Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
Photo – Memory Lanes bowling alley – Courtesy Memory Lanes Facebook page
At least one Rawlins City Council member believes the city should reopen the shuttered bowling alley.
During the January 6th Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Derek Elliott said Ward 1 residents told him they miss the former Memory Lanes bowling alley. Councilman Elliott asked if the city could step in to reopen the facility.
Memory Lanes bowling alley, located at 1917 West Spruce Street in Rawlins, opened in 2003, but shut down in 2020 due to Covid‑19 restrictions. The property, owned by the Schuler family, drew renewed attention in November of 2023 when Jeremiah Garner of Dirty Boyz Sanitation announced on social media that he intended to purchase and reopen the shuttered facility. Commenters overwhelmingly supported the decision, saying that the city needed another option for family‑friendly entertainment. However, in a later update to his post, Garner wrote that “buying the old bowling alley in town is 1000% out of the question,” citing a $1.5 million asking price.
The property has remained vacant ever since, joining a growing list of shuttered businesses in Rawlins, including Rasmussen Furniture and Bi‑Rite Sporting Goods. At the January 6th meeting, Councilman Elliott asked if the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority, or DDA, had attempted to revitalize the three defunct businesses. DDA Executive Director Pam Thayer said she has been in contact with potential buyers.
It remains unclear if the bowling alley or the other shuttered storefronts will see new life. For now, the DDA will continue working to attract buyers. However, state limits on municipal involvement in private‑sector entertainment mean that the city is legally unable to purchase and reopen the former Memory Lanes bowling alley itself.
