Bowling Alley purchasing - Anyone interested?

DMS General
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This is all theoretical and something we won’t be doing for months - so please understand that.

I’m currently looking at buying bowling alley wood to create another bowling alley table for the CA room in the expansion. I’ve found pieces in Denver, Chicago and other places. As I work to get quotes on shipping I’m wondering if anyone else might be interested in panels as well so we can split shipping costs. I have sent them an email already but I will call at some point in the day.

Poke around this strange website to waste your time. Wondrously strange things to be found.

https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_str=bowling

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Have you tried Old Texas Wood (oldtexaswood.com)? I believe he has bowling alley wood sometimes. Or maybe it’s old high school gym wood that he gets sometimes. Heck I can’t remember but it’s a fun place, if you consider shopping for wood fun.

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Thank you - I’ll give them a call

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Also, can we just call around to the local bowling alleys and find out what they do with their old wood once a lane is refurbished?

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Bowling alley around here don’t typically remove lanes. They put a synthetic overlay over the old wooden lanes when they have been sanded down past their usefulness. The synthetic overlays are much cheaper than having to rebuild lane beds. I’ve been through resurfacing with multiple bowling centers in the area over my last 30 years as an avid bowler. Bowling center proprietors are cheap!

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on the repurposed website = $249 for the shipping from Denver - they said they can load up to three for that shipping price FYI

I left a message with the old Texas wood company. If anyone knows anywhere else please let me know.

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I checked at 2 different Bowling Lanes in Plano. . . Same story as above. They put synthetic overlays on their Lanes. Try searching for Bowling Alleys that are being demolished.

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What about old basketball court?

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I think having one from a basketball court would be neat

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FYI: https://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mat/d/reclaimed-bowling-alley-lane/6708914311.html

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Maybe get a better price buying all three.

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I’m so confused - I searched for this yesterday. Thanks - sent them an email.
Anyone else looking for a piece or just CA? @Committee_Chairs

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How about flooring from old skating rinks?

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I think so long as we set up a disco ball above the table and set a speaker in the table to play Blondie- Heart of Glass on repeat then that tracks.

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FYI about this. @AlexRhodes came by during Open House and has generously offered to donate an identical bowling alley slab like the one we have now. He purchased several, one of which became the table we have now, and still has one stored. All we need to do is pick it up!

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Oh a famous Maker “Start projects, finish whenever.”

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hmmmm… now that we have room… how about a complete working bowling lane for the new warehouse? I nominate Vector to keep it working.

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I have a small disco ball. :smile:

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I’ll try it out and let everyone know how it works, but if you are going to have one lane then you might as well have a pair of them. I believe the supply of lane oil would fall under Logistics. I’m not sure what committee(s) would be responsible for the lane oiling machine. VCC can oversee the scoring software and hardware.

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The old (not very talented) scenic designer in me wants to make up dms to be some sort of optical adult playland a bit like meow wolf a bit like a safe visual acid trip. Thankfully, that reality just lives in my head.