New bowling alley to open in Bonnyville in coming months

Bonnyville will be soon home to a new bowling alley.

Darcy Skarsen, a businessman living in Moose Lake, is intending to open a bowling alley in the vacant building on 51st Avenue, kitty-corner from the Post Office.

Formerly a building that housed Lasertag, the building has been purchased by an associate of Skarsen’s. They will take possession of the building on June 1.

“I’ve just heard it a million times over and over is there’s nothing to do in this town. You hear that complaint lots and especially in the winter, when you’ve got eight months of snow on the ground, it’s tough for people to find things to do that don’t maybe have a snowmobile or play hockey or whatever,” Skarsen told Lakeland Connect. 

“Obviously, we had a bowling alley here before Spare Time Bowling and it closed its doors in 2014. So we’ve been without a bowling alley for nine years. My kids kind of were at that prime age where we utilized the bowling alley quite a bit and Danny’s Playroom and all that stuff. So we missed it. We were pretty saddened when it closed down.” 

They hope to create a family-friendly environment that will be equipped with six 5-pin bowling lanes and two duckpin lanes.  The duckpin lanes will be connected to a party room, meant for birthday parties.

It will also include a staffed kitchen and will be AGLC licensed to offer locally brewed and distilled alcohol.

They’ll also have fundraising and sponsorship opportunities to engage Special Olympics Lakeland and seniors groups, as well as Bucks & Bowl and bowl-a-thons to help non-profits.

“This community is very important to me. That’s part of why I’m doing this is, is we need a bowling alley here because it will bring the community together even more,” said Skarsen.

King Pins Bowling Alley is shooting to open on December 1. Various leagues and such won’t kick off then as they work the kinks, but the following fall, bowlers can expect league play on weekdays.

Long-term, they are targeting a games room element, to include foosball tables, bubble hockey, dart boards, and more family-fun type of activities.

In the meantime after taking possession of the building, there’s various upgrades and facelifts they’ll give the facility. A group called Striker Bowling will manufacture the lanes and do a full installation and training. That process takes about five months.

For a community that some say is lacking in recreation and activities, this may help families and kids stay engaged during the winter.

“We have one rule, you have to be under 99 to play the game, but we will make exceptions,” he said.