Sho Lo Bowl (Closed)
Show Low, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the tall marquee at the Sho Lo Bowl in Show Low, Arizona. Located along the main drag with the great name of Deuce of Clubs Drive, the Sho Lo Bowl was a classic entertainment survivor in Eastern Arizona. 03-06
Featuring a distinctive barrel-vaulted roofline, the venue served as a favorite recreational gathering spot for the White Mountains region for decades. Outside, its towering V-shaped double-pole roadside sign, bearing a striking resemblance to vintage mid-century Sambo's Restaurant marquees and caught the attention of motorists cruising through town.
After years of hosting local league bowlers and family outings, the bowling alley permanently closed its doors in July 2011 as modernization costs mounted.
UPDATE: The Sho Lo Bowl is now closed. 07-11
UPDATE: The interior lanes were eventually cleared out, and the building found new life as a community charity thrift shop, operating as Hopeful Treasures Resale Boutique. While the original bowling graphics have been replaced, the towering vintage roadside sign frame remains standing along the Deuce of Clubs. 08-26
Benson Bowl (Closed)
Benson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the Benson Bowl in Benson, AZ. Located along West 4th Street on the historic U.S. Route 80 alignment, the Benson Bowl catered to local bowling fans and road-trippers passing through the San Pedro Valley for decades. Well, time passes by and the Benson Bowl permanently closed its doors, similar to so many other classic ten-pin alleys across the country. 06-23
Erected in 1959 during the peak of the post-war roadside boom, this 7,216-square-foot concrete-block building housed a classic, intimate 8-lane bowling layout. What it lacked in sheer size compared to the massive 40-plus-lane suburban palaces of Tucson or Phoenix, it more than made up for in hometown character. Complete with genuine wood lanes, mechanical pinsetters, a classic burger-and-fries snack counter, and an active league lounge, it served as the undisputed social and recreational hub of Benson. For decades, Friday nights here were the place to be for mixed doubles tournaments, high school bowling meets, and local league rivalries.
Benson Bowl building
Benson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
From the roadside along U.S. Route 80—the legendary "Broadway of America"—the alley was impossible to miss thanks to its towering, mid-century pole marquee. Crowned with bold lettering and a dramatic, oversized slanted neon arrow pointing directly into the parking lot apron, it was pure vintage Americana designed to pull motorists off the highway for a quick game and a cold drink.
As the interstate era reshaped travel through Cochise County and smaller independent bowling centers faced rising equipment upkeep, the Benson Bowl eventually shut down its lanes for good. The building's closure left a noticeable recreational void in the valley, so much so that decades later, local momentum and city development plans have sought to bring modern bowling back to the community near Lions Park.
Bowlers at the Benson Bowl
Benson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: Today, the original 1959 building remains closed and vacant along the old highway strip. While the interior hardwood has gone quiet and the neon tubing has long since gone dark, the distinctive roadside marquee and its classic angled arrow still stand proudly out front, weathering the desert sun as an enduring reminder of Benson's mid-century Route 80 heyday. 08-26
Lucky Strike Bowl
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
he Lucky Strike Bowl in Tucson features a classic roadside bowling sign along East Speedway Boulevard. Opening in 1955, this 32-lane staple holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating bowling alley in Arizona. 07-23
Located along one of Tucson's major thoroughfares, the center has remained a thriving neighborhood fixture for generations of local league bowlers, University of Arizona students, and families. Long predating the unrelated national chain of the same name, this independent mid-century original features updated digital scoring, a classic diner-style snack bar, billiards, and weekend glow-in-the-dark Cyber Bowling.
UPDATE: Decades after rolling its first frames, Lucky Strike Bowl is still going strong, with its vintage freestanding roadside sign continuing to light up Speedway Boulevard. 08-26
Sho Lo Bowl (Closed)
Benson Bowl (Closed)
Benson Bowl building
Bowlers at the Benson Bowl
Lucky Strike Bowl
