NEWS
Historic Bowling Alleys Get New Life
Revitalized buildings in West Baden and West Lafayette serve as recreation hotspots
King Pin
Archeological evidence suggests forms of bowling date back to ancient Egypt, but the game earned the nickname “sport of kings” from its prevalence in the courts of England’s King Edward III and King Henry VIII. In the United States, New York City’s Knickerbocker Hotel claims distinction as the location of the nation’s first indoor bowling alley, created in 1840. In Indiana, bowling alleys in West Baden Springs and West Lafayette stand as recreational landmarks dating to the early twentieth century.
Located at the edge of West Baden Springs Hotel’s formal gardens, the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion opened to hotel guests on Christmas Day in 1917, replacing an earlier wooden structure destroyed by fire. German architect Peter Weber—designer of the hotel’s grand porch and east terrace, as well as the Hygeia and Apollo springhouses and the West Baden National Bank Building—contributed to the pavilion, giving the limestone structure a classical appearance that visually connected it to other buildings on the property. Repeated water damage caused the bowling pavilion to close by 1929, followed by closure of the entire hotel during the Great Depression. In the property’s era as a Jesuit seminary, the pavilion was repurposed as a community recreational space, later serving as a student center during Northwood Institute’s tenure. By the early 1980s, the pavilion was largely vacant.
“Following the restoration of our hotels, this building has always been on our radar for renovation. It was the only building on resort grounds that had not undergone a modern upgrade,” says Chuck Franz, CEO of French Lick Resort.
Located in a flood-prone area, the pavilion required a comprehensive mitigation strategy before any interior work could begin. Engineers implemented a flood control system combining pumps to remove excessive water with protective gates to safeguard the building. After addressing the exterior challenges, the resort kicked off interior rehabilitation in 2022, transforming the space into a vibrant social hub for guests and community, featuring bowling, billiards, and Sprudel’s Pizzeria.
Architect George Ridgway led the restoration, with general contractor Boldin Construction overseeing work. Decades of vacancy and water infiltration left holes in the roof and a crumbling concrete slab floor. Construction crews rebuilt a wing demolished during the Jesuits’ ownership in the 1960s. Inside, workers restored the wood floors and original Tuscan columns near the bowling area.
Historic photos guided the design, offering inspiration for hanging lights over the bowling lanes, recreated to mimic the originals. Restored windows flood the building with natural light, while plexiglass encases pin resetting machinery, reducing visual clutter and enhancing the alley’s historic open character. In keeping with the building’s heritage, no electronic scoring system was installed; bowlers keep score by hand. Acoustic panels and carpeting were strategically applied to reduce the noise of the pins. The pavilion reopened in January 2026, quickly becoming a favorite gathering place for pizza, drinks, and friendly games of bowling or pool.
“When everything was done, it’s amazing how close to the original it looks, and that was very intentional,” says Carl Cook, CEO of Cook Group, parent company of the resort. “This wasn’t a readaptation but putting back what was there, and this fills a void for guests looking for something to do on the hotel grounds.”
“This Billiard and Bowling Pavilion really mirrors our hotels in terms of saving a building that was literally on the verge of crumbling,” adds Franz. “To bring this building back for its original use and to see guests having fun bowling and shooting pool is such a fun sight to see.”
At Purdue’s Memorial Union, a bowling alley has been part of campus life since the late 1930s. Known today as the Union Rack and Roll, the lower-level venue in the 1924 building remains a popular hangout for students, faculty, and the broader community.
The alley stays busy each semester thanks to course “PES 115: Bowling,” which draws over 290 students who earn credit while learning and practicing the game. Student and faculty teams also use the alley’s 10 lanes, and they can be rented by visitors for walk-in play.
Beginning in 2022, a series of renovations refreshed the space so it could continue to serve as a hub for recreation. Updates include an e-sports lounge, meeting space, updated seating near the lanes, and a new string pinsetter system that requires less maintenance than traditional systems.
The redesign also introduced two pool tables and relocated the pro shop to the front of the space. The result blends modern amenities with the Rack and Roll’s signature cozy ambiance.
“Memorial Union is special in what it can offer to students on campus for recreation opportunities. I don’t know of too many other universities that have a bowling alley directly on campus,” says Carson Opela, Union Rack and Roll manager. “It’s a great place to unwind, where people create good memories and want to come back.”
This article first appeared in the July/August issue of Indiana Preservation, Indiana Landmarks’ member magazine.
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