Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Sneak Peek: This look towards the front door of Wonder Lanes shows that renovations are progressing nicely, and highlights the new flooring, lighting and memorabilia wall in the lobby.
Clean slate: The exterior has been sandblasted and is ready for a fresh coat of paint and primer. A mural will go along the east wall, painted by an artist through a grant.
A closer look at the memorabilia wall in the lobby, which features a variety of artifacts from the Krueger family's 60-year history of operation
The goal to reopen Wonder Lanes by fall is a little bit closer to reality. While work on the interior has been in progress for nearly three months, the more visible exterior upgrades have just started to take shape over the past two weeks. "We've been working really hard on interior and exterior updates," Project Manager Sarah Smith Warren said Tuesday.
New flooring, decorative shelves and lighting have been installed, and the exterior brick walls were sandblasted to remove the multiple layers of cream-colored paint. Fresh primer and paint will come next, starting this week, but it won't be your standard issue paint job. The New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation (NRABC) received a grant from the After School Alliance to hire an artist who will paint a mural on the building's east side. The artist is expected to begin painting the mural in about two weeks, and he will also be working with youth at the NR-S Rocket Camp summer school program this month.
Equipment upgrades will be the "grand finale" of the extensive renovation efforts. The NRABC board recently approved the installation of a new EDGE string pinspotter system, making Wonder Lanes the first and only bowling alley in North Dakota to use this new technology. The EDGE system is described as "the amazingly simple way to offer bowling," as these modern string systems are easier to operate and maintain, than the traditional free fall systems most other bowling alleys have in place.
All new synthetic lanes will also be installed. The existing lanes were in good shape, Smith Warren said, but would require annual maintenance costing thousands of dollars. The synthetic lanes are built to last 40 years without maintenance, reducing the overall operating costs of the facility. New scoring machines, gutters and automatic bumpers round out the bowling mechanics. Equipment installation is slated for July and August.
As a result of the above upgrades, the budget now sits at $415,000. With about $100,000 left to raise, the NRABC has engaged a local committee to focus on fundraising. To date, several local firms have contributed to the project: The New Rockford Eagles Club has committed $30,000. Bank Forward, Community Credit Union, New Rockford Lions Club and NDTC each added $10,000 to the total. James River Dentistry and Rocket Boosters each put in $5,000, while the New Rockford Community Foundation awarded $1,500 to the project during its 2021 grant round. Smith Warren said a few lane sponsorships are still available at $10,000 each, so businesses, organizations or groups who wish to have their name on a lane should contact the NRABC.
Three community fundraising events are on the docket for summer. The first, a Bowling Ball Garden Art Exhibit, is scheduled for next week. Elementary art students at New Rockford-Sheyenne School repurposed old bowling balls into lawn garden art, which will be on display and available for purchase at the New Rockford Eagles Club during the Summer Street Market on Thursday, June 17. The committee will also be serving tacos-in-a-bag and ice cream bars for a free will donation. The garden art is available to purchase for $100 per piece. Anyone who purchases a piece of garden art will also receive a pedestal to display the art, and a certificate for a free game of bowling at Wonder Lanes.
Other fundraising events include a brisket meal served by the New Rockford Lions Club on Saturday, July 3 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. in Centennial Park, as part of the community's Independence Day Celebration. On Aug. 1, Hanson's Bar will host a Cornhole Tournament with proceeds going to the bowling alley. All events are open to the public, and anyone interested in giving back to the Wonder Lanes project is encouraged to attend.
Individuals who wish to give direct donations to the project can contribute to the Wonder Lanes fund set up at Bank Forward.
Besides funds, there is one more piece of the planning puzzle yet to put into place. "We're still looking for interested proprietors," Smith Warren said. NRABC is currently interviewing potential operators, so anyone with interest is invited to submit a proposal. Contact NRABC Executive Director Amanda Hegland at (701) 947-2205 or [email protected], or Project Manager Sarah Smith Warren at (701) 351-4110 with any questions.
