Blackiston Bowl

This bowling ally is 100 years old it seems. My grandparents played here. Unfortunately it hasn't been updated in quite some time. The balls are beat up and the decor needs modernized. The return was spitting grease on our balls and ruined our clothes. The front desk moved our lanes. Balls in various sizes are available but we struggled to find ones with holes that suited us. Bowling is about 13.50 for two games which is cheap enough. I recommend you bring your own equipment if you come here.

This place could be great but it's being driven into the ground by rude and lazy staff members. Lanes are rarely oiled. Even when the place is slow they won't give you more than 1 lane for 6 bowlers. Food takes forever. Speakers are awful for music. TVs are from the 90's. Also, bring a nice ball at your own risk. Good chance it'll get gouged by the ball return.

Blackiston Bowl does it old school. Not so old that you have to keep your own score or anything (we're not cavemen), but it is pretty apparent that very little has been upgraded since the hayday of the PBA.Prices are reasonable for both shoe rental and games. There are some days when you can get a really good deal, particularly if you've got time on weekdays before 5 p.m. which gives you unlimited bowling (as of this post) for a flat rate. The selection of balls (stop snickering) is extensive if you don't have your own (I said stop snickering). There is a room set aside for other games like pool as well as a bar with cheap booze. The staff is always very friendly. If you have a sensitivity to cigarette smoke, this may be a drawback as the building has absorbed the decades of nicotine that I would wager it is acting as an adhesive structural agent by this point. Overall, a pretty good place to bowl.

Went in tonight (Friday night) and it was very busy. There were 5 of us in our party but we only needed 1 lane. Put our name on the waiting list and decided we would wait in the bar.We walk in to the bar (we are all 27 years old) and are greeted by the rudest lady. She VERY rudely asks to see our IDs. We all comply, by one of the guys in the group JOKINGLY says "my real one or my fake one"..we all laugh except for the RUDE Lady. She goes on to tell us about how it better be real or we can leave. Of course it was real. My boyfriend was in the restroom so he came in after this opening. She asks to see his ID and he says "do I really look that young?" As he's handing her his ID. she told him to leave because he was being a smart aleck!! He said one joke in a very joking manner. The others at the bar even said WOW.Needless to say we left without getting drinks or bowling. We won't ever be visiting again because of this rude encounter. I can't get over it..If she was irritated it was before we came into the bar. We were having fun and she ended up ruining our night and running off a large group.

I am rating this bowling alley with my experience and opinion. I wouldn't dispute what others have said as they are probably very valid. I personally go to Blackiston Bowl weekly with a friend or more to play pool. The tables aren't the best, but better than others I have played on. They are a dollar per game. My youngest daughter bowls there a couple times per week and she likes it fine. She had an online purchased bowling ball drilled to meet her exact finger holes. That was very nicely done. I plan to have a ball I just purchased drilled there also. I started bowling again after many years to spend time with my daughter doing something she likes. The bowling costs seem very fair for what it costs nowadays. They have some specials like 2 games and shoes for $10 during weekdays or Friday and Saturday from 10p to 2a for $16 all you can bowl. There is no military discount. They have some funnel sticks my daughter likes. The staff is friendly with my daughter, friends and I, but you might call us regulars. Blackiston Bowl might look a little dated, but hey have some rocking leagues and cool glow ball at night. They also have bumpers and ramps for children to use to make them more competitive anytime. There is a modest snack bar, drink bar with 2 pool tables and a pool room with 3 tables. In my opinion the housekeeping is pretty decent.

This measly little star is for the guy who runs this place. He should honestly get no stars. He's nice when you're giving him money for his overly expensive bowling games and shoes, but can turn in the blink of an eye if he's not getting his way. Kind of like a toddler. I've never seen a "business man" act this way towards paying customers. We were in there for glow bowl yesterday (Saturday night) and stayed until closing time. We were finishing our frame, and of course caught in the moment because all of us are so competitive, my cousin had a single pin in the lane and she was getting ready to finish her turn. The lights came on and it was literally 2:00am on the freaking dot, so she bowled it anyways. Because who wouldn't?! It's on single pin, and this man had the audacity to come over to us and say, "Cut the shit." I'm sorry but you just don't talk to anyone that way. I understand it's closing time, but it's literally a minute and he didn't even let us finish the tiny little bit of a frame. Probably the rudest man on earth and this is not the first ridiculous encounter with this man. He's been rude, and just plain nasty many MANY other times. Considering he's basically the only person working, I might be bitter too. But it's a bowling alley! You collect money, on your butt until it's time to shut it down! I'm sure he can't keep it staffed because he's such an asshole, seriously. It makes you wonder what happened in his life that made him so cross. He even had an assistant last night, which he was a total jerk to. Not too long before that guy quits. So, yelpers, pass this along and don't waste your money here! It seems as if this guy wants his establishment to be shut down anyways because he seems to want no associates or customers. Go enjoy yourself at Hoosier Lanes! All in all, be nice! Especially if you're running an establishment night owls like myself enjoy doing, just be courteous. It not hard. Because instead of getting a goodnight from my friends and I, you had very very angry people. Angry drunk people at that! And I'm sure things were said that weren't so pleasant on our side. But you don't talk to people with that disrespect! Even if it is a literal minute over closing time.

It was a quiet and traditional bowling alley. I honestly felt like I was in a scene of the Big Lebowski. The games were fun though, and the staff was accommodating.

I don't go bowling for fun very often, however I go for work every week with my client. I work with a company helping developmentally disabled people. They are awesome! I'm pretty sure they don't even open when we're there, they just let us bowl because they know my client loves it and gets upset if he can't. They always make it fun and I've never had a bad experience here with or without him.

This is literally my favorite place to bowl. My friends and I are usually here at least 2 times a month. The employees are friendly and I feel bad people are leaving bad reviews about them. It's a family owned business, so of course if you're disrespectful and rude, there is only so much they can do. Dana the bartender is an angel and we just love her so much! Definitely love this place.

Can't complain too much about this somewhat outdated bowling alley. It's got a homey vibe. Smells nice (is that strange? Maybe but it's true.) Some might fall it a tad outdated but really it's just retro. It's old school. The prices are OK. You can do two rounds of bowling with shoes for 10 bucks and it's an additional couple of bucks for another game. It's a small place. They have a bar and pool table room if that's what your looking for. A arcade room. A concessions area for food and stuff but I'd avoid it.It's a bit hidden if you don't know where it is. And the exterior isn't exactly inviting. Could use renovations on the exterior. A paint job. Interior, again, is retro but inviting.