a name like Rip Van Winkle Lanes, you'd expect a quiet place for a nap. Instead, drivers were greeted by one of Florida's great bowling signs, a colorful roadside landmark that was impossible to miss after dark.
For nearly half a century, Rip Van Winkle Lanes in Sarasota welcomed league bowlers, families, and weekend competitors from across the Sarasota area. It earned a reputation as a friendly neighborhood bowling center where people came as much for the atmosphere as the game itself. The towering sign became a familiar sight along U.S. 41 and a favorite of anyone who appreciated classic roadside neon.
When the lanes closed in 2004, longtime patrons gathered one last time to share stories and say goodbye to a place that had been part of the community for 46 years. The building and its memorable sign have since disappeared, but they're still fondly remembered by bowlers who spent countless evenings there.
UPDATE: Rip Van Winkle Lanes closed in 2004 after 46 years in business. Both the bowling alley and its classic roadside sign have been removed. 07-26
Orange Bowl Lanes
Kissimmee, FL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Orange Bowl Lanes has been welcoming bowlers in Kissimmee since 1960. The bright roadside sign, with its bowling pin, ball, and colorful neon lettering, is the kind of thing that's hard to drive past without taking a second look.
The alley opened with just 12 lanes, but it had everything needed for a family night out, including a snack bar, leagues, lessons, and even a nursery. More than six decades later, it remains family owned, and the vintage sign still lets passing motorists know there's a game waiting inside.
UPDATE: Orange Bowl Lanes is still rolling along today, and the classic roadside sign has been repainted to keep its mid-century colors looking sharp. 07-26
Twedt's Lanes (Demolished)
Largo, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Twedt's Lanes was easy to spot along the road thanks to its giant bowling pin marquee. One look at the sign and there was no mistaking what waited inside, unless you happened to think it was advertising a very large milk bottle.
The Largo bowling alley opened in 1967 and became a neighborhood favorite for generations. Inside were league bowlers, casual games, and the popular Cue Ball Lounge. Even the original wooden lanes found a second life when they were turned into tables after newer synthetic lanes were installed.
UPDATE: Twedt's closed after Labor Day in 2013, and the building and roadside sign were removed to make way for new retail development. 07-26
UPDATE: Twedt's Lanes has announced that it will close on Labor Day 2013. The buyer is planning a retail center complete with shops and eateries. 09-13
UPDATE: Twedt's Lanes is indeed now a strip mall. There is a business called Smoothie King that now resides at 13100 Seminole Blvd in Largo. 10-17
Ten Pin Lanes
South Pasadena, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The bright pink building makes this bowling alley hard to miss as you drive through South Pasadena. Add in the classic roadside marquee, and it's easy to see why Ten Pin Lanes has been catching motorists' attention for decades.
Built in the 1950s, the alley was among the first in Florida to install automatic pinsetters. Inside, the wood lanes, billiard tables, arcade, and lounge still give the place an old-fashioned neighborhood feel that's becoming harder to find.
UPDATE: Ten Pin Lanes remains open today, making it one of the few vintage bowling alleys in the area still welcoming bowlers beneath its classic marquee. 07-26
Rip Van Winkle Lanes (Gone)
Orange Bowl Lanes
Ten Pin Lanes
