LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was once the oldest continually operating bowling alley in the country. Now, the Vernon Lanes bowling alley is back from the brink.
What You Need To Know
- Historic bowling alley Vernon Lanes has reopened in Louisville
- New owners have refurbished and remodeled the century-old building
- The retro alley features 8 bowling lanes
- Vernon Lanes is restaurant forward and will host live music and other events
The historic Louisville business has reopened with new owners after being closed for over six years. Before its closing, it was the oldest operating bowling alley in the U.S. according to its owners.
“I believe it’s been a bowling alley since 1918,” Tony Edelen told Spectrum News 1. The original building was built before the turn of the century, the one before last.
Edelen is one of Vernon Lane’s new owners.
The entire venue is steeped in history. Edelen showed off the 1960s mechanics powering the bowling alley. All of it had to be fined tuned before the business could reopen.
“All this equipment, it all works great. It’s been here since 1968, we’ve renovated all of it,” Edelen shouts over the winding belts and constant kerplunking of bowling pins.
Edelen says he and his partners have been working for more than a year to restore and renovate Vernon Lanes. For any pin-strikers who remember the old operation, they have removed the drop ceiling showing off curved barn-like roof. You’ll instantly be reminded of your childhood roller rink, if you’re of that generation.
The exposed brick surrounding the 360-degree bar allows Vernon Lanes to mesh a retro bowling alley with an upscale eatery and that’s exactly what the owners and new bar manager are going for with this venture.
“I’ve been in the industry for about 20 years so I’ve seen all the roller coasters,” bar manager Stephen Emmons said. Emmons says Vernon Lanes is a complete events space.
“Not everyone that comes in here is a bowler. They are going to sit down, have something to eat. Maybe they are just here to check out a new place and see what’s going on. Got a stage downstairs and a DJ booth set up,” Emmons explains. There’s also a scratch kitchen and head chef.
Opening a business is always challenging and coming out of a pandemic presents even more unknowns for Vernon Lane’s local owners, but with their hearts in the right place, Edelen says bowling is back in Butchertown and here to stay.
“It’s been a long labor of love.”
Vernon Lanes is at 1575 Story Avenue next to the I-64 westbound on ramp. If you’re wondering if that’s the building with the fiberglass pigs out front, yes. That’s the place.