The Lanes Were So Long, a Special Permit was Needed for Transport
When this bowling alley was under construction, a special permit had to be obtained from the highway division to get the lanes delivered because they were so long...
We’re speaking about the former 300 Bowl, once located at 3000 W Monroe Road in Alma.
The 300 Bowl broke ground on April 26, 1962 and sat right next door to the Alma Cinemas at the intersection of Alger Road and M-46. The alley had 34 lanes along with a meeting room, tap room, snack bar, pro shop, and kids’ playroom.
The whole thing cost $600,000, with lanes the longest ever produced by Unit Structures of Wisconsin. So long in fact, that a special permit had to be okayed by the Highway Division in order to transport them to Alma.
Beginning on September 1, 1962, the lanes were used for the entire month strictly for league bowling. The 300 became open to the public officially on October 19, 1962.
Evidently, the 300 closed sometime during the 2000s. The sign remained for quite a while, long after the alley closed and was demolished. The sign has now been removed, leaving just an empty lot.
