Bowlium Lanes

The Building Tells a Story

Pull into the parking lot and the twin parabolic concrete canopies announce themselves immediately. These sweeping curves, signature elements of 1950s Googie architecture, have stood here since 1958 when architect Pat DeRosa completed the building. The same designer created Covina Bowl and Java Lanes, both now closed, making Bowlium one of the few surviving examples of his work.

The facade has changed over the decades. The original yellow paint gave way to slate gray, and a towering 50-foot roadside sign fell to demolition in 1999. But the fundamental structure remains, earning Bowlium recognition as the Inland Empire’s oldest surviving bowling alley and a featured location in the book “Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling.”

Bowling as the Main Event

Inside, 32 lanes stretch across the spacious building. The setup accommodates league nights, birthday parties, corporate events, and drop-in bowlers without crowding. Staff can add bumpers for younger players, and the lanes see regular use from both serious bowlers and first-timers.

Friday and Saturday nights transform into cosmic bowling sessions, with lights down and music turned up. Select nights offer discounted games (check their website for specials). Online reservations through the venue’s booking system help secure lane time during busy periods.

Beyond the Lanes

The Splits Lounge occupies what opened in 1958 as the Coral Reef Lounge. Back then, the Coral Reef Room encompassed a coffee shop, sit-down restaurant, and bar that hosted Easter dinners and New Year’s Eve parties with live bands. The 1960s saw Wednesday lunchtime fashion shows. The bar area today focuses on drinks and casual socializing, with pool tables, board games like Jenga and Connect Four, and a more relaxed atmosphere than the main bowling floor.

The on-site diner serves burgers, pizza, chicken wings, and other straightforward options. You can eat at your lane or claim a table in the dining area. The menu leans toward comfort food without pretense.

Karaoke and Community

Four nights each week, karaoke takes over with a library of more than 18,000 songs. The system draws regulars who know the catalog and newcomers testing their range. The bowling alley once operated 24 hours daily during bowling’s peak popularity. Today’s more limited hours reflect current demand, but the space still functions as a genuine community gathering spot.

In the 1960s, Bowlium operated an onsite daycare with a playground, nurses, and clown performers for the housewives’ bowling leagues. That era has passed, but families still visit for birthday parties and casual outings where kids can bowl with bumpers while parents appreciate the retro setting.

What Remains

The building has seen updates and modifications across 65+ years. Paint colors changed. Signage shrunk. Interior finishes evolved. But walk through today and the bones of a 1950s bowling palace remain visible. The parabolic canopies curve overhead. The spacious layout accommodates dozens of simultaneous games. The attached lounge and dining areas maintain the all-in-one entertainment model that defined mid-century bowling culture.

For architecture enthusiasts, Bowlium offers a rare chance to experience a functioning Googie building. For bowlers, it provides straightforward lanes without inflated prices or forced luxury branding. The two groups share the space, united by the simple act of rolling a ball toward pins while surrounded by a piece of California history that refuses to disappear.