Help Save a Small-Town Treasure: Lacon Bowling Alley Needs You

In the heart of Lacon, Illinois, there’s a place that’s been echoing with laughter, cheers, and the sound of crashing pins for nearly 60 years. Built in the mid-1960s, Lacon Bowling Alley isn’t just a building — it’s a cherished piece of the town’s history and one of the last remaining places where families, friends, and neighbors can gather year-round for good, old-fashioned fun.

Generations have grown up here. First dates, birthday parties, youth leagues, and Sunday afternoons with grandparents — all within these walls. Some of you even remember learning to bowl here as kids, and now you're watching your own children do the same. But time has taken its toll. The original owners said the current lanes are good for one more year before they need to be refinished, but we are preparing for these repairs ahead of time.

The alley is in desperate need of repairs to keep the future doors open and the lanes rolling for generations to come...

What We Need:

The wooden lanes, the very heart of our bowling alley, are worn after decades of play. To restore them properly — to make them safe, smooth, and beautiful again — we need $16,000 to strip and refinish them.

Our pins are chipped, mismatched, and tired. A full replacement costs $4,500, but it's crucial for fair play and a professional experience.

And the strike plates — the boards that provide desired pin actions— are weaker and outdated. These need to be replaced for $1,000 to restore that magic moment of celebration every bowler loves.

That’s a total of $21,500 we need for the inside — just to keep the bowling going.

What We’re Doing Ourselves:

We’re not asking for a handout. We’re investing our own money to restore the outside of the building — repairing crumbling mortar, painting the exterior, sealing and painting the roof, and even fixing the pothole-riddled parking lot.

But without your help, we won’t be able to restore the inside — where the memories are made.

Your Help Means More Than Money

When you give to this project, you’re not just fixing wood and paint. You’re preserving a piece of Lacon's identity.

You're keeping a safe, fun, affordable place for kids' birthday parties, youth bowling leagues, date nights, and family outings.

And if we surpass our goal, every extra dollar will go right back into the alley — for inside improvements like a soda fountain for kids’ parties, updated coolers, and other much-needed upgrades to keep the place fresh and welcoming.

Let’s Keep the Good Times Rolling

Small towns don’t have many places like this left. With your help, Lacon Bowling Alley can be saved — not just patched up, but restored and re-energized for the next generation.

Let’s show our community that small-town treasures still matter. Let’s give our kids the same memories we had. Let’s keep the good times rolling.

👉 Donate today. Share with friends. Be part of Lacon’s legacy.

#SaveLaconLanes
#KeepRollingLacon
#SmallTownStrong